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And the Award Winner is . . .

Danger in the Clouds!

 

The Independent Author Network announced the Winners for the International 2020 Book of the Year Awards!

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS was selected as a finalist in the category of Science Fiction where the TOP NINE Science Fiction novels for 2020 were recognized out of thousands of nominations.

What? You haven’t read Danger in the Clouds?

Don’t miss out! TAP or CLICK the button for DANGER IN THE CLOUDS

GRID DOWN SURVIVAL SERIES

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS, BOOK 1

DANGER IN THE WIND, BOOK 2

WATCH FOR THE NEW RELEASE! BOOK 3

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Reader Magnet Short Story, Chapter 1

What Is a Reader Magnet?

A year ago, I had no idea what a reader magnet was. In my literalness, I envisioned a nice refrigerator magnet with a picture of a book and a puppy. And maybe a kitten and a chicken for good measure. I don’t know about anybody else’s readers except mine – but we all like books, puppies, kittens, and chickens.

Then I stumbled across the idea of a “short story” that would give a reader a taste of the author’s brilliant writing. My first thought: That’s dreadful.

The Short Story that Wasn’t a Reader Magnet

Case in point: I wrote a short story called Barter and Bargains three years ago and submitted it to millions of contests. (I typed jillions, but autocorrect frowns on exaggeration.) The maximum word count allowed was 5,000, so I had to trim my 7,500-word story back with a hatchet.

I received two recurring criticisms:

  1. The story was too nice.
  2. The critic/judge wanted to know more about the characters.

I learned four things from the experience:

  1. I write nice characters that people want to know more about.
  2. I am a great storyteller.
  3. My writing craft skills needed work.
  4. I can’t write short.
  5. Wait, make it five: I’m not deflated by criticism.

Continue reading “Reader Magnet Short Story, Chapter 1”

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Author’s Goal 2019 – Publish Four Books and Earn One Award

My Author’s Goal in 2018 was to publish a book. I published two. Time to up my game in 2019, so I did.

Danger in the Clouds

Published January 2019

Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Award

 

I Always Wanted To Be A Spy

Published February 2019

New Apple Literary Award – Excellence in Publishing

Sweet Deal Concealed

Donut Lady Mystery Series Book 2

Published March 2019

Florida Writers Association Award

Sweet Deal Revealed

Donut Lady Mystery Series, Book 3

Published July 2019

In 2019, I published four books and won three awards. Time to up my game.

 

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The Girl Who Saw Clouds Finds Her Niche

CLOUDS 3D

Sometimes it takes a book a while to find its niche. THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS has settled in at

#1 Children’s Science Fiction Books

and

#1 Children’s Fantasy Books.

Of course! Science Fiction + Fantasy! That’s it!

 

 

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International SPY DAY

OCTOBER 10 is International SPY DAY. From the first Tuxedo worn to a dinner party held in Tuxedo, NY in 1886 to the Premier release of From Russia with Love in London in 1963, OCTOBER 10 has had special significance in the World of Spies.

OCTOBER 10, 2019 ~ Best day ever to read I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY Celebrate your spy-ness as you join Maggie Sloan in Maggie Sloan Mystery Series, Book 1.

 

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Danger In the Clouds Award Winner

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS is a FAPA President’s Book Award Winner!

MAJOR DAVE ELLIOTT’s quiet farm life with his dog and granddaughter abruptly changes when a cyber-attack collapses the grid and the economy.  After his granddaughter’s uncanny ability to see danger thwarts attacks on the farm, will Major succeed in exposing the conspiracy where others have so tragically failed and died?

A riveting story of conspiracy and survival.

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS: A MAJOR ELLIOTT NOVEL (GRID DOWN SURVIVAL SERIES, BOOK 1)

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What Do I Read First?

IReadJABooks

I’m asked by readers new to the Judith A. Barrett books, What do I read first?

Of course, the answer is It Depends. Do you like mystery series, thrillers, or survival and conspiracy? That’s where you should start. From there, go to another book. Easy, isn’t it?

DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES

Buy DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES (2 books) on AMAZON

SWEET DEAL SEALED, BOOK 1

Buy SWEET DEAL SEALED on AMAZON

It isn’t necessary to read Book 1 before Book 2 because each book comes to closure. However, SWEET DEAL SEALED will introduce you to the DONUT LADY and her friends and to Donut Lady’s style and her sense of humor.

SWEET DEAL CONCEALED, BOOK 2

Buy SWEET DEAL CONCEALED on AMAZON

If you read Book 2 first, you may want to follow up with Book 1. In Book 2, DONUT LADY, her old friends, and her new friends become embroiled in not just one murder, but two.

BOOK 3

Book 3 is scheduled to be released in July 2019.

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I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY

Buy I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY on AMAZON

A MAGGIE SLOAN THRILLER

Maggie Sloan is a librarian and self-taught spy. Her story will grab you on page one and keep you guessing to the end. Or maybe when you read the end, you’ll say Aha! I knew it all the time!

Will there be a MAGGIE SLOAN THRILLER series? Depends on you. The book after Book 3 in July could well be another MAGGIE SLOAN THRILLER.

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DANGER IN THE CLOUDS

Buy DANGER IN THE CLOUDS on AMAZON

A MAJOR ELLIOTT SUSPENSE NOVEL

Major Dave Elliott, lonely widower, farmer, and retired state police officer lives with his dog, Shadow. If you love a good conspiracy and survivalist story, this is the book for you. For the conspiracy reader, it’s there. For the survivalist reader, Major gives us a handbook on how to survive off the grid. For the reader who loves stories about families, gotcha covered.

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THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS

Buy THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS on AMAZON

The GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS is a YA Novel, and the same story as DANGER IN THE CLOUDS told from the point of view of the teens and children.

 

WHICH CLOUDS BOOK SHOULD YOU READ? I recommend DANGER IN THE CLOUDS if you are older than 15 years old. If you decide to read both, please let me know which story you preferred.

 

LOVE A BOOK?  five-stars

Please review on Amazon or Goodreads. Amazon pays attention to reviews. The placement of the Judith A. Barrett books on Amazon depends on reviews.

Thank you!

IReadJABooks

 

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Danger In The Clouds

The Major Cover 6x9 Jan 3 2019 ebook cover version 11.jpg

MAJOR DAVE ELLIOTT is a widowed farmer retired from the Florida State Highway Patrol who lives with his dog, Shadow.  His lonely days on his Florida farm abruptly change when his 17-year-old granddaughter with autism, AIMEE LOUISE, comes to live with him.
Aimee Louise doesn’t see facial expressions; she sees “clouds” that reveal a person’s true feelings and intentions. After a cyberattack, the nation’s electrical grid collapses, and the sheriff’s family and others take refuge at the Major’s farm.
When Aimee Louise sees danger in the clouds, her gift thwarts the criminal masterminds who intend to control the US government. When she becomes their target, Major goes on the attack to stop the criminals. Can he succeed where others have tragically failed?

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS on AMAZON

If the description of DANGER IN THE CLOUDS sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s the story from THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS. Except it is more focused on Major Dave Elliott and the other adults. You’ll also notice Aimee Louise and Rosalie are 17 and 16, respectively. The point was to get the book off the “Middle Grade” bookshelf because of the adult situations of murder and conspiracy. If you read THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS, you’ll love DANGER IN THE CLOUDS because you already know the basic story, now you can look for all the twists.

DANGER IN THE CLOUDS IS FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED.

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I Always Wanted To Be A Spy – Description

I Always Wanted to be a Spy 29 6x9 new girl with gun

By the time MAGGIE SLOAN is four years old, she is a focused, self-trained spy.  In the second grade, she expands her remarkable talents for observation and data analysis by programming her first computer tracking system.  After college, Maggie’s diverse job searches are futile until she is hired by the county library.

When Maggie’s brilliant observational talents and her potential to expose complex criminal activity draw the attention of an international ring, she becomes their target. However, a senseless murder changes her life forever, and MAGGIE transforms from prey to predator.

Will the librarian with the soul of a spy and the unusual security team stop the desperate kingpins or will she become the latest victim? It all comes down to kill or be killed.

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New! The Girl Who Saw Clouds

The Girl Who Saw Clouds is a story of conspiracy, family, and survival.  The novel is available NOW on Amazon in both ebook and paperback.

Link to The Girl Who Saw Clouds on Amazon

Girl Who Saw Clouds Cover 5.5x 8.5 June 1 2018 ebook cover.png

AIMEE LOUISE is a bright, quirky 14-year-old with autism who doesn’t recognize facial expressions, but instead sees clouds that reveal a person’s true intentions. After a cyber-attack takes down the nation’s electrical grid, can her ability to see danger where no one else does expose the secret plot to take over the U.S.?