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2/19/2023 0 Comments It's time for Write-A-Thon 2023! Today I'm taking part in Write-A-Thon 2023! It's a chance for 36 authors to write non-stop to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support.
My family is no stranger to cancer. I remember as a child, walking around DisneyWorld as my grandmother was wheeled in a wheelchair and wearing a turban, having lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatments. In my twenties, my future husband and I had just begun dating, when he lost his father far too soon from a brain tumour. I think everyone wants to do something to help raise money for cancer research and support, but I am a poor baker, and doing walks for charity isn't for me. But I can write. So I'm taking part in this fundraiser. It's for a good cause. If you like, donate. If you can't, that's okay too. Cheer me on if you like. Every little bit helps.
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2/1/2023 0 Comments Write-A-Thon 2023 This month, I'm one of 36 authors taking part in a Write-A-Thon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
From 9am to 9pm on 19 February, I will be writing non-stop! Or at least that's the plan. I might take cookie breaks. If you fancy donating some money for a good cause, click on the image and it will take you to the fundraiser. Cheers ELJ 12/31/2022 0 Comments What a great year for writing!This has been quite a year. As I reflect on good and bad, here are the standout positives from 2022. Since January, I've had 3 books come out with Dragonblade Publishing! I'm so grateful to the talented team there, including Kathryn, Shawn, Evelyn, Elizabeth and my wonderful editor Amelia! I am also hugely thankful to Rachel Ann Smith, Melanie Rose Clarke, Emily Murdoch and Aviva Orr for guiding me and answering all my author questions. I've got a beautiful author logo to use forever more I learned how to set up my very own author's newsletter and a few months later, have 2500 subscribers, with a good open rate, decent click through rate and only about 30 unsubscribes each month. I've got more positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads for my books, and with the publication of my third book, it's only been 4 and 5 star reviews and ratings! This is huge. My first book with dragonblade now has over 100 ratings on amazon- this is like an author achievement I've unlocked I gave 3 author interviews to journalists, include 2 to the metro, a national paper I took part in NaNoWriMo and while I didn't win, it's helped keep me writing. I've made decent royalties from my books and have signed up to newsletter author promo sites which have really helped I gave a talk to my local writers' circle on my publishing journey I took part in a book fair with my local writers' circle My second book was sent to a review magazine and got 4 stars, and my publisher is sending my third book to be professionally reviewed as well! I've made more author connections and buddies, which is great. My first book, The Strangled Servant, reached #1 for Free Kindle reads in historical mysteries!  Other stuff - Since I turned 40, I've started looking for fulfillment in my life. I've done volunteering before which was fine, but I didn't get much out of it. I was an extra in two films and learned that whilst it was fun (somewhat), it wasn't great fun. Unless you're being paid or have lines to say as a principal character, it's essentially volunteering your time to help someone else and isn't very fulfilling.
I started up my own band and it's going great! Seriously, these guys are supremely talented. Not so fun: for the entire Christmas period, my husband and I have been sick with the flu. We've had to cancel all our plans and just look after each other. I'm looking forward to when I can get a full night's sleep again without coughing. Here's to a proper 2023. My motto: Keep writing folks. Just keep writing. Hope you have a lovely New Year!
I'm flattered to share that this month, my author friend S.E. Reed, the winner of my selfie contest, interviewed me on writing mini mysteries.
Check out this great interview!
This past month, I ran a selfie contest for my newsletter subscribers. All they had to do was post a selfie on twitter or instagram of themselves holding up a copy of my book, The Strangled Servant, the first in the Perfect Poison series published by Dragonblade Publishing. This could be on ereader format or in paperback, but I wanted to see some selfies.
I'm delighted to share that fellow author S.E. Reed has won the contest! 
Congratulations S.E. Reed! She will be a character in my next mini-mystery, be immortalised in print and have epic bragging rights. Thank you to everyone who participated. There will be more chances next year to win fun competitions like this. Thanks all, and big congratulations to S.E. Reed!!!! 10/28/2022 0 Comments It's time for a Halloween Hop! Fancy taking part in a giveaway? Since I moved to the UK, I really enjoy eating Haribo sweets (like gummy bears but in fun fantastical shapes).  If you like fun mini mysteries to solve, or historical mysteries starring feisty heroines, why not sign up to my newsletter, or pick up one of my novels?
Follow these great authors for a chance to win!
Happy Halloween! 10/8/2022 0 Comments It's contest time! This month, I'm holding a contest for my readers!
All you have to do is pick up a copy of my book, The Strangled Servant, and snap a selfie of yourself holding it. This can be paperback or e-reader. Use the hashtag #StrangledServantSelfie and post it to twitter or instagram. I'll choose a winner and whoever wins, gets to be a character in my next mini-mystery! You could be a murder victim, the villain, a thief, a love interest or the sleuth. This could be a great gift idea for a friend or family member, so don't delay! Pick up your copy, snap that selfie and you could win! I'll be announcing the winner in November. Any questions, just ask. Cheers Erin 9/6/2022 0 Comments Feature in the Metro!I was lucky earlier this year to be mentioned in a list of authors on how to create the perfect writing environment. Read on for how I do it!  Check out my entry below!  Click on the images to read more, or go here for the full article. How do you create the perfect writing environment? Drop you tips in the comments, I'd love to see.
Cheers ELJohnson 9/3/2022 0 Comments Author achievement unlocked!
So this week, I checked my book, The Strangled Servant, on Amazon and discovered... It's got 101 ratings.
Over a hundred people have rated my book. Holy crap. I had no idea. Once my book was published I'd check the Amazon page frequently (which you're not supposed to do apparently) and I was shocked. I feel like if being an author (or authoring as I like to call it) was a video game then reaching 100 Amazon ratings would be an achievement I've unlocked.
I know it's not that big a deal (there are some authors with thousands upon thousands of ratings) but to me, this is huge.
It feels like it validates me as an author. I've done it. I'm a real author. Like Pinocchio says 'I'm a real boy,' I feel like I'm a real author. It's great. For me this is big. It's a milestone in my writing career. So yeah. Small stuff in a big way. And if you haven't yet, pick up The Strangled Servant. I'd say it's worth a read. Cheers ELJ  Since December 2021, Kentucky has been devastated by many weather events that are considered once in a lifetime. Most recently, the floods in Eastern Kentucky have crippled the Bluegrass.
There is help coming from FEMA, as well as the state, but we know as authors we can help, too. I've joined over thirty authors in a charity anthology to help the victims recover. Many of them have lost everything they own, and it will be difficult getting their lives back again. Backing the Bluegrass features a collection of extended scenes/short stories from over thirty authors with the characters you love. I will be writing A Distillery to die for! As a reader, you may notice that this is a Payhip preorder, and you may not be familiar with them. No problem! See below for answers to your questions. What is a Payhip preorder? It's the same as any other vendor (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google Play), with one exception. The money comes out WHEN you preorder. When will my book be delivered? Books will be live August 31st at 8AM CST (US TIME) How will my book be delivered? Through Bookfunnel. If you've never used Bookfunnel, it's super easy. You can read through their app, on your computer, or on any device you so choose. What happens if I have issues with downloading the book? In your email from Bookfunnel, there is FAQ link, as well as a support link from Bookfunnel themselves. They will handle all support - all you have to do is reach out to them. There will be very clear instructions in the email. Why are you doing it this way? Why not use a vendor? We're doing this to get the money in the hands of the people who need it ASAP. Vendors keep authors money for 30-60 days, and the need for Kentucky is immediate. Thank you so much for your support! Preorder here https://payhip.com/b/Ogt1Q |
E.L. JohnsonHere's my blog posts on the latest news and thoughts I have about the craft of writing. Archives
December 2022
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