Author S.J. Johnson

Author S.J. Johnson: FREE Copy of ‘The Drive’ by S.J. Johnson !!!

2012-05-05T07:57:00.001-07:00

Author S.J. Johnson: FREE Copy of ‘The Drive’ by S.J. Johnson !!!: FREE – TODAY ONLY !!! I am very excited to be able to offer my Horror/Thriller Novel ‘The Drive’ for free to you today!

FREE Copy of ‘The Drive’ by S.J. Johnson !!!

2012-05-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

FREE – TODAY ONLY !!!

I am very excited to be able to offer my Horror/Thriller Novel ‘The Drive’ for free to you today!

Bargain Best Seller: Thriller Novel ‘THE DRIVE’ by S.J. Johnson @Amazon
Click or Scan this QRC Code and get your copy Now!

Birth of a Book

2012-04-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

Birth of a Book: a tour of Smith Settle's handmade bookbinding process

Watch Smith Settle bookbinders bring a hardback book to life.

Beautiful poetry of an amazing art. A film by Glen Milner

How many of us pause to wonder, when we hold a beautiful book in our hands, about the work that went into making it?

In the case of a Slightly Foxed edition – elegant pocket-sized clothbound books that are limited to 2000 copies and cost £15 – it’s hard NOT to consider this. Who chose the lovely coloured linen and contrasting endpapers, you ask yourself? Who blind-stamped the reading fox on the front, or gilded the book’s author and title onto the spine?

For this mesmerizing exclusive video, Glen Milner visited Smith Settle bookbinders near Leeds, where the owners, Don Walters and Tracey Thorne, allowed him to film the making of the 17th Slightly Foxed book, Suzanne St Albans’s memoir Mango and Mimosa, from start to finish.

Here, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the printing plates, the stitching of the “signatures” (folded sections), the pressing and gluing, the adding of the ribbon bookmark and head and tail bands, the making of the final hardcover in green linen cloth and the numbering of the copies. All of it done with great care, much of it by hand.

Slightly Foxed is paradoxically innovative and old-school. While most books are now printed and bound overseas, their choice to collaborate with Smith Settle, traditional British binders who have made elaborate editions for the Folio Society among others, has meant that instead of struggling to keep up with the digital revolution, this small press is making a profit.

I'm so glad to share this with you from the London Telegraph. Books are a very important and vital part of my life. As much as I appreciate and am enamored by the electronic press and technology, I sincerely hope this art form never dies. Our world would truly be a lesser place without these miracles.

S.J. Johnson

Selfish Relaxation time: Reading

2012-03-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

With our busy go-go-go lives, it's hard to find time to sit down and read a book. But reading is a very vital skill to keep alive and active. If you think you just can't find time to read, here's a couple of ideas to show you where reading time can be squeezed into even the most busiest of schedules.

1- Have a doctor or dentist appointment? Take a small paperback, or the electronic ereader of your choice, with you and grab a page or two while waiting in the waiting room. Not only will the wait seem to fly by, but you'll stay more relaxed and less nervous about the visit.
2- If you take a bus anywhere, bring along a book instead, or as well as, your music player. Reading is a great way to make the wait time shorter, plus if it's a long bus trip, a little entertainment along the way is always appreciated.
3- Lunch breaks at work are a simple way to make sure you read a little everyday. Pull out, microwave, or purchase your meal (or snack) and sit down in a quiet corner where you can pull out your book and disappear into the words while eating. Even your mind will appreciate the break from work.
4- This idea is a little tricky, but if you can pull it off safely a warm relaxing bath is also a great way to escape with a story for a while. Just be careful not to accidentally drop your book, or e-reader, into the water.
5- Lastly, reading at night is a classic way to find alone time. Not only is it a great way to relax before sleeping, the back and forth movement of your eyes will actually make falling asleep easier. Just be sure to make your "Good-night story" isn't too suspenseful or scary - The point is to fall asleep, not keep you awake longer wanting to know what happens or cause bumps in the night.

Recession friendly .99 eBook Club

2012-03-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

In the midst of the .99 and cheaper books available on the web, and things being what they are in the financial world, buying a novel for the average retail price of $25+ is just not practical for many right now.

So, my assistant and I have decided to take full advantage and start an internet book club catering to the avid readers we know and love and expose not only ourselves but our friends and others to the plethora of reading wealth now on the market. While it is true that we may find some 'bombs' it is also very possible that we will find some incredible gems that we would otherwise never even consider.

We are excited about building this community of people together, all of whom love to read and wanting make some new friends with which to discuss and share our love of the written word.

Please come check out the website, take a look at what we think will be a very successful book club, and hopefully you will like what you see and join. It's absolutely free to become a member and participate, the only real cost to you is for the book that we all read together and your time (many of the suggested eBooks are FREE)

Thank you,
S.J.

99ebookclub.wordpress.com

FREE eBooks for your 3G and internet Devices

2012-02-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

If Google Trends are anything to go by, a fair number of you were fortunate enough to unwrap a Kindle 3 this last Christmas. If not then you can still have access to the world of Kindle books from other sources including the device you’re using to read this post.

Amazon's Kindle currently supports free readers for these devices:

iPhone
Windows PC
Mac
Blackberry
iPad
Android
Windows 7 Phones

~.~

As long as you have a 3G or Internet connection on your devices, you’ll be able to automatically sync where you last left off in a book, as well as keep your notes and highlights intact.

You can download the FREE Kindle reader for your device by simply clicking on the link below:

FREE Kindle Reader Downloads

~.~

Now that you have your new Kindle Reader downloaded and installed on your device, you might want some books, so I thought I would provide you with some of the following resources for getting some free books to enjoy and explore with your reader app.

For all but the Kindle Store, you’ll need to transfer the books manually using a computer and USB cable.

Project Gutenberg: 33,000 free e-books, including all of the classics, available in Kindle, HTML and simple text formats.
Google E-Bookstore: The free section is filled with thousands of free, scanned copies of books, available in Kindle-friendly PDF formats.
Internet Archive: Millions of primarily rare, out-of-print works in multiple languages and formats (including Kindle), especially useful for academic work.
Open Library: 20 million user-contributed items in multiple editions and formats (including Kindle).
ManyBooks.net: Nearly 30,000 titles, many of which have been pulled from Project Gutenberg. Has a good collection of little-known Creative Commons works.
LibriVox: Thousands of free audiobooks.

Looking for more Kindle resources?

Also available are audiobooks here:

Open Culture
Amazon Audiobooks
Bookyards
Planet eBook

Then are also the options for subscriptions with many newspapers, magazines and even blogs are available on the Kindle. Each comes with a 14-day free trial subscription and is delivered automatically as updates are released.

I do not get any money from Amazon for writing this blog or telling you how to get their free reader apps and books. I am an author that has books available for Kindle, the only way I get any type of payment is when you buy my ebooks.

I'm hoping that you will love your new free kindle reader so much that you decide and buy my ebooks.

Please comment and let me know your thoughts, your sharing helps me feel like I’m not the only one reading this =)

Author S.J. Johnson: How to read Kindle eBooks on your computer for FRE...

2012-02-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Author S.J. Johnson: How to read Kindle eBooks on your computer for FRE...: Get your FREE ‘Kindle Reader’ download for PC from Amazon right here! As simple as 1, 2, 3 1.) Click the link on this page and downlo...

How to read Kindle eBooks on your computer for FREE

2012-02-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

Get your FREE ‘Kindle Reader’ download for PC from Amazon right here!

As simple as 1, 2, 3

1.) Click the link on this page and download the application

2.) Follow the instructions

3.) Begin browsing through the HUGE selection of eBooks that are now available to you.

YES, it is that easy!

Just click the link and you will instantly have access to 1,000′s of Kindle eBooks in minutes. You can find many of your favorite authors for free, $ .99 and many more under $10. There is a huge selection of eBooks available to you once you download and install the Kindle eReader, Including New Releases.

While you’re at Amazon.com, please don’t forget to get your copy of my new release, “The Drive” by S.J. Johnson.

FREE Kindle Reader Download

What’s a ‘Kindle’?

It’s an electronic reader, basically. You can download books, newspapers, and magazines and read them on this portable machine, kind of like you do on a computer. Buy e-books or subscriptions to the NY Times and read them all in one gadget.
They have tried to make it like a real book – you can “turn” the pages with a click, and the screen is supposed to look like paper.

What’s a ‘Kindle Reader’ for PC?

It’s basically the same thing only it’s a downloaded program for your desktop computer or your laptop. It gives you all the benefits of the Kindle device to read all forms of written materials without the extra expense of buying a ‘Kindle’ device.

Follow this Link for FREE Kindle Reader for your iPhone too.

~.~

Author S.J. Johnson: 2012 Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game First Place...

2012-02-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Author S.J. Johnson: 2012 Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game First Place...: The Last Match by Skip Ramsey I want to personally Thank each and every one of the very talented writers that...

2012 Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game First Place Entry

2012-02-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Last Match

by Skip Ramsey

I want to personally Thank each and every one of the very talented writers that were willing to share their gifts by submitting entries into The Micro-Story Writing Game. Whether or not you took a placement or a prize I hope you are proud of your piece. I am amazed every time I hold one of these games, at the wealth of writing talent that gets exposed. I feel honored to have been a part in this game because of you.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your participation. This game was so much fun that we are considering doing another very soon instead of waiting an entire year for the next. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this experience enough that you will be submitting another example of your skill in the next writing game.

S.J.

Having Kindle Problems? Fixes for Kindle Common Issues.

2012-02-03T19:34:00.000-08:00

As an author selling my books through Amazon for the Kindle and as a Kindle owner I find having problems is paramount to the ease of getting these issues fixed so that I can get back to enjoying my little electronic wonder.

After much frustration and research, the following is what I have been able to glean from a multitude of sources. Hopefully this can assist you with whatever may be ailing your device and turn your 'problem child' back into your beloved little Kindle.
Please understand I am not a technician or an expert in Kindles in any way. I understand how to search the internet, ask questions and make a ton of phone calls, so you hopefully wont have to.

One of the most annoying Kindle problems that we suffer on a frequent basis are Kindle battery problems can be as wide as we can imagine. Of course the worst case scenario is to find out a critical error message dealing with battery issues. Before you begin to panic just be sure that there is a good reason for having the power battery depleted. Just to cover any doubts and in spite of having hit the web trying to find a magical solution from websites dealing with Kindle problems, try out this very simple sequence of actions:

Slide the power button and holding it for about 30 seconds.

Release and wait around 20 seconds until the screen begins to flash.

As soon as it does, plugin the power cord and keep it connected for about 2 hours.

Most Kindle battery problems start to appear after to have the device turned off for long periods of time; however there have been Kindle problems dealing with defective batteries.

Kindle problems linked to battery issues can lead to other possible type of problem with Kindle, and that is everything related to the WiFi usage. Sometimes, they are linked and confused with Kindle WiFi problems. First of all, try to turn of the WiFi usage whenever you don’t need it. There have been documented cases in which the battery without WiFi can last no less than two weeks on, while the duration could be a couple of days if the wireless is turned on constantly. This behavior is what tends to confused battery and Kindle WiFi problems, and just to be sure we have reported cases of Kindle 3 WiFi problems. So, proper usage will make to expand the life of your Kindle device and avoid having huge Kindle problems.

Solving Kindle Problems

Let’s move on to another type of Kindle problems, and they are Kindle screen problems. Most of them come from defective devices, which are replaced by Amazon in a few days. Anyway, having frozen and broken screen in painful, most of all because going days without a Kindle after having owning one is not an option for the vast majority of people. Some people have narrowed possible causes of having Kindle problems with screen, for example, putting the Kindle to sleep (by pressing ALT + the text key), you have to wake it up (by pressing ALT + the text key again) prior to it off. If you do it the other way around, as a result, the next time you turn it on, the screen goes funny and you will have to turn it off and turn it back on to get it to work properly. There is also a reset button under the rubber cover that you can press with an opened paperclip. Of course if nothing else seems to work contact Amazon customer support and have your Kindle repaired. The same behavior happens if too much pressure is applied to the device, which can bring even more Kindle problems.

As usual, Kindle problems freeing can be confused or linked to other Kindle problems. Some customers have reported certain relation with the Kindle cover. And in many cases, after the customer reported the problem to Amazon, they promptly replaced the device and thee cover quite fast. That is way many people tend to confuse this with Kindle cover problems. In some cases your Kindle will just froze and no matter what buttons you start to press, nothing may seem to work, until you finally remove the battery, and after a few minutes your Kindle will go off. Replacing the battery and having the Kindle operative once more time can take a short time. So in most cases, once your Kindle freezes, at the very least you will need to make a hard reboot to try to fix this and other Kindle problems.

Kindle Problems Everywhere!

If you wonder whether or not there are Kindle dx problems, you can be sure of it. Any of the Kindle problems addressed in this article can be easily found in the dx version. Not all Kindle dx owners have trouble with their Kindle, but apparently there are a significant number of people who have experienced Kindle dx freezing as well. Amazon has acknowledged the problem, too, and is, in fact, currently working on a solution to this and many other Kindle problems.

You can be sure that there are even Kindle for PC problems, so no platform is exempted of having to deal with hot fixes, one way or another. Kindle for PC problems can be downloading problems, registration problems, or usage problems, in any case, this is the least of all the Kindle problems.

Contacting Amazon for Fixing Kindle Problems

If you are experiencing any kind of Kindle problems, these are the contact numbers for Amazon technical support:

(These numbers are correct as of 2/2/12)

For customers inside the US, toll free line is 1-866-321-8851

For customers outside the US, hotline is 1-206-266-0927

For customers in the UK, toll free line is 0800-496-2449.

In the worst case scenario Amazon will replace very quickly your Kindle, and hopefully you won’t have any more Kindle problems.

ReP: Obvious to you… Amazing to others…Jan28

2012-01-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share this bit of insight with you this morning.

I feel that most of us ‘creative’ minded people have a ‘doubting demon’ housed in the backs of our consciousnesses, slowly feeding and chipping away on our confidence. This constantly reminds us that we ‘don’t have what it takes’.

Sometimes, throughout the process of creating a piece of art, (no matter what the medium you choose to utilize), without warning and quite uninvited the thoughts occur from deep inside, “I can’t do this. Maybe I’ll try again later. It’s not as good as the other guy. I should just give up.”

This constant diet of negative thought makes it very difficult to ‘believe’ in our own work, and to prove to ourselves that it IS good enough to keep pursuing.
Well okay, maybe you don’t have one of these critters dwelling in the dark recesses of your confidence, but I definitely do. Unfortunately I listen to this advice more than I should.
I have discovered that the trick to finishing a project doesn’t have anything to do with the encouragement we receive from family, friends or our peers. It does however have everything to do with the never ending fight within ourselves, against our own self esteem, self perception and how we value ourselves in comparison to what we think of others.
Having listened to my inner doubt one day and avoiding my true desires to write, I found this fantastic piece of advice while stumbling through the vastness of the internet. It struck me so profoundly that I posted a note right over the top of my computer to constantly remind me of its thoughtful and inspiring message.

It has helped me overpower the doubts I fight, sometimes daily, in this quest of mine to write a better story.
So here it is. I truly hope you glean from it everything I did and it can prove as a source of weaponry against your own ‘doubting demon’.

I wish you only good luck in your pursuits, whatever they may be. Follow your dreams, they will lead you to good places.

S.J. Johnson

***********************************************

VIDEO LINK:
http://www.wimp.com/obviousyou/

Article:
"Any creator of anything knows this feeling:
You experience someone else's innovative work. It's beautiful, brilliant, breath-taking. You're stunned.
Their ideas are unexpected and surprising, but perfect.
You think, “I never would have thought of that. How do they even come up with that? It's genius!”
Afterwards, you think, “My ideas are so obvious. I'll never be as inventive as that.”
I get this feeling often. Amazing books, music, movies, or even amazing conversations. I'm in awe at how the creator thinks like that. I'm humbled.
But I continue to do my work. I tell my little tales. I share my point of view. Nothing spectacular. Just my ordinary thoughts.
One day someone emailed me and said, “I never would have thought of that. How did you even come up with that? It's genius!”
Of course I disagreed, and explained why it was nothing special.
But afterwards, I realized something surprisingly profound:
Everybody's ideas seem obvious to them.
I'll bet even John Coltrane or Richard Feynman felt that everything they were playing or saying was pretty obvious.
So maybe what's obvious to me is amazing to someone else?
Hit songwriters, in interviews, often admit that their most successful hit song was one they thought was just stupid, even not worth recording.
We're clearly a bad judge of our own creations. We should just put it out and let the world decide.
Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?"

http://sivers.org/obvious

The Micro-Story Writing Game on FB

2012-01-24T05:47:00.000-08:00

CHECK IT OUT! Click the link and cast your vote for your favorite short story

The countdown: Only 10 DAYS left to participate, read and vote!

Don't miss out on your chance to win a free copy of my book by posting your winning micro-story.

I’m very excited about the entries we have so far, I will be casting my own votes next week. Click the link now and check them out!

** Writers,

Be sure to share again and get your friends to read and vote for their favorite entry **

Author S.J. Johnson: Shameless Plug : The Drive - New Release!

2012-01-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

Author S.J. Johnson: Shameless Plug : The Drive - New Release!: Click ON SALE NOW! ‘The Drive’

Shameless Plug : The Drive - New Release!

2012-01-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

Click ON SALE NOW!

‘The Drive’

Brian Hadley began to recognize that he was losing everything he had been working his whole life to build. He realized he needed to reconnect with his family before it was too late. In hopes of salvaging what is left of their slowly dissolving and parting relationships, he designed what he thought to be the perfect family get away; a road trip to a remote mountain Lodge merely a few hundred miles drive away from their home.

Along the way Brian, his wife Kathy and their three children discover much more than a rekindling of their family bonds with each other as they attempt to escape the deadly and treacherous landscape surrounding them.

Their holiday away to discover each other rapidly becomes a struggle for their very survival when they are suddenly thrust into a wild and unpredictable land filled with unnatural and deadly threats at every turn. A place shrouded in dense unforgiving fog and seemingly determined to destroy them as they endure one torment after another.

The question is no longer will they regain what they have lost from each other, but rather how will they survive, the drive.

The Micro-Story Writing Game on FB

2012-01-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

Fantastic stories, we're just missing yours!

Only eighteen days left to participate, read and vote. Don't miss out on your chance to win a free copy of my book with your micro-story.
We have some excellent story submissions from very talented writers. Click the link now and check them out!
Writers, be sure to share again and get your friends to read and vote for your entry

Join the Fun!

The Micro-Story Writing Game on Facebook.com

Top 5 ways to open up your creative flow

2012-01-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

1. Trust your canvas: don’t fear the blank screen.

!?!?! !?!?!

With even a single glimmer of an idea, don’t hesitate until you’re overwhelmed with ideas, start writing about it in the simplest form possible right now. Start with an outline, in the middle, the ending or the first line of the first page. Picture a scene or interaction between just two characters or the thoughts of only one character and run with it. Then go back and copy and paste it into the proper place if you need to. It doesn’t matter in which order you create it, as long as you keep writing you’re moving forward with the story, even if you work from somewhere in the middle outward. *Hint: A lot of mystery writers write backward on purpose through their stories to fold up the storyline plot twists.

2. Inspiration is everywhere: stop, relax and listen to your inner voice.

If you already know your characters then explore them. Read about or research where they live. Imagine what they might eat, how they dress, their hobbies, interest’s or dreams. Make them very real in your mind so that they are easier to envision in certain situations.

If you don’t have an idea for a story and you’re starting from nothing, know that your story can come from anywhere. Looking for divine inspiration is easier than you might think. What inspires you? What makes you want to...? What thrills you or makes your heart skip a beat?

Think about your favorite book, movie or something interesting you found on the web. A personal story you overheard. Imagine how you can change it in a way to make it better or more interesting. Think about the hero/heroin and then imagine the plot as if it were you in their place. How would you have done things differently? How should the story have unfolded?

3. Give yourself subliminal encouragement: become a Post-It junkie.

Use an entire pad of post-it notes and on separate pages write out different scenario’s, scenes, ideas, characters on each note. Now do this every time you get inspired by something else inside your story. Post them somewhere within sight of where you normally write. Put them where you will see them throughout the day to give yourself encouragement and future inspiration. Leave ideas in your wallet, car, and pockets. Leave the posted ideas, plots and story builders for yourself everywhere. It will not only help to keep you inspired but will also rekindle your desire and make you want to take a time out to write.

4. Eliminate distractions, concentrate: find someplace comfortable, turn off Internet!

If you don’t absolutely need the Internet to do the task before you, disconnect. Literally pull the plug. This may sound drastic, but really, the Internet is the biggest time-waster ever invented (which is why I love it). It will suck you in and never let you go. It’s like crack, but with an educational and entertaining value. Turn it off.

Now focus.

5. Find your timing: pick your schedule, don’t wait for it present itself.

It makes very little sense to try to sit at the keyboard or with pen and paper to concentrate on the next greatest novel while the children are ripping through the house screaming about the tardiness of their next meal, just before your roommate decides to throw another impromptu party or your boss is waiting for you to finish up the task at hand. Pay attention to your daily routine and find an opening. Really listen to yourself and discover when is the best time for you to be able to open up your ideas and create. If all you can find is an hour a day, or one day a week, then use that time. Do not 'wait until there's a better time', because let's face it the better timing won't happen until it's too late.

Sometimes the creative flow picks bad timing for us and it strikes somewhere outside the schedule. Don’t fool yourself by thinking, ‘I’ve got to remember that’, because as good as your intentions are, you will forget that great idea and frustrate yourself even more by crashing your creative flow with the process of trying to remember. In these instances I have a cheap notebook in my purse, by my bed and in my car so that I can quickly jot down a really good spontaneous idea. Not a novel worth, just some quick notes to help refresh my memory. I also text my own cell phone with unexpected inspirations that I really don’t want to lose. Later, when the creative juices seemed to have dried up, I refer to these fantastic ideas.

Instant creative flow!

Good luck to you in your endeavors to write. Don’t stop. If there is a will, you will find a way.

S.J. Johnson

I'm sexy and I know it ! Hillarious way to start the day !

2012-01-11T06:56:00.000-08:00

Author S.J. Johnson: Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game

2012-01-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

Author S.J. Johnson: Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game: Click here for all the details:

The-Micro-Story-Writing-Game

I get so excited about hosting these games.

Facebook Micro-Story Writing Game

2012-01-03T15:27:00.001-08:00

Click here for all the details:

The-Micro-Story-Writing-Game

I get so excited about hosting these games. They are so much fun, even if you just read the submissions, it gets hilarious!

And now for something completely different…

2011-12-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

This particular blog post has absolutely nothing to do with writing or publicizing my new novel or promoting anything other than some rather ridiculous fun.

Over the last few weeks I have become slightly obsessed with ‘new to me’ foreign foods, or more to the point what I consider to be bizarre foreign foods.

I would consider myself to be a typical American foodie with a decent palette for diverse delicacies. Rather than allowing myself to become stuck in a rut, I really enjoy mixing up my culinary indulgences by trying new cuisines and flavors from around the world as often as possible. I have found many new favorites, as well as some things I will never eat again including some I can’t even think about without a tiny gag, but it has been a delicious and fascinating journey so far and I don’t intend to quit stretching my curiosity any time soon.

Okay, so I cannot place myself in the same category with the ‘professional taste testers’, and definitely nothing nearly as extreme as Andrew Zimmern. I think he stands is in a league of his own when it come to strange and exotic tasting curiosity.

I do have my limits and they definitely stop far short of Cambodian tree slugs, but I do like to explore new things and food is just one of the many guilty pleasures I like to experiment with.

As well, I’m sure there are many more people in the world that may have a like mind and might appreciate the possibility of at least looking into the new and unusual edible possibilities from around the world. I believe that some of the foods from right here in my little home town might seem strange and unappetizing to others from various cultures too.

I decided this morning that maybe others out there might enjoy a bit of a cultural food knowledge exchange, so I have delved into some of my favorite sites and gathered some of the things I thought you might enjoy.

I don’t usually make resolutions because I rarely keep them and feel as if I’ve set myself up for a bit of a failure. But I have decided that with the coming new year 2012, I will reside to resolute in trying some of these interesting offerings from around the globe. If there is even an ounce of interest, I will post my discoveries and my reactions to these said experiences throughout the coming year.

I'm not saying that I will be trying all or any of these delectable choices, this is just to expand exposure to the possibilities available.

In the mean time, feast your eyes on these vids, pics and links that I kindly submit for your enjoyment, they make me giggle, curious or repulsed. I have done my best to authenticate the following products to ensure that these are actual edibles available to purchase.

In addition, I'm not making a joke of and no insult intended to any culture or ethnicity, it’s all in good fun.

I really would love to hear what you think.

S.J. Johnson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yumm! Haggis and Black pepper Potato chips. I bet this would be fantastic with a tuna sandwich and pickle.
***

I would have never imagined this flavor combination. Ginger-ale and chocolatey Krispy Kit Kat.
***

Sounds interesting.
***

Imagine the possibilities at your next Bar-B-Que! I think this one is definitely worth a try.
***

Who in their right mind would do this to chocolate?
***

Intense Dill Pickle? Seriously?
***

All the flavors of a calorie infested dinner without the hassle of gaining any of the pounds, and no pesky after dinner tryptophan coma. Fantastic idea!

~~~~~~

I must also include this "Emmy: Made In Japan" video. I really love her YouTube vids, very engaging, informative and entertaining. Exposing me to this fascinating world of Japanese candy actually made me want to go to our local Japanese market to get some and try it for myself.

All I can say is Popin'Cookin' brand candies are really fun for kiddies to be able to make their own sweeties, tastes just terrible.

LINKS TO QUESTIONABLE FOOD IDEAS:

Canned food considerations

The Weird Things People Eat Around the World

Bizarre McDonald’s Food From Around The World (Gallery)

not so ORIGINAL IDEAS...

2011-12-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

The process begins.

You’ve invented this incredible story idea and you decide that you must write it.
Maybe it’s about a past experience that you need to share, or a really good idea that is an accumulation of many people’s life experiences. It could be a complete piece of fiction which originated from a childhood fear or the culmination of multiple fears. Your story could be a plot derived from a book you read or a movie you saw and thought, “I could have done that so much better, I would do it this way…”

Regardless of however the story comes into being, you know it’s a good story and the passion to create it begins to build.
In your mind these people come to life. The landscape begins to form, the plot thickens and evolves into something rich and engaging. You can see the entire sketch of this new reality from beginning to end. You know these characters and the occurrences inside and out. The characters become real, you know everything about them; how they look, how they react, how they think.

The story, inside your head, has already happened. Now you just need to walk the reader through the events one page at a time and acquaint the observer with the tale, carrying them clear through to the blissful ending.
The process continues and you begin to write.

Maybe it happens slowly at first, until you begin to fall in love with one or more of the main characters, then the story unfolds like water pouring from a bucket and at times it happens so fast that it’s hard to keep up with pounding it out on the keyboard fast enough before you lose your train of thought. Or maybe it’s a fight to find the next step in the plot, or even the next line in the paragraph but it becomes a labor of love which forces the need to finish telling this tale. Either way you are now committed to immortalizing this story.
The creative process is a strange a mysterious place, but oh so wonderful when you become struck by its power.

Then just as you get into the swing or even halfway through the process of crafting out this masterpiece, you discover that something similar already exists. A movie that is being released next month, a new book being promoted by a popular writer or a friend tells you about story written many decades ago and your heart sinks in your chest because it’s ‘your’ original idea.

Someone at some point imagined the same story and beat you to the punch line by telling it first. This is where a lot of would be very good writers will succumb to the self-doubting process that all creative minded people share. They allow themselves to stumble and fall and let their story die without so much as a brief glimmer of existence because someone else also thought it was such a good idea they were compelled to tell a similar story.

You cannot give up. Know that this is just a hurdle in being a writer.

This is the point where you must forge forward despite the fact that someone else is doing it or has done it. Even if your story line has ‘similar’ features, even though there are a couple of coincidental occurrences, you must remind your inner doubt that your story is still just as unique and individual as you are.

The story of “Romeo and Juliet” has been told thousands, if not tens of thousands, of times throughout literary history. “Beauty and the Beast” has been resurrected in a magnitude of different genres with many different equations mixed into it. The eternal battle between good and evil, the dark and the light, will be retold countless times before and even long after you’re no longer alive to tell your version of the war.

What you need to remember is that you are writing your story. Inside your mind these people, this place, these trials happen from your point of view and no one on the planet can tell it from that vantage better than you can.

As your story continues to progress changes will occur, growth in an unforeseen direction will present itself and your story will come to life in a completely different light. Even during the editing process the storyline changes and plots twist in new ways that you can’t possibly conceive of at the moment of conception or during the rapture of creation.

The source for your inspiration lives only inside you.
Whatever you decide, don’t stop writing. Finish it, read it through and only then should you decide if you want to or need to change anything.

Never stop moving forward in your journey simply because someone else has walked the path before you.

Good luck and keep writing.

S.J.
Come 'Like' my Facebook Fan Page and join the fun!
S.J.Johnson.Author Facebook Fan Page

Holiday Price ONLY $2.99 for 'the drive' by S.J. Johnson in Kindle and Nook

2011-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Friends !
Just in case you have a 'mystery/action/suspense/thriller' book lover on your holiday gift list, 'the drive' by S.J. Johnson is available on Kindle and Nook for only $2.99 and it's delivered immediately to their reader/laptop/PC - (no waiting, no extra shipping fees)
It's a fantastic deal and a very good book.

Check out the reviews from Barnes & Noble:

"The Drive - Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!
A bit of a slow start but an amazing ending! Great read."

"Excellent!!!!
The plot is rich and new. The characters are very real. I was completely captivated. Good story!!
I am going to recommend this for the next read at my book club."

+++++

Check out this review from Amazon:

"The Drive (Kindle Edition)

This is one of the best suspense novels I've read in a long time. Each page kept me wanting to read the next one and by the end I was so engrossed with the story and so involved with the characters that I was crying by the last page. Between 'the drive' and S.J. Johnson's other book 'Pages', this author is definitely on my watch list. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!!"

I have been so busy the last couple of days ...

2011-12-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

I have been extremely busy the last few days sending donated copies of my book “The Drive” to our courageous men and women stationed overseas through an outreach program, Operations eBook Drop.

It has been an overwhelming, rewarding and inspirational experience. The thoughtful and encouraging comments that I have received so far has been heartwarming. What an amazing association this has been and I feel honored to have played a small part of it.

There are now 1,153 participating authors involved with Operation eBook Drop offering free and donated downloads of their books for our brave men and women in the coalition of the Armed Forces.

If you get a moment you should check out the Facebook page. There is such a great need for so many worthy people.

I would like to personally thank all of you that have sent in their donations, to what I feel is a very worthwhile cause and for making me a part of something so important. You have graciously spread the word with your generosity of love and support for their efforts and they are greatly appreciated by everyone involved.

S.J. Johnson

From the Imagination and Graphic Artistry of K.A. M'Lady & P.M. Dittman.

Smashwords.com supports: Operation eBook Drop

Building the Facebook Fan Page

2011-12-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, here's how this works. We want to get to over 100+ new Likes for the Facebook Fan Page, so Like and then share this post! When we reach 100+ Likes, we'll look at all the Shares that happened on the day we reached 100+ (Yes, this means if you share, we reach 90 and the next day we reach 100+, you can share again and you are eligible). We'll randomly pick three winners from everyone who shared on that day and those winners will get a free downloadable copy of the new novel THE DRIVE. So, Click the link, Like & Share and get in the game! Good luck!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Johnson/122990864388704

S.J. Johnson