For some reason, Twitter is really playing up today. At first I started to lose pictures, then it slowed, then this strange screen appeared. Seems to be twitter but just plain words rather than the proper website. Very odd.
Uncategorized
More music
Sun and showers, not the best summer we have had so plugging away at the keyboard doesn’t detract too much from my preference to be outside in the fresh air.
A follower on twitter asked me to have a listen to his latest album
Shy Blakeman, Texas based, a real talent and I would say a name to watch out for. You can download his album free at the moment on this link
http://www.shyblakeman.com/fr_freemusic.cfm
Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Military forums
http://www.Militaryforums.co.uk is a community based forum for retired, serving and potential military people to chat and to keep in touch. It is used by Army, Navy and RAF personnel all over the world. I heard that many of them have kindles to save having to carry a lot of books into theatre.
So, in co-operation with Militaryforums we ran a free promotion for the book saturday just gone. I’m please to report that 700 UK based readers downloaded the book and also, surprisingly, nearly 500 U.S based readers. That brings total downloads of the book to over 12K since April. For a new author such as me, to imagine that twelve thousand people world-wide have either read or are about to read your writing is very humbling.
Best I re-double my efforts for book two..
Twittering
I awoke today to discover that my twitter account has accumulated over 1600 followers. From what I have read twitter seems to be the best way to market the work of an author who is an #indie, ie independent of an established publisher. It has worked fairly well, with regular good feedback and sales ticking over nicely. I’m not selling enough to make a living so the feedback is very encouraging. A couple of days ago one of my readers suggested asking a couple of established authors to re-tweet my work. My novel has been compared to these writers very favourably in reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, so I thought ‘why not’, give it a go.
They ignored the requests. Oh well, back to the daily search for new friends who will spread the word.
Then, this morning, I log on to find I am being followed by an author who I have admired for years. Stephen Leather. Stephen has written over thirty great thrillers. I was flattered. For a newbie like me to have attracted the interest of one of the major writers in my chosen genre has given me a real shot in the arm.
http://www.stephenleather.com/ is his website, he’s a great writer with an excellent sense of humour, as you will see from the comments he makes on his site.
For me, its back to the grindstone. But I have sent Stephen Leather a mail, I wonder if he will respond…
Wicked Game now on Barnes & Noble NOOK
Great news, just a couple of days after kobo, B & N have published on the NOOK ereader website.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wicked-game-matt-johnson/1112407332?ean=2940044734746
is the link
Getting started on a book
I’ve recently had two ‘tweets’ asking about starting a book.
As I am in the initial stages of my second novel, I can tell you how I got started. There is a lot written about the subject, there are courses, qualifications and degrees in creative writing, but to my mind, it comes down to one important thing, the ability to tell a story. If you can, then you may well be able to complete a book.
Some writers have the story mapped out before they even start page one. They write the skeleton, then add flesh to bones, chapter by chapter. That’s how I work but, rest assured, the skeleton will change as you write. New ideas will come to you and the tale will evolve. I enjoy this process and never quite know where the adventure will take me.
It is a good idea to read a lot. Don’t just read the story, look at the style, the layout, the plot and ask yourself why popular books work.
Getting started. First rule for me, don’t be afraid. Chances are you will not use what you write, you will not be happy with your first scribblings. But you must start that first chapter, if you spend all your time thinking how to write the perfect introduction, you will never make that all important first step.
Dont worry too much about the ending. That will evolve as you write, but do think carefully about the characters and do write down their features, personality etc. They are real and their presence in the novel must be consistent. A simple example, if your main protaganist has short brown hair, don’t have her combing her long blond locks later on in the story. Readers pick up on such things and it can spoil their enjoyment of the story.
Don’t be too concerned with the title. Do start with one, but be prepared to change it as the story develops. Wicked Game had several titles before the final draft.
Matt J.
Listening to music while writing
I sometimes wonder if writers need silence, the radio on, or if they listen to music. I choose the latter, something restful in the background. Sometimes my searches for good music bring up some real gems..
Two of them are these, Caroline Harrison and Amy Wadge. Have a listen. You may enjoy the experience.
http://carolineharrison.bandcamp.com/album/a-simple-wish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZpTqemKX2g for Caroline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLIyCdBy-7s for Amy, freefall, one of my favourites
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CAeuaLJ0Jg&feature=related a special song for those very fortunatem and I fear rather rare women, who have a good man in their lives.
Wicked Game now out on KOBO
Heard today that KOBO have decided to publish ‘Wicked Game’. Great news, the novel now available to a wider audience.
For the link to the kobo website.
Front covers for kindle
Making you first dip into the world of the novellist is very daunting. There really is so much written about it and so much conflicting advice. One consistent factor is the design of your front cover. I am no designer, so I went to a local lad who could work within my limited budget. In truth, it cost me a bottle of red wine.
Steve Lindon, from Golden Valley Art is a web designer, artist and very talented photographer. His website at http://www.goldenvalleyart.co.uk showcases some of his work and can also be seen on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/golden.v.art
I gave Steve a simple brief and he did me proud. I was pleased with the cover design and, from the feedback readers have given me, it seems his work is also praised by others. This is one of Steve’s recent photos from his website
Welcome to the blog of best selling author, Matt Johnson
Wicked Game by Matt Johnson.
Available on Amazon in paperback or for kindle link http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00725CCYI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0YXC6BGVZX5E1Y4ZJX1V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=317828027&pf_rd_i=468294
or through smashwords to download for kobo, nook, or ipad amongst other e-readers link http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181561
Summary
A policeman is killed in a bomb blast, a second is gunned down in his own driveway. The Wicked Game has started. Former SAS and now Royalty protection officer Robert Finlay has had enough of the jobs not-so-glamorous demands and opts to transfer to a local police station. But Fate has plans for Finlay, both of the murdered policemen are former Army colleagues. Finlay doesn’t see himself as the hero type , just a survivor. A ‘Wicked Game’, where he is the target, is about to test his skills to the limit.
First released on Amazon Kindle April 2012, within two months had recorded over 10K sales. Matt Johnson is a new author, an ex-cop, with an incredible insight into the workings of the police and organised crime.
Amazon Reviewers comments. 5* reviews, 15 out of 19 gave 5*
“…enjoy a non stop tale of twists and turns that will hold your attention until, regretfully, you reach the end” ”
…good to read a book that has adventure and pace without being over complicated”
“This is the story of an ex SAS cadre, all now serving police officers, finding themselves the victims of what seems a terrifying vendetta from their past. When they start to unravel things, they quickly find that what they thought was obvious is not so clear cut and those that they need to rely on might not be as trustworthy as they thought”
“… the authors time as a police officer gives a realistic undertone to this tale…the story is really, really good”
“A well paced thoughtful thriller… thoroughly enjoyed this book… vividly written”
“This book brings out a whole range of emotions, it made me laugh and cry, it made my heart pound and I couldnt put it down – Please Sir I want more”
“I was looking forward to the commute to work so I could read more, the only disappointment was that I have now finished it”
About the author
Matt Johnson is not a typical author.
A quiet, contemporary countryman, he is dad to one daughter and two stepsons. He lives in a converted barn and on a daily basis exercises his four gundogs. A keen biker, he rides a ’99 Harley Fatboy and in his spare time scuba dives.
So, what is it that equips this countryman to write a high impact, fast moving thriller dealing with intrigue and betrayal, police and the military, in such a credible way?
A retired soldier and Police Inspector, Matt witnessed horrific scenes in the aftermath of the London terrorist attacks during a career spanning over 20 years. He recalls the moment in 1982 that bombs exploded and the chaos that followed.
“It was July. I was 25 and working in the CID Crime Squad in North London. My colleague and I were manning a CID car. We were among the first on the scene of the RegentsPark bomb explosion, two hours after a similar attack at Hyde Park. A bomb hidden underneath the bandstand exploded during a performance by the Royal Green Jackets band to about 120 people. The audience and band were peppered with six- inch nails, causing serious injuries and instantly killing seven band members. It was carnage. Then, on April 17th 1984 I was driving a marked traffic car when word came over the radio of a shooting in St James’ Square outside the Libyan Embassy. Our car was sent to escort an ambulance with an injured officer to get it to a hospital. The traffic was a nightmare. The roads were chaotic and blocked up. We were forced to drive on pavements, between bus stops and shop fronts and to direct vehicles out of the way so that we could get to the Hospital as soon as we could. It was a tortuous drive. What I had no idea of at the time was that the casualty was my friend PC Yvonne Fletcher. She had been at a party at my home only a few weeks previously. I only found out when I arrived home that night and saw it on the news. Events like this motivated me to write.”
Matt is currently working on a sequel.
Matt Johnson 