SHE-RA MAN HATER'S CLUB

I just unfriended an idiot on facebook for saying that at the age of 36 he should only be dating 22 year old women. And many other men then commented on their conquest of younger women and joking about older women...

What the heck is wrong with people? What is wrong with older women? Are they too smart, or maybe they look too much like actual women, and not young ladies? Can't pretend you're pedophiling it when the lady is over 25, can you? Do you want someone younger so you can be daddy? So you can be the smarter, more dominate manly man who wears that pants and makes the rules. Do older women not play your fucking games, and actually give a shit if you're worth a shit? You want to manipulate some young dumb thing into being your arm candy?

...I may have some personal issues with giant age gaps and young ladies, but when I see an older man and a young woman together, the first thing that comes to mind is that both of these people make me sick. Little miss daddy issue wants money, and saggy balls doesn't feel like a man without his trophy. Two unintelligent, shallow, transparent narcissists...

 In this article THE REAL REASON WHY OLDER MEN WANT TO DATE YOU, the author Hugo Schwyzer explains that the reason older men consistently want younger women, (which makes older women feel like crap because most of us want men our own age), is because they want to feel validated as men, which in their mind means fucking women 18-25...though, I'm sure most men would rape an 11-16 year old if they could get away with it... The She-Ra-Man-Hater in me wants to say all men are war mongering rapist! But, that can't be right. Right?

Ever since I was a littler girl I've had a huge problem with older men chasing me. Because I developed my womanly figure early, size C breast and womanly hips by the age of 11 meant that older men in their 20's, 30's & 40's were constantly harassing me, molesting me, flashing their genitals at me and yelling sexual comments before I was even a teenager! It killed me, it scared the shit out of me, it made me so mad I dreamed of hurting them...

As I got older, 15 or so the harassment didn't stop, but it was done more openly, as if it was okay now that I was almost legal...It was this kind of bombardment that turned me into a hermit in the early 20's. I went to college, worked and then home. I was too afraid to date men! Every time an older man in his 30's or 40's hit on me I blew up in his face. I was PISSED!

Why are you hitting on me!?!?!?!

Do I look like I have daddy issues!?!?!?!

Do I look stupid to you?!?!?!

Date someone your own age! 

It wasn't until I met a man who was my own age, so nerdy and honest, that I actually felt safe with him. He wasn't some horn dog predator trying to feel sexually validated by manipulating a college girl into sex. He was a star trek nerd with a strong work ethic and zero charisma. Now, my husband of seven years... :-)  

End of rant...

SKETCHY COVERS

 Just turning some old sketches into covers for my books because, why the hell not? I'm only supposed to be working right now...

OLD ASS QUERY LETTER...

Digging through some old files on my USB, I found this old Query letter I sent out near 6 years ago. Back then Fatal Retribution was Into Darkness and Mortal Sentry was, The Hunted...I kind of still like the old titles and the old description... 

Date: 1.21.2010

PMA Literary & Film Management, Inc

kelly@pmalitfirm.com

Dear Kelly Skillen,

In a world of gods and monsters a young witch will give up everything to bring a man once blessed by the god Apollo to justice…her brand of justice.

Raina’s life has never been easy, being a bastard and a mixed breed always makes things harder. But when a man starts selling a deadly disease on the street as a cure-all her life takes a turn in a dark direction. The disease this man is selling is highly contagious. It will cure you. It will kill you. And it will bring you back. Vampirism.

Raina finds herself and her brothers at the mercy of the disease, but strangely it only kills them. Her beloved brothers’ lives lay in ruin amongst those of countless others, and she can no longer trust Seattle PD to bring the man responsible to justice.

In the end it’s up to Raina and those who would fight at her side to slay an immortal of ancient legend gone mad. She can not save those he’s wronged, but she can avenge them, she can stop him. Even if doing so changes her forever. Her family will forsake her, strangers will praise her, and ruthless men will take her in as a kindred spirit.

If you are seeking dark paranormal fantasy look no further. Considering all that I’ve read of you and your agency, I believe you are exactly the agent I want to have representing me in selling my first novel, INTO DARKNESS. The novel is complete at 130,000 words and I am interested in your evaluation of its commercial potential and any constructive criticisms you might offer.

Into Darkness is the first book in a series, I’m half way through the second novel, working title, THE HUNTED, and I have story ideas for at least three more books. I can email the completed manuscript or a portion of it at your request.

Thank you for your precious time and your consideration. I eagerly await your response.

Kind Regards,

Diana Graves

BOOK REVIEWS FOR SALE

Book reviews mean a lot when it comes to book sales. Which sucks, since less than 0.003 % of readers actually leave reviews.

There are review companies that you can pay hundreds to and they'll give you 50 or more 5 star ***** Reviews. But that's not ethical, I feel anyway. Publishers do it all the time for their books, but I think it's wrong.

I could build personal relationships with two dozen book bloggers of my genera, and over the course of maintaining these relationships, ask them if they might consider reviewing my books...I actually tried this. It works very well, but I suck at relationships. Eventually I always fall into obscurity because...life.

I can honestly say, that if a fellow writer leaves me an honest book review, I will 100% review their book in return. If a book blogger reviews my book on their blog, I will forever promote their blog with high praise. 

I've considered offering readers a little incentive to review, by leaving a message at the end of my books, offering the next book for free in exchange for a honest review. I'd ask them to email me or message me on facebook with their email and a link to their book review. I'd then "gift" to them the next book using their email address. ...It's a thought.

OCD VS ADHD....LOL

I have just 3 chapters to go in Toxic. This book has been a true crawl to the finish line. It's my fault, I know it is. On top of a new baby, remodling our home, work, and a plethora of other projects I give myself, I seem to fully enjoy writing myself into corners.

 

I know what I want to write before I sit down to do so....but in the heat of creation, sometimes things just go a little...lets say wild. Maybe that's why most readers agree that my books are unpredictable. Heck, I can't even predict them sometimes.

 

Every time I do something weird, because of in the moment creativity, I have to recalibrate the whole damn book to keep flow and plot in line.Deadly Encounters had three seperate endings planned, and then ended in a way I did not see coming!

 

Fatal Retribution was supposed to end after Mark's party.

Mortal Senrty was supposed to end after Raina escapes the fairies.

Grave Omen was supposed to end in a car chase and Damon's death...

Deadly Encounters was supposed to end in a snowy field, with Raina surrounded by zombies and holding onto a child necromancer....

 

None of these endings happened. None of them, or at least, with the first two, the books just kept going, because, you know, in the moment creativity. LOL

 

I "know" how Toxic is supposed to end...but I just wrote myself into a very interesting corning. Not for any good reason. The artist in me just likes to torture the writer in me sometimes. So....we'll see, and I'll tell you if that was what I'd planned.  My ADHD is so killing my OCD...lol  And don't get me started on my Bipolar Disorder and what seems to be an unwavering optimism...

WORKING IT!

My mother has encouraged me to draw again. Incidentally, I found a website that will let me upload my work and sell it, not just as pictures, but as phone cases, pillows, blankets, coffee cups and more. The Website is called RedBuddle.com

I really like the whole idea, I just wish the items weren't so expensive and had more public visibility, like Amazon.com or something.

Oh, and by the way, I'm only 4 and a half chapters away from finally being done with Toxic! Yay! 

BRAIN SHIT STORM OF WHAT THE HECK....Author Problems...

Traditionally published authors have teams of people; helping them write, helping them edit, helping them schedule, helping them format, helping them design and market and pay for things...I have almost no help...I have beta readers. I LOVE my beta readers!!!!!!

What's most frustrating about being an independent author is the EVERYTHING. From being in charge of ALL of your own marketing, editing and formatting, to the cover of the book...I never feel sure of myself. I never know if anything I do makes a difference to people. For years I've second guessed my cover designs. Finally I actually sat down and obsessed over all my data and reports, and here is what the facts show. 

Below is a break down of sales per month per book cover and total money earned per book cover, per book...this was fun... 

All those lovely ladies above are my sister. I love her. I think she is BEAUTIFUL! But, she's still a teenager, and my books are rated R for full of really raunchy shit from time to time....so I felt bad having her on my cover. Sadness...Maybe I'll take new photos of her when she is 18. 

What time is it? New covers time!

All those drawings...Eh, I just wasn't feeling the love with these drawings.

So, those covers are actually me...Well, I manipulated the photos to make me look more like Raina, but in the end, even though I clearly made WAY more money with my face than any other cover, I just couldn't. I felt too damn self conscious staring at my damn mug all the time...

So here we are. the current covers are dark, mysterious and very different from anything I've ever done. So far they are selling well enough, but we will see...