Comments on: Dara Joy Has Some Chutzpah; Says New Books Forthcoming

By: Loreen

Loreen — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:46:56 +0000

I’ve read her books, even the self-pub ones and I long have held the thought that she must have passed away and someone(Cory) is trying to ride the cash cow under her banner. I won’t stop believing it until Dara herself puts up a photo of her sitting at the Dorchester publisher’s office, holding up today’s newspaper and a hand written note saying ‘I’m not Cory”. The writing style of the later books (term applied loosely) is just too dramatic a departure from the earlier books. It feels like a high school student read her book then decided to pick up the characters and write under her name. The comments about the website and emails are on point and nothing more need be said by me.
The trilogy stories were awesome. To continue buying and reading the rest and possibly any future ones would be like revisiting the site of your house 5 years after it burned to the ground and trying to run the dishwasher. Don’t do it.

By: pamteasy

pamteasy — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:45:40 +0000

I used to be a avid dara joy reader and read all her books and recommended her to all my friends not any longer. i ordered several books with the matrix feb of 2010 and still haven’t received them. i used to wait for every new book. but i probably wont ever read her again. i doubt i will ever see my books either

By: pam fosdick

pam fosdick — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:44:01 +0000

By: Lavonda44

Lavonda44 — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:36:45 +0000

I wish I had read all of these comments before ordering Cat Scratched and Death by Ploot Ploot. I ordered a year ago and have yet to receive my book. I guest I’ll have to contact Better Business and Attorney General.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:03:34 +0000

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By: DS

DS — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:54:32 +0000

It’s rather sad to think how much good will among her fans Dara Joy has wasted. And the lesson should be that the president of your fan club is probably not the person who should help you direct your writing career.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:18:34 +0000

Hi,

I read good things about Dara Joy on Amazon, and I wondered why I haven’t seen her in bookstores in my country. Then I read somewhere that Dara Joy paid Amazon to delete negative comments about her books. I thought that was rather evil. I was really looking forward to reading some of her work as well. I guess I’ll have to hunt around used bookstores for any of her old books.

I’m really sad about what happened to her, and I haven’t read anything she’s written. I can only imagine how terrible her fans feel. Maybe she’s going through something right now. Maybe this Cory person has her trapped somewhere.

I really hope she will get her act together.

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:01:29 +0000

yeah I got that email twice. They are offering those two titles in print. I guess that they still can’t get “A more traditional publisher” to publish them for them.

By: Robin Bayne

Robin Bayne — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:10:19 +0000

Received a new Dara Joy email tonight–offering Ploot Ploot and Cat Scratch together for $ 12.50

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Hi rebekka.
Yes I loved the books in print, well not wildcat arrows thingie. I couldn’t get into it. That was a self published one I think.
I did get her death by ploot ploot ebook, it was ok, but very short and not enough story line worthy in my opinion for the $6 price paid.

Rhyanna

please vote for me, daeanarah pen name at textnovel dot com. I’ve entered the Dorchester Publishing Contest there and am lacking in votes…sigh.

By: Rebekah M.

Rebekah M. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:07:14 +0000

I have been reading the posted comments here with absolute astonishment. I loved Dara Joy’s professionally published books–all of them! I was entranced–Amy–with Ritual of Proof. It was such an interesting social commentary… I loved it. I have not purchased any of her privately published work, but I am saddened that such an amazing author has seemed to spiral so deep. Thanks, Shalomar, for sharing your experience… talk about a cautionary tale!

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:31:56 +0000

Sent a note to Cory yesterday saying that if I didn’t get my ebook in the next 8 hours I would file a complaint with paypal. Hours later the book arrived — four copies.

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:57:48 +0000

Hi Mare. Its funny because I remember the first time I took a cd player on the bus, everyone stared at me, even a couple of people tried to get me to give it to them.
Well now adays personal cdplayers aren’t worth stealing.
I mention it because in these bleak times, people are hungry, and well there are those who just steal because they think they can get away with it, and they are usually armed. However, I’d hate to lose a $200+ item which is why I prefer a book. And I bend the corner of the page when I have to stop. Lol.

RHyanna

PS Did you hear about the contest well now on a second contest for Dara Joy. Prize is 5 of her ebooks including Death by Ploot, Kirkpatrick’s wood and Taste of the Devil are three that they mention so no telling what the other two will be…

By: Mare

Mare — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:41:12 +0000

“I don't agree that e-books are better without the paper back or hardback copies. For the simple reason, if you have to take a bus, its best NOT to take anything that is electronic that will attempt someone to try to rob you. Unfortunately this is the time we live in. ”

Not saying better overall – just better for me, and maybe someone else will like them if they give them a try.

I used to read books on my Palm M105 back in 2001 on both the bus and the metro in Northern Virginia/DC. Had a few people ask me what I was doing that had my attention so completely – but never had anyone try to steal anything.

Maybe they had a viceral understanding that I would knaw their arm off so that I could get my device back and not lose my place in my book… *evil grin*

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:19:28 +0000

Julia sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time getting the book your ordered from Dara Joy. I would suggest contcting the Attorney General’s office in your state and inform them that you are not the only one having this problem.
Give them as much information as you can. They will contact Dara Joy and/or the Attorney General in her state.

In the meantime have you thought to check out used bookstores in your area that may have the actual books and/or Amazon?

I dislike having to pay an additional $4/$5 in shipping fees besides the same amount for the book.
I think I will have to see if I still have all my copies and sell them. I do need the money….first I need to find which box they are in…lol.

I don’t agree that e-books are better without the paper back or hardback copies. For the simple reason, if you have to take a bus, its best NOT to take anything that is electronic that will attempt someone to try to rob you. Unfortunately this is the time we live in.

By: Mare

Mare — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:10:16 +0000

I remember when I first saw that she was going to self-publish That Familiar Touch. I looked at it, saw that you had to pay in advance for a book that was not yet published, and saw how much $$$$$$ she wanted for it, and fell off my computer chair laughing!

I remember emailing them to find out why they were not taking the sensible approach to self publishing, starting out with an ebook on one of several sites that allow for self publishing (I believe MobiPocket was the one I used as an example).

I do not recall receiving much of a response – I think I got an email saying thet they might release and ebook in the future, but I could order a physical book now, pay them a ridiculous amount of money for a book by an author whose last book I bought (Ritual of Proof) was basically unreadable, and who had mostly been published in paperback.

Yeah. I never ordered one.

Best decision I ever made.

Now I look at them publishing ebooks – and there are sooo many venues for publishing ebooks on legitimate sites that provide DRM – and I see them using none of them.

Can you say “shady”?

Also – the covers for all of her self published books have been nasty to the point of imagining a world filled with men who looked like that, and aknowledging that on that would, I would be either lesbian, or just autosexual – no partner needed here, not looking like THAT, no sireee!

She could have just walked around with a camera, taken a picture of a handsome neighborhood cat lounging on someone’s doorstep, and had a nice, attractive cover for one of her books.

But then, the cover would have been better than the book. From the excerpts I have read, and all the reviews I have read, the nasty covers are actually better than the contents of the book, as scary as that is!

It frightens me that she continues to pull the same scam – and that people fall for it.

Don’t let such a plooty author scare you away from ebooks, though. Ebooks are a wonderful format, especially for books you like to reread, as you don’t end up with cracked spines and missing pages. You don’t find nasty substances on the pages (the sheer number of boogers I have found in paper books is frightening) and the book always looks like it did the first time you read it.

For more information on ebooks, their formats and the devices that you read them on, visit the forums at Mobile Read. (just Google it!)

By: Shalimar

Shalimar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:07:07 +0000

Julia,

Oh dear….they sucked you in again, huh?!? I know, I know, I have done the same thing (although NEVER again!). :) Remember, if you don’t receive it within the promised 72 hours, go ahead and send Cory an email letting him know that you expect immediate receipt of the ebook or your money refunded and that if you don’t receive it, you will be reporting them to the Massachusetts Attorney General.

If this is regarding Knight of a Trillion Stars, then the paperback is definitely still available used in bookstores or on Amazon. BTW: I suspect that one of the provisions of DJ’s settlement with Dorchester was that she is allowed to issue her previous published works (ie. those originally published by Dorchester) in ebook format.

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:24:38 +0000

Sigh. 24 hours and still no ebook. Will I ever learn?

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:57:08 +0000

Now that is interesting. Especially since I haven’t rec’d that email.
I am wondering if she’s doing it on the side, or if she waited long enough, then she could re-release previous titles without Dorchester saying a word. Or if they want to drag her back into court over it.
Too bad, no one has access to those court papers. It probably costs too much to have them sent, when they can probably be viewed for free if live near the court. Unless Dara requested them sealed, which makes it even more curious if she did that.

I still won’t buy E-books. I find that I prefer the old fashion joy of holding a paperback book in my hands to read.

By: Julia

Julia — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:28:30 +0000

Now this is interesting news. Dara Joy is now selling Knight of a Trillion Stars as an ebook. Makes me wonder about the settlement with Dorchester.