Comments on: Authors Behaving Badly Episode #1: Dara Joy

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:15:16 +0000

Hmm. After being the sole member of the clean-up crew for a formerly-signed “author” who made the foray into self-publishing after being dropped, I can guess happened with respect to Ms. Joy, give or take a few details. The “author” I worked with took pre-orders before the book was printed and spent the pre-order money to cover his own personal expenses, leaving no cash in the coffers to actually have it, um … published.

There was a second problem: the book hadn’t even been written. Even bigger “oops.”

So I had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of ghostwriting the sucker (350 pages of sci-fi/futuristic drama — not the type of client I’d usually accept) in a harrowing three weeks. Author finally sucked it up, paid for the publishing and sent the hard copies out (free of charge) to the those who pre-ordered. However, it took PayPal and the state’s AG’s office breathing down his back to get him to make right.

I suspect that a lot of writers who self-publish lack the business savvy to do a serious cost analysis beforehand to figure out if this is something they should be undertaking (or if they can even afford the up-front costs to create a quality product). Taking pre-paid orders for a book that hasn’t rolled off the press is shady, especially if you have someone at the helm who cannot manage his or her financial affairs. I’ll put good money that a markedly similar scenario drove the whole DJ fiasco. As much as I would love, out of simple curiosity and former admiration for some of her writing, to read some of her newer ebooks, I am bound by conscience not to enable bad behavior.

On a final note: I never got paid by above writer. Whenever I read an online review of “his” novel (it gets really good reviews, BTW), I have to bite my lip a little. The people who bought the book wanted to read his words, not mine with his name slapped on the cover. So did they really get what they paid for — ? The comments that I’ve read regarding Ms. Joy’s recent stabs at self-publishing seem to indicate that she once possibly had a brilliant, creative editor who was heavy-handed with the red ink. Again? Hmm …

By: Vi Janaway

Vi Janaway — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:46:09 +0000

I was truly hoping that all her physical, fiscal and publihing woes were over. There are other books, especially for Traed and River, that I would really like to read. I would really like to know more about her Ritual of Proof universe.
Vi

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:41:29 +0000

The sad fact is that according to the US Copyright, No one can publish a story, written as fan fiction, without the author’s written permission.

So I feel that you may be correct that the story of Traeyed, Dariq and others will never be told.

Rhyanna

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:21:41 +0000

I’m sorry to hear that people still aren’t receiving books they ordered from Dara Joy. I was tempted to order that last one but wanted to see if people were getting their books. I guess they are not again. It is really a shame because the published books were wonderful. I guess we will never know the end of any of her stories. That is too bad.

By: Felicita

Felicita — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:14:16 +0000

What a down low shame!!!…It is the second time I hear loyal readers of Tara Joy complaining about not receiving the novel they’ve purchased in good faith. Every other week I am receiving e-mail messages from Cory about this and that, but I do not answer them, and what is more I resist the temptation to buy anything from him on behalf of Dara Joy. It is a shame that an author who could have had an excellent career as a writer has been ruined by bad business management and greed. Once the an author losses the confidence of the readers, it is over for the writer. I would only buy a book from Dara Joy if I see it at Borders or any other reputable publishing house…never again from her so call “self publishing business”…never again is reinforced by what Shannon said on her post of October 3, 2009. You have my sympathy, Shannon, for it is truly annoying to be taken for a ride. It took me one year to get the book I purchased from DJ self publishing scheme, and when I finally received after multiple e-mails and proof of purchases sent, I decided not to read it for I was disgusted with Dara Joy and her manager. I got the impression that Dara Joy is “blacklisted” with the other reputable publishing houses, so seeing another book of hers on Barnes & Nobles or any bookstore of the like, I do not think is going to happen…that is shame for I really like her as an author. I do not believe she is very bright in terms of business dealings for she has dug herself right into a hole with the help of her Cory.

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:29:44 +0000

Hi Shannon, easy tell him that you will be contacting the State Attorney General’s office as well as paypal, if that is the way you paid, to report them unless you get your book in two days or so. Otherwise file a complaint with your bank/credit card.

Then if no reply do it.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:53:58 +0000

Hi – I ordered Taste of the Devil in March and have never received it – I have emailed her four times and asked why i have not gotten my book. Can anyone help me with some hints on how to get my book. Thanks

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:44:05 +0000

HI Barbara:

I Hope she gets one soon. I would love to ‘hold’ books in my hands to read again.
I also agree the Title Cat Scratched is raw and awful…
I wonder if it was really Cory who came up with that title.

Blessings.

Rhyanna

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:09:45 +0000

She desperately needs a publisher if only to help her with titles for her books.

“Cat Scratched”………That’s terrible.

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:55:04 +0000

Still I wonder if she is allowed to write about Traeyed….
or other earlier matrix characters such as Dariq, Sula…etc.

Does Anyone know? have a clue what the terms of her settlement
with Dorchester is on this?

Curiuos minds wants to know.

hehehehe.
have a great night

By: Rhyanna

Rhyanna — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:46:49 +0000

HI Deborah. I wasn’t aware that it was released in paperback form.
I’ll have to look for it then, hopefully its available at store.

thanks for the review…so does that mean you may purchase this new one
“Cat Scratched?”

Rhyanna

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:37:56 +0000

I read her last book, Taste of the Devil, a pirate book. I ordered the print version. I received it okay about three weeks after they started shipping.

I liked the book. Hero was sexy. It did have some punctuation problems, but did not detract from the story for me (not an English major and don’t care). She missed an opportunity to add to the scary tension by not working in a scene or two that showed the heroine was afraid or even aware that she was in danger, but since it’s her story, not mine, that’s fine. It did not detract from the story she did write.

Personal preference…. I like a little fear in my heroine mixed with the danger.

The only real problem with the book was the ending after the romance was resolved. Too abrupt. She told…. when she should have showed, of a major shift in the attitude and values of the heroine. If she had added an epilogue a few years in the future I would have been more satisfied with it. I don’t want to go into detail with spoilers.

Since she set up a second, even sexier tragic character, she could be setting up a sequel.

I’ll keep this one.

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:46:29 +0000

I agree that the last few were bad, Death by Ploot, Ploot was in her old style. I just wish it was in paperback form instead of ebook and pdf format at that.

I too had ordered wildcat arrows but never read it. Now no clue where it is…hehehehe.

Not going to look for it right now though.

By: Ranurgis

Ranurgis — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:44:14 +0000

I was very surprised to get another comment on this old topic–not that ever posted anything before. But I was caught by her too. I very much enjoyed the first books that she published under a regular publisher. Even RITUAL OF PROOF wasn’t too bad. But the self-published ones were true disaster. I finally got “Wildcat Arrows” after vowing to do “bodily harm,” sort of. But by then I was so disgusted that I never did read it. The only reason I decided to get it at all was l that I wanted to get a complete set of her books–good or bad.

The writing of the last two I have was more than childish: erratic punctuation, unfinished sentences, gross mistakes in spelling, e.g., forrest instead of forest.

I saw her at a conference once. She tried to appear as a mystery woman, wearing flowing long (?) dress and hats with veils. She was highly perfumed, etc. All in all she seemed the height of eccentricity.

I see she has a new book out. But I’ll certainly never buy another one.

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:20:39 +0000

I do know that Some records are open to the public if they live in the area of the Court that made the decision. Therefore, that the person can go DOWN to the courthouse and perhaps for a small fee, review the court order/decision.

Any takers? I can’t as I live in Oregon.

By: Rhyanna S DeTuathana

Rhyanna S DeTuathana — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:09:47 +0000

Unless we can get a copy of the court order, there is no way to know if she can ‘ever’ publish with a publisher again. I agree about Cory, what is he to her? Why did she put him in charge?
I bought an ebook and it was short–like her voice—but too short in my opinion.
I too can’t afford to take the self-publishing route. I have sent queries to Dorchester and I think they are now being extra careful, because mine were rejected. I’ll rework the manuscripts i sent them, and see if they’ll be interested again. For Dorchester use to be easy to get published through, no more.
I’ll also query agents and other publishers accepting, but I have to do it through email as I lack the cash to send snail mail.
Good luck with yours Annette.

By: Annetta

Annetta — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:30:55 +0000

Since I don’t know anything about authors and their rights I wonder about a couple of things:

1) Will Dara ever be published by an actual publisher again or did she burn the bridges and buildings with her suit? (I bought the last book and thought it ho-hum, couldn’t get into it, I don’t do e-books yet and I can’t afford the self publishing route she is taking)

2) Does she still have the right to write her Matrix books or does Dorchester own the rights to those names and characters? If she can’t write about Rejar and Traed then I’m afraid she has lost at least one reader.

By: Felicita

Felicita — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:54:02 +0000

Hi Shay,
I agree with you about the irregularities of Dara Joy self-publishing business. Her first books were excellent including Ritual of Proof, her last novel published with Dorchester publishing house…ever since that long and dragged litigation with her former publishing house Dara Joy excellent writing has never been the same. I read Death by Ploot-Ploot, and I liked it a lot for the short novel clearly reflects her unique voice as a writer; however, I am so sick of dealing the wierdiness of her webmaster who seems to be her marketing manager, public relations manager and chatroom moderator…his is everything, aparently. I have yet to go to her website, by the way, what was the result of your research on Cory? Please, do share with us what you learn from a legitimate research about him. Thanks, Felicita

By: Shay

Shay — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:23:20 +0000

So many people saying they where left in limbo about Rejar… ppl he has his own book… it’s called.. wait for it… ‘Rejar’. I know shocking right? Alrighty so the last book i got from Dara Joy was call Ritual of proof :-P i’ve been busy the last few years with the kenyon series. So yesterday i looked for a Dara Joy site and come upon her official site… which let me tell you i just taught my five year old nephew how to build a web site from scratch that blows that tacky slow site out of the water and i believe he centered it around come chartoon called bakulgun or some such…. I’m ranting but it’s so true. So I hit up the library and her new book covers look like world of warcraft’s redheaded stepchildren gone horribly wrong. So i decide to wait before ordering anything and checking out whats up. I google and find this site and am very glad i waited from the stories i’m hearing here. 1 i’m not a patient person 2.. i’d find this cory guy if it was the last thing i did. But what I don’t understand is why others did not take a moment out and do alittle research as well on what they decided to foist cash out for. Don’t get me wrong I feel for you and what is happening is terribly wrong. I guess I just wanted to get my thought out of my head :-D I however do so wish there had been a River book… and if there is and it’s not one of these terrible self published books then someone please do feel free to wack-a-mole me with the title :-P

Much Love,
Shay

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