According to her mailing list and a posting on her website, Dara Joy is ready to put the publishing fiasco with Dorchester behind her. The question is whether her career can survive the black mark that was put on it by the fact that she took money from fans for a self published book and didn’t deliver until said fans threatened to report her to the Attorney General. The full text of the mailing and posting can be seen in the comments and I republish a portion here for your benefit.
Dear Readers,
Wonderful news!!!
For those who haven’t heard, yes, Dorchester and I have reached a settlement agreement!!
…
Get ready, the stories you have been waiting for will be coming your way soon! Within the next few months, I will have more great news for you concerning the release dates of my upcoming novels, which will be brought to you via traditional publishing channels.
To add to the celebration, I have an special Valentine for my readers. I know so many of you have been waiting really, really patiently for another Matrix story and I do not want you to have to wait any longer . . . so, as of today, I am immediately releasing a brand new Matrix of Destiny story called:
DEATH BY PLOOT PLOOT!
. . .And from the bottom of my heart, thank you again for all your prayers and hugs!
Love Always,
Dara
I’m not sure what “traditional publishing channels” she is referring to. I am guessing it is not Avon nor Dorchester. Could it be Kensington though? Who knows. My hope is that Ms. Joy has fulfilled every single order that was made to her. And that she finds someone else to title her books. “Death by Ploot Ploot?” Sounds like a digestive disorder. edited to add: The special Valentine will cost the reader $4.50.
I got this e-mail this morning and to say chutzpah might be understating it. She puts out these substandard books and supportive fans give her their money. The first book is barely a story. The next one she doesn’t put out until forced. You did not include the very best part of her very special Valentine’s Day gift to her readers of Death by Ploot Ploot. It will cost you $4.50 to get the gift. I don’t know or care where her next books are coming from but I for one will not be buying any of them.
Seriously, Death by Ploot Ploot? That’s a joke, right?
I’ve never read Dara Joy, nor will I probably, but seriously… that title. I can’t get over it.
Wow…the gonads, they are large.
Also, I really have amazement that there are already peoples saying they are going to buy from her! To me it just looks like a ploy for more money.
But I am cynical that way.
That can’t possibly be a serious title. Right? Right?
Um, honestly, I am not going to spend a penny in any book from her UNLESS it is a book that I can actually get at a bookstore. That’s all I have to say. I am glad I didn’t go for her second self-published book after I read all the problems her fans had. Thankfully, I had decided not to get it as I was disappointed with the first… and I found the cover of the second outright repulsive. *shrug*
I wonder how many words that book is. No comment on the book cover.
And I notice she said the website was “redesigned” but the same blind web designer is apparently still doing it. That’s a great example of one of the worst websites ever and it so frustrates me that she’s had all these years to improve it and she hasn’t.
She calls it a “lengthy novella or story”. (Is she really what Romantic Times Magazine deemed “an electrifying talent”? I don’t know; never read her stuff.)
Well, it makes some of those HP titles seem tame, doesn’t it? Death by Ploot Ploot: a tale of love and toilet training gone bad
What I don’t understand is why she just didn’t give this story away as an ebook. Wouldn’t that perhaps be a good way to assuage some bad feelings and give her “loyal” readers something back for supporting her through the self-publishing nightmare?
I will admit, I believed from the snippet included above that the “Valentine” was in the way of a gift for her loyal readers. And I thought that was a nice idea. Then I clicked through and saw it costs $4.50 to get this Valentine. Now I’m simply puzzled.
For me, the word “Valentine” implies a gift. If someone asks me to be his Valentine, he does not, (I hope!) expect me to buy my own chocolate and roses. So like I said, puzzled.
It’s A Trap!
I also call an uncanny resemblance to the Futurama episode where they land on Amazonia, and the men are taken captive, then sentenced to…
“Death by Snu Snu”.
Which is, of course, sex. I wonder if “Ploot Ploot” is sex. But I’m not curious enough to buy it.
This, this amuses me. It’s not like a “cart” where you buy and get a download. You pay and then you have to…wait for it to be sent to you. Oh. Dear.
And the link to their FAQs on the marketplace page? Doesn’t work.
Is she really what Romantic Times Magazine deemed “an electrifying talent”?
Could they mean as in Shock Therapy?
Not quite Death by Ploot Ploot but oh !
Dang it, there was supposed to be a link to a lolpic at the end there.
How wrong is it that I laughed–howled, really–at that title? I even clicked through, just to make sure it wasn’t a joke. I mean, Death by Ploot Ploot? Really? That’s the best title she could come up with?
Only thing I can think of is that she confused Valentine’s Day with April Fools Day.
And, Robin, I’m potty training my daughter so I *totally* agree with your comment. Ploot, ploot indeed.
I think some brave soul should Google the phrase ploot ploot. I’m afraid I might not have the stomach for it…unless it’s a new euphemism for, uh, y’know, spunk.
I remember reading the Matrix of Destiny series years ago and loving it. Like many others, I was bummed by not getting Traed’s story, but not so bummed that I snapped up the self-pubbed stuff. And after borrowing Ritual of Proof from a friend…I gave up.
I hate not finishing a series (Anita, anyone?) but there’s no way I’m buying a book called Death by Ploot Ploot that doesn’t have Seth MacFarlane’s or Matt Groening’s name on the cover.
K. Z. said:
You had to issue a challenge while I’m at work, didn’t cha? There’s an Urban Distionary reference to ploot that came up in the Google search that I had to quickly surf away from, and they’re not talking farts.
I shudder to think what a “ploot” is? Sound like it should be in an episode of Star Trek.
So sad, since I was a big fans of hers with Knight of a Trillion Stars and Rejar.
No ploot for my thank you very pooting much. *G*
*shakes fist at Seressia* I’m scarred for life thanks to you and Dara Joy. Ewwww!
Oh no, no, no. That cannot be what she meant, truly.
My work here is done…
“Ploot, ploot ,fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is!”
heh heh
Is it wrong that I laughed out loud at this?
I just HAD to go look up PLOOT… I will NEVER get that word out of my mind… ICK
Ha, now I’m thinking about that scene from Along Came Polly where Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character (grown, has-been child actor) explains the fine art of “sharting” — oh, Dara, what have you done?!
I remember reading the Matrix of Destiny series years ago and loving it. Like many others, I was bummed by not getting Traed’s story, but not so bummed that I snapped up the self-pubbed stuff.
Ditto on loving the Matrix of Destiny series, but I DID try the first self-pubbed book, and, well let’s just say that is showed A LOT of strain in the writing.
Oh, no, maybe straining isn’t the right image here. There are just too many bad jokes to be made here, lol, a la ploot.
Oh. Dear. God.
Ploot ploot?
My thought, however harsh, is anyone who buys that deserves that.
Some are born plooted.
Some achieve plootdom
Some have ploot thrust upon them.
And some buy it for $4.50, plush shipping.
PLUS! Where is the edit key?
I confess to some sordid interest in the story.
Heh, I thought the “plush” was intentional … you know, like flush.
Or one too many swallows of wine in an attempt to recover from the ploot.
Oh, hell yes! Something tells me she won’t be sending out ARCs, though. How long do you supposed we’d have to wait after forking over our 4.50?
Oh my god. Ploot ploot? *laughing hysterically*
I love DJ’s (traditionally published, because I haven’t read the others) work like crazy, but I can’t say I’d ever have picked any of them up if they’d had Ploot Ploot in the title.
I’m also insanely curious — but fearful it’d never be received.
I’ve never heard of this writer nor her work, but you guys are cracking me up so terribly, I now have to go look at this website. Thank you very much. :D
(But definitely not to buy.)
How long do you supposed we’d have to wait after forking over our 4.50?
I don’t know. If history foretells anything, only after a couple years and a few legal threats.
Oh no! I just went to Urban Dictionary.
*cries* I didn’t think anything could be worse than the toilet version of ploot, but that is.
For those who have a not-so-fresh feeling. (YouTube link)
I enjoyed Dara’s books a great deal and was miffed that the final one didn’t follow.
Maybe one day she will do a true follow up and meet her fans halfway with something wonderful!
I googled ploot, too, and I never knew. Yikes. She cannot know what it means at all or why would she title it so?
Jessica
To save time, you could send your money to Dara *and* contact the Attorney General on the same day.
I rather like ploot shipping, myself.
Jessica said:
Perhaps she does and this is her attempt at romantica?
Okay, you guys must review it now! I would offer to, but there’s a distinct possibility that I might not make it through enough of it to be able to write even a DNF review.
Ploot Ploot- sounds like a potty commercial !!!!! I have no words.
I loved her Matrix of destiny series - but I have a feeling if a publisher picked her up after this, I dont think she can regain that old magic. And I really didn’t like how her readers were treated with that self publishing fiasco- I am glad I never fell for that and those covers were horrid, worse than some of the e-pub stuff.
Ploot no, I’m not reading it. Especially if I have to send them money and then wait for the plootin’ thing. Now if they offered us a review copy….no, not even then.
I thought Gennita had cured me of checking out questionable things online. *g*
Ploot? ugh. Not quite as bad as Dan Savage’s definition of santorum. But close. Why in the name of all that is holy would she use that term in a title? lol. ::picturing hero’s asphixiation::
Even if she didn’t realize the term wasn’t completely made up, it’s not romantic in the least.
I’ve never read Ms. Joy’s work, and the floating weiner-dogs on her site, the one time I checked, were enough to make sure I never would.
Well, y’all just had to go and do it now, didn’t you. Death by…? Yup, it would likely do me in.
“Funk” indeed. James Brown is probably spinning in his grave.
She was full of ploot–what a romantic idea. She died a hundred ploot deaths. Death by Ploot Force. It was a whirlwind, a ploot-o-rama.
I think I could make fun of this word all day, but should likley just go somewhere to forget what it means!
Jessica
Well, I will have to let you know ;)
Since I bought a copy purely because I wanted to see the word count (hey, it’s tax deductible) I’ll offer up my copy as a review copy for the person on Dear Author who wants to review it. I think I can be trusted to delete my copy after I look at the word count, don’t you think?
Some day my curiosity will be the death of me. I just had to go look up the definition at Urban Dictionary. Yikes!
Arghhh, I’m blaming this on Vanessa and Meljean. I read the meaning of ploot at the Urban Dictionary site. Arrghhhh :::chugging brain bleach:::
I thought Death By Ploot Ploot an excellent title for
instead.
Okay, where did the pic go?
Sorry, the pic showed during the Preview…no idea what happened.
THIS BOOK as Death By Ploot Ploot
Hey, don’t mess with my ploot, ploot!
WTF?
You know the old saying, fool me once…
I’m with the ” wont buy unless it’s for sale at bookstores” crowd.
I would probably stand in there and read 3 or 4 chapters to make sure it was worth the 6.99.
I have all her previous books and enjoyed them.
OMG I just looked up with ploot is!!
Ewww…. very funky indeed.
So, who is going to bite the bullet and buy the download for review?
I nominate Jane and Janet for a dueling review. I don’t think they’ve ever done one together.
I would buy one for a review and I think Robin would too if we thought we would get a copy. So I’ll wait to see if the delivery system works and if it does, I think a Jane and Janet conversational review could be forthcoming.
Ok, I had to look. I also looked at her web site– at least the rocks don’t fall on you any more– or maybe foxfire keeps the rocks under control.
Anyway, I was totally creeped out by the idea of her attending anything dressed as Claudia “grown up at last”– Claudia was the child vampire in Interview with the Vampire, about 6 or 7 in the book, about 10 or 11 in the movie.
I once tried to tell the plot of Rejar to a friend who said it was a good thing he hadn’t landed on her bed because he would have been taken right off to the vet for shots and to be neutered.
Seressia, you are a girl after my own heart. BTW, did you know Stewie Griffin is gay? Seth McFarlane confirmed it.
Moseyed over to Urban Dictionary and… Ew! How do I undo the knowledge?
And just a thought: maybe DJ’s books with Dorchester were good (I don’t know myself because I’ve never read her) because her editor(s) worked massive amounts of OT to make ‘em good. Maybe her writing has always been as bad as apparently shown by her self-pubbed books.
Ploot wasn’t bad enough, so I went to her web site. Oh, the web designer in me cringes. So many usability rules broken!
Ploot wasn’t bad enough, so I went to her web site. Oh, the web designer in me cringes. So many usability rules broken!
Believe it or not, Ann, but it used to be worse: She didn’t have the explanatory notes on the left-navigation tabs, so it was “Tavern” and “Stables” and “Granary” with nothing indicating what those were. It’s one of the least-navigable websites I’ve ever seen in my eleven years of hard-core surfing. Not to mention laying text directly over multi-colored backgrounds. I, too, cringe when I look at it.
Oh, and Gennita? That Wildcat Arrows cover haunts my nightmares — thanks for reminding me of it! *g*
Hey Chicklet,
But you have to admit, once you look at it, you certainly know what to “die by ploot ploot” means. :grin:
*sigh* When will people learn Occam’s razor most certainly applies to web design?
Got my copy. I am still debating whether Joy knew the urban dictionary definition of ploot. The author’s note includes this reference:
So she clearly meant ploot in a sexual way . . . Anyway will read. I don’t think that Robin has her version yet but I would say that sometime within the next week we’ll have an “in depth” conversational look at Death by Ploot Ploot.
The book is 18k for those who were wondering (might have just been me, though) and is a PDF that’s password protected. They send you a random password that’s your name and some numbers and you have to enter that every time you open the file.
~The book is 18k for those who were wondering~
That’s like, what? Half a novella?
A mini-novelette.
I think that only comes to one ploop.
I wonder if Candy got her copy yet…
Frankly, I’m full of morbid curiosity myself, and waiting *ahem* eagerly for your review.
Hey I finally got my email offer. I was beginning to feel left out. LOL
I agree that you don’t refer to something as a gift when you are charging for it. It would’ve worked better as a promotional gift for her upcoming work if she had posted it for free. I don’t like buying books without getting a chapter excerpt or two. Especially at $4.50 for that short of a story I would expect more than just a valentine story of a couple (book KNIGHT OF A TRILLION STAR)whose story was already told. I would be greatly curious to see what others think of the story before even thinking of buying it as I was highly disappointed with the self-published stories before.
As for her upcoming books, I would figure Dorchester is getting the rest of the books published for the Matrix of Destiny series. Anyone contact Dorchester yet? I would like to read the Traed story, but I don’t know if I will buy it or just wait for the library to get it as the interest has really disappeared for the most part.
I just sent this to Dara in response to her self-aggrandizing masterpiece of an email:
“Dara, if your e-book were the last ploot on the planet, I would not fork over one plootin’ nickel for it. Twice burned, ten times shy.
Next time, think things through before you hit “send”…a gift is a gift, a plootiful idea that you seem to have missed.
An apology is an even better idea, though I suspect it will be a cold day in Ploot before you ever acknowledge what you did to your fans.”
********** ()..()************* <<<<<<steam coming out of my ears!
The ploot thickens.
- With Familiar Touch, how far she fell.
- With Wildcat Arrows, it seemed that Cory wrote it and then put his picture on the cover.
- Death by Ploot Ploot. The 2 ploots are important, as we can not help but google it. Thus we must buy the book simply to wipe the Urban Dictionary image from of our minds.
Ok I bought “Death by Ploot Ploot”. Suprise, It was actually very good. The writing actually seemed to be Dara’s. But it was only a short story and should probably just have been put on her web site as an actual gift to lure fans back. The $4.50 price was a bit much for an electronic format of a short story.
I am not sure if you remember me, but I was the person who had the email address for those dara joy fans that had bought the book and did not get it. For six months or more I tried to assist people in getting their books and we were eventually successful. I hated having to end it because I knew there were many more out there, but I finally had to stop because of other committments. I hope I helped.
This woman, Dara Joy, will never get another dime from me. Not one cent. The fact that she actually is trying to get another cent from fans via her website does not surprise me. She continued to take money from fans when she couldn’t even send the books people bought.
What she did was fraud. What her webmaster friend Cory did was fraud. I have been mad at authors before, disagreed with some, but never have I ever seen one do what she did to fans. And she has never publically apologized for the problem, which tells me that she didn’t care.
I sent my money, as did so many other fans, to show our support for her and her talent, while she was going thru that mess with the publisher. She screwed every one of us by treating us the way she did.
I hope people remember that when they are deciding whether or not to buy her future books. I know this sounds bitter, and many finally did get their books, but that was only those who fought for them, and only those in the US. Many fans from all over the world sent money and never got their book.
When she is living in the house fans saved for her, I hope she remembers that and lives with that every day of her life.
I chuckle at all the steps taken by Ms Joy to protect her copyright.
Not only are there a number of stern warnings with the book, it is password protected with the purchaser’s name. And if that is not enough, the purchaser’s name and home address appear at the bottom of each and every page.
I think Ms Joy has forgotten that she stole from her fans … not the other way around. Talk about adding insult to injury.
PS to those who may buy — While I was warned that it was a short story, nothing prepared me for the mini page/maxi font format. It reminds of when I was a kid and I would write really big and double space trying to fool my teacher.
HI I bought wildcats, glanced through it and it still sits in a drawer somewhere, unread.
I went ahead and paid the $4.50 for the Death by Ploot, Ploot, even though her style, it is so short to make it less than satisfying. And yeah PLoot PLoot is short for sex. Deanna tells a joke.
As for any further books from Her i will wait and see. I also agree with some of the comments about her website.
It badly needs redesigning.
As for buying further books, i too will wait til they are actually in a bookstore!! where i can go glance through them and then decide if i want to buy it.
Besides i have written some stories that i am trying to publish through traditional channels, i.e. literary agent/publisher, not print on demand/self publishing way if i can help it.
Blessings.
Rhyanna
So, would someone please explain to me why the big thing on copyright? What use is the name and address of the purchaser on the bottom of the page help? I am sure those who would sell these illegally would be able to figure a way around it and it is pretty insulting to fans or readers who would actually buy it to be kept reminded of the fact we are not trusted. After the fiasco of the self-published book, I just don’t get it. Or is she mad that some sold those books they bought at a profit on ebay?
Anyone heard from dorchester yet?
BTW, thanks Brenda for letting us know how it was.
I have been a fan since the first book and was very disappointed with her issues with the publishers. My sentiments about the self published books echo those said before so I will not delve into that. With that being said, I decided to give this short story a try as a last attempt for Dara to redeem herself. If one ignores the title,this (very) short story was written more in line with the original Dara Joy I had come to love. It was a good way to reaquaint myself with the MOD characters. I am looking forward to more books from “traditional” publishers and more of the MOD. **Oh and the story did arrive within the 24-48 hour time frame by email. Score one for her (finally)!**
Well, I will buy her novel. I thinks its karmic really - because I had just started re-reading Knight of a Trillion Stars for the umpteenth time.
Now, the title - eeeww. it sounds most unpleasent. And I am concerned that readers say its so short. Nonetheless, I’m excited that she may publish an actual book that you can buy in a brick&mortor store sometime soon.
As for a sacm - does anyone know if she has another JOB? I mean, if not, this could just be a charge so that she’ll be able to get back on her feet financially now that the lawsuit is over, and while she’s writing the next book.
Also - what does DORCHESTER say? (I mean their contract was never fufilled, so what’s their story about the settlement?)
Marseille
P.S. I am soooo avoiding Urban Dictionary’s definition - not that you gals have said its nasty.
I’ve already been subject to enoough nasty images curtesy of Joy (though I still like the author) the cover of WildCats -eeww *shudder*
Hello all,
I had not reread my stash of DJ books in a while, but recently was in the store browsing and saw a couple old ones, and thought: “Hmmm, haven’t googled her to see what is up” as last I remembered she had a beef with her publisher.
WOW! Clearly while I was not paying attention, DJ readers went on a ride to a bad place. I will definitely taking this all into account in future! This all goes against the point that I would assume most romance writers like the genre and want to bring some “joy” to their readers!!!
If I thought I could get away with it I would write Traed’s story myself. What a grave injustice her former editors have dealt us in not allowing us to see what a sop of a writer this one turns out to be. Dara, rise to the challenge, come out of the shallows, and really put some exertion behind treating your readers with more respect. Here’s your devoted fan loosing her glue to stick around!
And one last thought. Has anyone seen Cory, cuz I have the sneaking suspicion that’s him on Wild. eww
HI Lizzil. I haven’t been to Wild.. and don’t know what that is.
In regards to Traeyed’s story i too am disappointed. I was not satisfied with her “death by ploot, ploot” book either, after forking out the money to pay for it.
As for paying for other ebooks from now on i am going to say no, because i am the type of person who likes holding a book in her hands.
As for Traeyed’s story, i have written my own version. well I am writing a story where the main character’s name is Trayed :)and he is a couisn of Gian, the cat world, and have cousins where an Aunt raises them all. Oh and he has a sister too..
I have a lot of that done, in the meantime i am looking for a literary agenty for my upcoming novel “The Witch of His dreams” and “A Glimpse of Time” In a Glimpse of time, grandma makes a wish to have more time with the grandkids as her son and daughterinlaw are going through a divorce.
While a young granddaughter Margery, makes a wish to be allowed to spend more time with her grandparents by herself, without her siblings cause they seem to take over their attention.
IN the Witch of his Dreams, A soon to be 40 yr old Logan has been meeting a special lady on the astral plane, where avoiding the matchmaking traps of his grandmother and mother. Soon he meets her on the physical plane, but she has a secret that she has been hiding, afraid he will not love her anymore, turn from her in hate, etc.
There are several things they need to overcome before they can settle down to wedded bliss and being bound together.. for Athena is a great-great-great granddaugther of Merlin and she is a Siren. She needs Logan’s help to break part of a curse, for otherwise, she may never be able to give him a son, she longs to give him.
blessings.
Rhyanna
I have to say I am an optimist. I was about 17 when I found her. I read every book she had. Then I didn’t see her forever. I was just surfing the net one day when I found her web sit. It was the last day to be able to buy “That Familiar Touch”. I quickly ordered it, even though it meant I was going to be eating spaghetti for a week. And I waited. And waited. And Waited. Finally after 9 months I got the book I was kinda disappointed. It had her feel to the story, but lacked a lot (I do mean a lot) of polish that was really needed. Why couldn’t she hire a private editor? Heck a college student majoring in English would have been something.
Oh well. So I continue to wait for the lawsuit to be finished and the next book to come out. I finally saw “Wildcat Arrows” and ordered 2 copies, one for me and one for a friend. And settled in for a wait. A year passed. And I tried to contact Cory. Many times. Finally got the email about “a death in the family”, in April and was told he was shipping it out. Around mid June I email again. And again and again. Finally I told him (at my mother’s advice) that I was going to contact the attorney general and the better business bureau. In mid July, after 18 months, I finally got my books. OMG! I sat down right away to read it and I couldn’t believe how bad it was. I couldn’t decide if the story was worse than the cover or the other way around.
I knew I wouldn’t be wasting my money on any more of this crap. I refuse to spend my hard earned money on books that are inferior and an author who has no qualms about treating her fans like this. I do love her books, prior to self publishing, that is. My mother even bought me the new e-book for my B-day. I didn’t let her know how disappointed I was. I will be honest. It is a masterpiece compared to Wildcat, but not up to par with her previous books. Because I do like them and I want to know what will happen I will buy her books, but never new. I refuse to give her any profits for these books. I will buy them used or not at all. I feel greatly mistreated by an author I once considered one of the best.
Great, now if she would only get rid of Cory it might make me come back to her. Still haven’t got my book Wildcat Arrows, but from the reviews I may have wasted my money anyway.
Her biggest balls were putting that unattractive putz on the cover. What, was Pee Wee Herman not available?!
Has anyone else rec’d the email from Cory—ahhhh Dara Joy, offering older books for $12 each?
There is no way that i can afford that kind of money. I think i have my Matrix books, i just need to find which box i packed them in.
The email is listed below:
Comments? So does this mean that she will not publish anymore books (new books) through Dorchester Publishing, thereby allowing, supposedly, her
“contract” with them to terminate. However, self-publishing, or over charging is not endearing herself to me nor to spend that kind of money on books.