Approximately five years ago, I decided to become a fiction writer, and since that time, it has become an integral part of my life, the focused life of an educator and single father with a teenage daughter. Facebook, twitter, and social media in general have always been a shaky prospect at best for me as I am a private person, but a necessary evil of my chosen endeavor. Just the same I’ve met some wonderful people here and developed some true friendships. 

Last year saw some amazing things happen in my writing career.
 


In March, my Adopt an Author reading program for kids was fully funded though Kickstarter. Thank you to all who contributed. There were many.  


In April, I presented two workshops at the Las Vegas Writer’s Conference and gave a breakfast talk/panel to the attendees about my transition from recording artist to published author. It was fun.


In June, I graduated from Wilkes University with my MFA in Creative Writing. Yay! No more school! I said that before.


In August, I received the bronze medal book award from Reader’s favorite for my second novel, IA: B.O.S.S. (I was a finalist the year before with my first novel, IA: Initiate.)


In September, I signed to a bigger publisher, and on March 7th, 2017, BHC/H20 will be re-releasing my first book, IA: Initiate in hardcover and e-book with the audiobook to follow. I think it’s fitting March is National March Into Literary Month.


Now, I’m inviting all of my friends, who have helped me reach these goals and supported my writing through buying, reading, and/or reviewing my books, to join me on my new Facebook page. I’ll be posting content regularly on my life/adventures as a writer, educator, and father including throwback Thursdays of a past life, author and book release updates of course, and my daughter Marquette’s progress as a recording artist, tennis star, and future lawyer.
Please click the link to like and follow me on my new page.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=john%20darryl%20winston%20author


So if you haven’t checked out my novel IA: Initiate, now would be a good time before it becomes a movie. It’s new and improved so get onboard. I will continue to follow my friends (you know who you are) on my personal page from afar, but my author page will be my new home for virtually all my posts and updates. And I promise to make it entertaining.


It’s easy to give up when people ignore your work, say it’s not good enough, or there’s no market for it. But when you consider the few anecdotes I’ve included below, you realize there is no “throw in the towel” for me. I am on a mission I must complete. 


Antonio Drew Vann whose answer to why she read my book was, “I often read first what I want my twin grandsons to read. I had been hoping to find a "Harry Potter" type book and series where the main character is African American and I believe 'IA: Initiate' fills that. Additionally, I look for "Super Hero" type books for them where the super hero is also African American. My grandsons delight in these characters on TV with European features, white skin and flowing Blond hair who don't look like them. I have to interrupt that.


An email from a parent: Mr. Winston, IA: Initiate has reignited a waning interest in reading for my son.  His middle name is Nazim and he has been reluctant to acknowledge it with his white friends, so now he sees a variation of it in print AND it belongs to a "cool" kid.  Monica's son did not believe black authors could write "cool" books--which is why we sought out books by a black author to prove to him otherwise. Not only have the boys enjoyed reading Initiate, but the book has opened the door to conversations between us that we likely wouldn't have had if they we reading books by other authors.  Kudos to you!  And thank you for what you have poured into this series and the lives of the boys who read it. 


A recent review on Amazon that embodies all I tried to accomplish with this novel. John Darryl Winston has created a magnificent, addictive tale. The tale is original although you'll find yourself reminded of The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars due to the difficulties of growing up and finding inner strength and talents; snippets of Hunger Games with better developed characters, Harry Potter with a parrot versus an owl, and A Wrinkle in Time because of a mysterious yet genius father. Naz, Meri and everyone they must deal with become so familiar that waiting for the next book becomes torture. Mr. Winston's writing is excellent; his imagination and descriptions pure and vivid.  


My Barnes & Noble experiences: A constancy that authors of color are relegated to a section of the store where books like this might never be found. Even more troubling is that Barnes and Noble carries no books like this.