Dartanyan Johnson (@author3djohnson)

Karessa gets dragged back into the life she thought she left behind to save 2 kids from her former thieving guild. #fantasybooks #fantasy #indieauthor

Replying to @author3djohnson I realize I didn't talk about deleting numbers from the back matter...😅 If you have any issues, let me know. Formatting my own books took a bit of trial and error for me to learn. I've been doing this for a while and I still miss steps from time to time. #bookformatting #paperbackformatting #authortok #writertok

What are you looking for? A little adventure? Some action? Affection? Found Family? Worldbuilding? A unique magic aystem that plays a role in the plot? Elves? Minotaurs? You name it, I'm probably working on it. #fantasybooks #blackfantasy #blackfantasyauthor #indieauthor

I always love my work, but sometimes there are lines that make me nod to myself in appreciation. And trust me, those nods are needed, because being an author, a self-published author at that, can feel like we're punching bags to the book community. (Note: My editor hasn't seen my manuscript yet, so these lines might look different come December.) #blackindieauthors #indieauthor #selfpublishedauthor

This question stemmed from conversations regarding worldbuilding. Until I stumbled upon recent videos and into comment sections, I thought readers didn't care about worldbuilding. But that's only one concern. What are others? #fantasybooks #fantasybooktok

Sometimes I be lost as hell...even with notes. If I've ever done this to a reader, I apologize. #readersoftiktok #reader

Re-reading the 1st draft is such an interesting experience. #authortok #authorsoftiktok #writer #writingabook

I had so much fun making this video. Didn't realize I'd first posted it 2 years ago! Oh well...time to post it again. #booktok #parody

#onthisday These were the good ol' days! Hello @B. J. J. Lierz 📚✍️ #authorsoftiktok #authortok

#onthisday Don't think I forgot! @Leya Layne Romance Books This three-way battle has been burned into my retinas! #romancebooks #spicybooks

Those FMCs be gettin on her last nerve, and it seems like every love interest is a jerk. Do it really be that serious? #webtoon #readersoftiktok

Yes, I'm poking fun at a terrible take, but I do believe a lot of non-Black readers avoid books written by Black people, especially in the Romance genre, just not for the reasons that were given. As a Romance reader myself (since Black Romance was brought up), I realize the majority of Romance books in general are written in 1st person, for women, by women. The FMC isn't the only person getting pinned to the wall... the reader is too! In non-Black books, it's okay to fall in love with an orc, a demon, a mafia kingpin, an elf, a d*mn door, but a Black man is where they draw the line. And the only time those particular readers will tolerate being in a Black woman's head is if the love interest is white. There's an even bigger issue pertaining to empathy, and realizing Black people want the same for our families as our non-Black counterparts, but seeing us as people who love, and hurt, and go through depression, and laugh, and cry for our friends, means seeing Black people around the world that way, too, and it's hard to continue stealing resources from people you have empathy for. That's another conversation though. Anyway, Black people aren't only writing Urban Fiction, we're writing everything! #blackbooktok #blerd

#onthisday

Now y'all know what takes me so long to revise my work! #authorsoftiktok

#Meme #MemeCut #CapCut #fantasybooks When her brother’s life is taken by the fire-wielding prince, Karessa hires three skilled warriors to bring him to justice, unaware that the man she seeks is among them. When the high king is ass*ssinated, and her brother is slain in the crossfire, Karessa—a former thief turned struggling laborer—sets her sights on the ten-thousand-gold-coin bounty placed on the culprit. Armed with a dagger and an unyielding determination, she hires a charming tracker named Clyde to hunt him down. Despite Karessa’s confident demeanor, she’s never been outside of her city, so when she’s thrust into an unknown world of monsters and magic, she finds herself relying on Clyde’s lethal swordplay to keep her safe. But even more dangerous than his combat skills is her growing affection for the man prone to attracting trouble. From goblin hordes to deadly trials, she must survive Clyde's infuriating sense of justice and her crumbling emotional walls before confronting their quarry. But she’s not the only person on the verge of reaching her target. Leo Fanoya, captain of the high king’s personal guards, is in close pursuit, and he holds a secret that could cost Karessa the bounty, her life, or her heart.

I had such an amazing time writing this story! I wish I could've talked to more people about it before I unpublished it. #blackauthors #writing

#onthisday #authorsoftiktok #writinglife

Who doesn't love a good pirate romance? #onthisday #piratefantasybooks #romantasy #romantasybooks #bookrecs

#onthisday Just a reminder. #blackfantasy #blackfantasybooks

How do I explain how a reader should feel while reading my book(s)? #author #reader #fyp

I used to not notice, but it seems every time I have a favorite side character, the author eliminates them...😮‍💨 Some side characters have turned into main characters, though, so I'm always hopeful. #fantasybooktok #fantasybooks #leighbardugo #grishaverse

Karessa hires three skilled warriors to bring Prince Aeveus to justice, unaware that the prince is already among them. #audiobook #fantasybooktok @Sami Ro || 🎙 Narrator 📚

Is the epic war you have to write driving you mad? Sometimes, battle scenes are necessary for a plot to move forward. Instead of thinking about the choreography of battle, imagine you're at home watching your favorite sporting event. Think about the emotions, the stakes, the backstory to how we got here (if necessary), and the eventual victory (or loss, depending on your story). Remember, your readers have probably read dozens of battle scenes. They have an idea of what one looks like. Keep it simple and easy to follow. #writertok #fantasybooks #epicbattle

Do y'all play out scenes as y'all write? I usually do it all in my head. #indiebooktok #romantasybooks #romantasybooktok

#romantasy #romantasybooks #ashesandrubble #dndtiktok #dartanyanjohnson @Sami Ro || 🎙 Narrator 📚

#onthisday I come up with some of the strangest metaphors while drafting...lol. Most don't make it into my novel. #writer #indieauthor #indiebooktok I would do more Brain skits, but Brain has been on vacation... lmao.

#onthisday #writertok #writersoftiktok

#indiebooktok #indiefantasybooks #fantasybooks #blackfantasybooks #ashesandrubble2

I'll put the trope list in the comments with a cover. #indiebooks

For my fellow readers and authors: Is the plot important? How much of the plot do you care about? Is it truly a "no, thank you" if a book with any kind of romantic element is written by a man?