John D. Boyden

Biography

John D. Boyden was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, in 1950. John grew up in rural Nebraska and lives in Southeastern New Mexico with his wife, Melanie, and their dog, Butterscotch. He has four grown children and three grandchildren, of whom he is exceedingly proud. Eyes on the World (First Edition) is his first Smashwords Publication. He attended Grinnell College in Iowa and several other colleges through multiple summer programs. John earned his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa and taught school in Iowa and New Mexico for many years. .

John has completed and been paid for several “work for hire” projects including non-fiction, fiction, news, and editing and has actually received money as a published poet! The poetic pride has endured far beyond that lovely $ 5 payment. He also continues to write annual novels at NaNoWriMo.org in November of each year and recently began playing at the April 2014 Camp NaNoWriMo where he worked on his first story for publication.

Smashwords Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Nebraska. Wherever you live affects your viewpoints. It was clear to me that there was good and bad, and bad was the villain. Only late did I learn about grey. Good people do bad things, and bad people do good things. Nebraska influenced my writing by being a farming and ranching area full of good people in, perhaps, a more innocent time.

I did learn about myself, girls, and stupidity. I also learned about corruption, betrayal, and responsibility. I left Nebraska at 18 to go to college and follow my sixth grade plan to teach history and a foreign language.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Frustration and lack of money. The opportunity of the internet made it possible. I've published in html on my site for years, but a book? Distributed? Sounded good. Originally I sought publication through traditional means. I got an opportunity to pitch to and editor at a writers conference. She asked me to send her the completed novel. i did. I got back excellent extensive notes and "we don't think this is your breakout novel". It was a thanks, no thanks. I was not asked to resubmit after editing. I was silly and banked on a sale to propel me through the next year of writing and research. I also learned I didn't want to play that publishing game any more. Don't get me wrong. If I was loaded with money, I would play! I like conferences and meeting people, and pitching novels.

I'll worry about that later. Paying the bills is real life.
Read more of this interview.

Series

The Election
Katryn Johnson is a new untested candidate running for political office in the United States. Her journey will take her through the Election. Everyone has secrets. Who uses them? What secrets are hidden from her? The Anouncement takes readers on a journey through politics with a new candidate. Katryn Johnson is an innocent, a first time candidate. Katryn will find herself in the American political version of shark infested waters. Katryn discovers she is the chum every shark wants to eat as the waters grow warmer. Every four years elections are a dirty war for power. This series follows her from innocence into the feeding frenzy of The Election. Life or death may become the important question for Katryn and the people around her. This is the first story in a new, free series. The Announcement kicks off a wild ride into too much money, conspiracies à la carte, betrayals, intrigues, and, of course, murder.
Reading to Children
These are picture books for reading to and with children
Having Fun Reading Aloud
Having Fun is a random series of original books about different ways to have fun. The first book is about reading out loud to others. Age and ability don't matter if it is fun. Activities and strategies are offered and even creative story telling is presented and explained.

Books

Conspiracies Everywhere
Series: The Election. Price: Free! Words: 12,090. Language: English. Published: February 3, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » Action
Secrets and conspiracies are exposed. More wait to be revealed in the next, and last, book in this series. What Katryn Johnson knows at the time of the election is revealed. The Election is thrown into shambles. Three candidates are tied, one week before the election. Conspiracies Everywhere takes readers on a journey through little of the politics and lots of the conspiracies and murders!
Eyes on the Word 2
Series: Ladder to Where. Price: Free! Words: 18,850. Language: English. Published: April 13, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Jake Granger and William "The Tech" Allison voyage into a brave new world filled with strange narrow escapes and sudden unexpected attacks. What are the supposed to do? Their escapes are getting more difficult to achieve with each attack. The pursuit by the opposition will not stop. How many times can two men narrowly escape before they are trapped or killed?
Boo Bear has a Bad Day
Series: Reading to Children. Price: Free! Words: 1,770. Language: English. Published: September 2, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Entertainment
(5.00 from 1 review)
Boo Bear is having a Bad Day! You can read this free illustrated e-book to younger children. Do you have bad days? This little book explains why it is a bad day for Boo. The illustrations and text provide topics for discussion and asking questions. Kids will have fun looking at the pictures. There is a brief section on how to read to children to help anyone reading to younger children.
The Announcement
Series: The Election. Price: Free! Words: 6,670. Language: English. Published: March 30, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » Action, Fiction » Mystery & detective » International crime
Katryn Johnson is an uncommon first time political candidate for office. Political campaigns and conspiracies are common in America. Strange events happen around her. She often does the unexpected. How will she respond to them? World events, fame, and answers to important questions will change Katryn's life and American politics.
Having Fun Reading Aloud
Series: Having Fun Reading Aloud. Price: Free! Words: 7,450. Language: English. Published: November 9, 2014 . Categories: Nonfiction » Entertainment » Humor & satire » Topic / relationships
The audience for using this book is anyone who reads to other people. Adults read to each other and others. Parents read and interact with children. Children like to read to younger children and adults. Anyone using this book may be healthy, ill, or shut-in, mentally or physically restricted, learning a new skill, or wanting to do something a little different. This series is about having fun.
Eyes on the World
Series: Ladder to Where, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 13,490. Language: English. Published: June 20, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
(3.67 from 3 reviews)
The world is in a mess and getting worse. A secret war is going on. This war as as old as the human desire for power. Two men are being hunted. Jake Granger and William Allison are struggling to understand what is happening and why they are targeted. Could it be as simple as to stop their efforts to make Earth a better world? They have to find out fast and stay alive. Their adventure begins.

Smashwords book reviews by John D. Boyden