Posts by Brock Talon

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Xanthippe, You're so right. It IS ironic that she doesn't have to be perfect to be a JW, yet still doesn't feel she is good enough to be one. I thought Christianity was about accepting the undeserved grace of God and just believing in a savior, not waiting to be "good enough" to accept said savior to be baptized. What good is an all loving, all accepting savior if you have to jump through hoops to get saved from your own weaknesses so much that you can't make up your mind after 5 years? This works-based faith the JWs espouse really gets my goat.

38

i'm up to about 30k words at the moment and still going strong.. i don't expect it'll ever get off the ground.....at least i'm going to try though.. i'm thinking of 6 months time and looking at the route of self publishing.

yes, i want to be a publisher.. it's very violent in places, has violent sexual scenes and very strong language.. it's everything the watchtower(r) said i should avoid.....i wonder if my authentic self has exploded into freedom?.

if you want more info or wish to read a snippet let me know.. i can't think of a title and have changed it several times, at the moment it's called 'boomshot.

Brock Talon

Good for you Paul! Nice reviews too. I hope you sell a million.

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Brock Talon

notsurewheretogo, You know, it's interesting that Amazon doesn't have an actual policy you have to have read a book to review it. I hate it when I read someone's review of Crisis of Conscience or some other great book and they start out with "well, I haven't read this book, but...." and then go on a rant against it based on what they think is in the book. This is like posting a movie review on Rotten Tomatoes from watching a few commercials and hearing your workmates talk about a movie at the water cooler. Anyway, I wish Beth would post here too...

Doofdaddy, yup. But it's taking it to another level to go public with this. That's the disturbing part. She felt the need to post her self loathing and angst as a review.

ToesUp, yes, exactly. The interesting thing here is she is getting the love bombing, but for 5 years now. Isn't that a bit long to be studying without committing? How long can the JWs keep this up? She's obviously not "in" enough to know what the religion is really like, but not "out" enough to see it clearly either.

Username, thank you very much for the compliment. I'm so glad my books entertained you. I hope they made your day a bit better and strengthened your resolve that leaving the Watch Tower was the right move.

In the light of what Username said about prospective purchasers, I want to tell you all an interesting phenomenon about the occasional bad review for an otherwise well reviewed book: they can actually increase sales. I noticed this with Journey to God's House a few years ago when I first published. When absolutely everyone was giving it good reviews the sales figures were OK, but after somebody posted a 1 star review blasting the book (which I admit kind of hurt my feelings) I noticed it spike to #1 in the genre and stay there! Then, after awhile and many more good reviews, it went back to OK and then another bad review and it spiked again. Weird. After publishing Escape from Paradise, I was especially watchful about this because it got only good reviews at first, but once the first bad one hit, the sales spiked for it too. So, I want everyone to know that I really don't care about the 1 star bad slam reviews like that. They don't hurt the book at all... maybe they help it. (Although I suppose any book that got only bad reviews wouldn't survive...) I brought this up because it really hurt me to see a person who the book could help the most, a person studying with Witnesses who should get a more rounded exposure to the real truth, just pan the book with a blind obedience to a horrible religion, at the same time saying it isn't a cult, with the goal to indoctrinate her child in the same way! To me, this is frightening and sad.

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Brock Talon

JeffT, thanks and I PM'd you back.

Disposable Hero, Yes. I was thinking that myself. I don't like to respond to reviews on Amazon, but I wanted to be able to point her here so that others can respond to her in order to break her from the propaganda spell. She is actually aware that some consider her potential religion a cult, but is STILL GOING FOR IT! And... making sure her daughter will be taught it. Terrifying.

punkofnice, thanks for the offer. I'll think about it. The thing is, my books have been out for years now and I don't think one review is going to change anything for them one way or the other. I actually don't care about the review itself that much, it's more of the fact that this is the type of person I wanted to help with my books. It was so obvious to me she didn't read it or she wouldn't have said the things she said. I am frustrated that she is going to ruin her life and that of her child with the key to remedy that right in front of her.

TheRebel, Ha!

KateWild, Exactly! How can we help her? Aaaaargh!

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Brock Talon

Outlaw, yes, I noticed that too. We probably have hundreds of years of JW experience between us who have written these books and written supportive reviews of these books and written these articles, etc. and this lady's "5 years of study" with the JWs trumps that. She knows better than all of us. Sheesh.

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Brock Talon

berrygerry, Yes, I noticed no other reviews by this person, but I just don't see this as a simple Troll post. My take on a typical Troll is that they post just to stir up trouble or discord for their amusement. I see this person as being sincere. That's what makes me sad actually.

36

Today I got a review that left me scratching my head - what do you make of it?

by Brock Talon in

as a published author on amazon, i'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time.

it goes with the territory and i'm ok with it.

writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone.

Brock Talon

As a published author on Amazon, I'm used to getting negative reviews from time to time. It goes with the territory and I'm OK with it. Writing is an art form, so no art is liked by everyone. Got it.

But today, I got a review that left me scratching my head. I've never brought this kind of thing to this or any other forum before, but for this review, I'd like your take on it. Is this a review of my book, or every book or article ever written by an ex-Jehovah's Witness? Do you think the person who has written this can be helped? You see, this review made me sad. Sad for her and especially sad for her daughter.

This is it: Head scratching Amazon review of Escape From Paradise

20

Do US JWs Still Knock on Doors?

by cultBgone in

this may sound like a silly question, but do jws even door-knock any more?

the few i know only speak of "manning the cart" at some public location, and because they get defensive if i even ask an innocent question like this i thought i'd ask it on the forum.

thanks!.

Brock Talon

Two ladies knocked on my door yesterday and left a tract when I didn't answer it. (I didn't feel like engaging them in chit chat as I sometimes do.) They were not somebody I knew before I faded, so they probably didn't know whose door it was.

31

A poll of sorts: How long have you been a "fader" for?

by SecretSlaveClass in

i'm curious about the following:.

1) how long have you been a fader for?.

2) how often do you still get pressure from congregation members and/or family to return as an active witness?.

Brock Talon

I faded 15 years ago and I have never stepped into a Kingdom Hall since that time.

I faded then because I thought I would want to keep speaking with JWs, but since then, found I really don't want to be around them much. I get contacted here and there by JWs I know, but as time goes on, this is less and less. (My last contact from someone out of the blue was just last week as a matter of fact.) I have minor chit chat with them still and it is pleasant enough if I happen to run into most of them around town. My parents and immediate family themselves faded many years ago, so that's a moot point for me. So, fading worked for me well in that way. I was able to wean myself away from the religion without having to feel total abandonment during that time.

I stay faded now because I like having taken the power away from them. I feel I am beating them at their own game. They can't outright shun me as a DF'd or DA'd person, but of course many "mark" me as a weak person. Still, there is no reason for them NOT to talk to me and I sometimes force the issue to see where it will go. It's fun watching an elder I didn't particularly like squirm to pretend to be friendly to me because he "has to", but would rather not be around me at all. If a get treated rudely by someone, I ask them why they are being that way. "Is that any way to treat a weak brother who needs the spiritual help from a mature Christian? I need your love, not your judgement..." Of course, these people never really loved me when I was in, so I know they certainly don't now. But I enjoy seeing how they will react to the corner they have painted themselves into by pretending to care about me. I feel I can convict them in their phoniness every time since I have never given them reason to treat me badly. I like this because in the end, I really don't care what they think about me any longer. It's sort of like what happens when you grow up and return to the school you left, where the teachers there no longer have any power over you. It's fun just being yourself to people who used to control your life, but now have to respect you on their own level.

So being faded gives me the power, and gives me an opportunity to speak a mild version of TTATT to individuals who I think can take it. It's my way of witnessing to the Witnesses. This is the main reason I stay faded and remain anonymous on ex-JW boards. This is especially so since I have published two books about my life as a JW, and as a Bethelite.

I write about the issue of fading in my book "Escape from Paradise" and how difficult it can be to pull off. But unlike Paul Simon's "50 ways to leave your lover", the are only 4 ways to leave the JWs:

1. Disfellowshipping
2. Disassociation
3. Fading
4. Death

...and for some, death may be the easiest way.

9

A must read for all JW's and Ex-JW's

by iwasblind in

hi guys.

i am about 60% through the book exiting the jw cult: a healing handbook: for current & former jehovah's witnesses .

i bought this book because of a post about it last week so a big thank you for that.. i must say that everyone on this forum should consider giving this book a go.

Brock Talon

iwasblind,

It is great that you shared this book with us in the forum, especially since it touched you personally. I think I will check this one out myself now that you've pointed it out.

If you haven't already done so, please make sure to write a nice review for the book on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk (wherever you bought it). This is the best way to recommend an author, as well as to get more readers for her since that review will have many eyes for quite some time.

Remember: you can do the review anonymously if you need to.

-Brock Talon