DJ is Writing: The End is Just the Beginning

Friday, December 31, 2021

The End is Just the Beginning

It's December 31st, 2021 and Betty White has died.

"Awe, man! That sucks," is what I said after my son braced me for the most recent social media news I had yet to see.

Then I thought about it. Maybe it didn't suck in the way we are programmed to receive such news. Betty White, an icon for most of her 99 year life (so close to 100), the ray of sunshine that had carried us through these last three years of pandemic hell because she simply existed, has left us at the very bitter end of a very long tenure.

Maybe her passing is her way of passing the baton. "It's been a good run, ladies and gentlemen. I've enjoyed being your symbol of hope, of cheer, of the promise that there is always a reason to laugh and smile. I hope I've taught you well. Now it's time for you to carry that baton for the generations to follow. Laugh. Enjoy life. Become a beloved example for your grandchildren to aspire to."

In short, I'm not going to mourn the death of Betty White. I'm going to celebrate her contribution to the world. Let's all thank Betty White for what she gave us through the end of 2021 and aspire to be the Betty Whites of 2022 and beyond.

God bless you, Betty White. Thanks for those memories.

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The Latest Book -- Perfect Sacrifices -- The Kirkus Review

This third installment of Johnson’s Perfect Prophet supernatural thriller series finds family and friends caught in a cult’s web of rituals and retribution. Devil worshipping death-metal guitarist Alec Lowell left all that behind to become a faith healer. In the same vein, his Satanist half-brother, Lucas, lives a quiet life in a Wisconsin cemetery after leaving a cult. But now cult members want Lucas as a sacrifice for “the Dark One.” When they snatch Ally Reeves, an innocent teen girl, Lucas is convinced it’s to draw him into the open. He rushes to help her, but she isn’t the only person these vicious people have their sights on: It’s not long before others in the half-brothers’ orbit are in jeopardy, including Alec’s ex-wife, Belinda, and their son, Jake, as well as Jake’s girlfriend, Maggie. Lucas isn’t on the best of terms with everyone—as a member of the cult, he once kidnapped Jake “with some deranged notion to repent for his sins.” Nevertheless, they’ll need to rely on one another to stand against a group of merciless killers. As in the series’ previous installments, the story is bleak and violent, sometimes graphically so (“Shein’s abductor pried open his jaw while the female assistant grabbed hold of the tongue with a spring clamp…”). The narrative moves at a blistering pace, dishing out copious twists throughout rather than saving them for the final act. This sequel nudges the spotlight away from the half-brothers and allows the outstanding supporting cast to shine, especially Belinda and Maggie. The supernatural elements are understated; magic is in play but no single character is all powerful (that doesn’t make the villains any less horrifying as they seemingly come out of nowhere). The author deftly integrates pre-existing subplots and character relationships, but readers may want to check out the preceding books first to avoid spoilers. While a fourth installment is possible, this one concludes on a satisfying note. A somber, kinetically charged, character-driven sequel. -- Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-m-johnson/perfect-sacrifices/