Diane M. Johnson

@caseyadamsstark

Writer of horror. Fan of the supernatural (and Supernatural). Think twice before you DM me. If it’s phishy it’s block-worthy. HWA member. #ScriptSky #HorrorSky #IndieHorror #BookSky Find me through Linktree:

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Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 25d

The #WIPSnips for next.

John David’s silent scrutiny was unsettling. The man reached for a glass on the night stand and offered it. John David helped him lift his head while bringing the glass to his lips.The water going down refreshed him, until it seemed like John David was feeding him too fast. He choked and then spluttered. John David set the glass aside without apology. “I’m not going to get your hopes up,” he said. “You’re bleeding out. We’ve made you as comfortable as we can, but…” He shrugged without the slightest hint of sympathy.
“I’ll recover,” Alec said. “I’ve got a track record.” John David said nothing to that. “So what’s next?”
“What’s next?”
“Your man tried to kill me. But here I am—”
“—Lucas acted of his own free will. I had nothing to do with it.”

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 26d

Thanks Gabino. This is slowly making its way to the top of the TBR stack. Here’s my own #FridayReads share for people to add to their TBRs. #PerfectProphet about a death metal atheist and the unlikely prophecy that makes him a target for a Satanic cult. www.amazon.com/Perfect-Prop...

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 26d

The #WIPSnips for acquire:

Tomas rolled his eyes. He propped his elbows onto the table and leaned into his hands locked together. "I will be honest. And this does not leave this room!" He added a pointed glare in Smith’s direction. Then back to Pedro. "I’m glad you did it."

Pedro sniffled. He felt a sting in one eye that he tamped away with a finger. "Well, then. Someone owes me a pastry—"

"—When will you learn to shut up. Esme would have banished you months ago, and now you do this? Tell me you don’t plan to disappear and start fresh with your newly acquired fortune."

"Would it matter? You’re glad it’s gone, you just admitted it! And your wife would cook me on a spit, if you’d let her. And by the way, your ability to protect me? A bit thin."

"We need you, Pedro."

Pedro paused, his finger up and ready to wag with more discontent. He retracted it, then posited instead. "Of course you need me…Why?"

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 27d

The #WIPSnips for Rush.

His breath hitched in his throat. The pain of it burned as he saw the horrified faces of the three surrounding him remain suspended in time. He felt the blood rush out of his face and down through the tips of his fingers, and he managed a smile. He sank before Él Capitán caught him and laid him down. Such panic and disappoint on the man’s face. It broadened Mateo’s smile.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 27d

Thanks for the weirdly relevant chat Eryn, given my current WIP and my first published book below. I recently republished it as a hard cover, so check it out — about an unprecedented flood that awakens a vengeful spirit in a rural town. #HorrorWritersChat www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-schoha...

The Schoharie book floating in water

TEXT

A small town with bitter secrets
Bones unearthed from a historic flood
A vengeful spirit unleashed
A grizzled sheriff with a smoking habit
A Native American rescuer trapped between worlds

Link here: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-schoharie

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 28d

Okay okay! Since I’m out sick from work with a throat infection… You can guess where my inspiration comes from… #HorrorWritersChat

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 28d

I decided to nurse myself back to health by not going into work today. Sorry for the late entry. The #WIPSnips for coach.

Maxine sat behind her main counter and watched the latest news of the collapse on a little flat screen propped on the wall above her head. She didn’t bother to look over when Sara’s arrival jingled the bells above the door. Sara led Aaron to a booth and sat him down. Sara quietly ordered two coffees from Max, and Max quietly exchanged dollars for coins before handing the coffee over. “Kids missed you at practice today, Aaron,” she shouted past Sara. She was secretly miffed by the fact that her kid sat out on a wet soccer field for an hour and his coach never showed.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· 29d

Tuesday! Pig in a Poke. I know, it has nothing to do with today’s #WIPSnips but it is Tuesday and Pig in a Poke is kind of a tradition…

I shake my head, trying to tune out the rabble that is Zimmerman’s Corners, then focus on Harriet and what she so urgently needs to share. It’s hard, though, what with the bustle of waitresses hurrying from table to table, crossing right through her. Harriet isn’t phased by any of it. But the people at the table she hovers closest to flag a server down and complain that they’re cold. "It’s late October, ma'am. No, we don’t have the air conditioner running." The server apologizes to the table before stepping through an oblivious Harriet one more time.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 13

MURDER SHE WROTE -X- GHOST Captain Beardslee — a housewife teams up with an astrologer to solve an age old murder that happened at an abandoned castle just outside of town, as told from the POV of two ghosts, the murder victim and a cherished town busybody named Mabel. #BluePit #📖 #OS #A #WF #M #PN

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 13

Looks like our fearless host almost posted an individual panel for today’s word. Never fear! The panel for the week will do just fine! Hope everything’s okay. #WIPSnips

They took each other in, almost like lovers until they smirked in unison and broke into another outburst. The laughter simmered. “What now?” Diego was always the one to realize the gravity of their actions first, the pragmatic shit, and Pedro sighed.

“No Elvira…”

“Are you serious.” Diego scoffed and pulled himself up into a loosely cross-legged sit. “That, mi amigo, was a death sentence. It was never going to happen. Not without your head finding its way on a pike.”

“Mi corazon, Diego! You’re breaking it.”

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 12

The #WIPSnips for Sunday.

Milo steps out of the little storefront squeezed in between a sushi place and a hair salon along this busy corridor known as Ventura Boulevard feeling a little bit lighter. Lighter of funds, mostly, and yes, he did technically pay with a debit card , so there is no change in his actual weight here, except for that cube shaped bulge in his front pocket. But that incremental bit of extra weight must be helium, because the bounce in his step makes him feel like he's on the moon.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 11

CW for animal death. And the man expressing sincerity and regret in this scene is actually a monster of a human being. But that’s a bit of a spoiler, I guess. #WIPSnips

She didn’t often see her father when he was working, but on this day, Elvira had wandered to the corrals to enjoy watching the penned horses trot about. She hoped to entice one to the fenced in edge with a clump of grass so that she could stroke its snout. She was especially fond of a chestnut one that her father called Rojo.

When she reached the fence line, she heard a mare’s weak neigh and found the animal lying prone in the center. The rest of the pack had shied away from it, for it was injured with its hind quarters mangled, most likely attacked by a jaguar, she thought. Her father was on his knees beside it. He stroked the mare’s mane and spoke softly into its ear, as Elvira craned her neck to listen. “I’m sorry, my old friend,” she heard him say.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 10

The #WIPSnips for substitute.

Master Hawkins wasted no time preparing for the meeting requested by Martin Enriquez. He sent his quartermaster to the task of sending his galley cooks ashore to find the freshest of local foods to prepare for the viceroy's arrival. Shellfish and lime sauces coupled with the finest stores of wine were in order. Martin Enriquez may have been considered a mere substitute for Philip the Second, but he was still considered royalty. Or, viceroyalty. Entertaining the lower level king was in Hawkins's own best interest.

Especially since the royal Spanish Armada was in such close proximity.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 9

The #WIPSnips for keep.

His only solace was the occasional treat of Elvira’s smile. As he walked to find a secluded spot to do his business without stepping beyond the boundaries of their camp, he thought that maybe Elvira liked him in the same way too. He would have loved to get her alone and find out just how serious her intentions were.

And that was why Diego called him a fool. “You want to be dead,” he would say. “Keep winking in her direction. Keep giving her goofy looks and throwing her kisses through the air. You get caught, and you’re in the ground faster than the ones we’ve had to bury.” And he was right.

Still, it might be worth it, Pedro thought as he shook himself off and tucked himself in. If he was destined to die young, he at least deserved to die happy.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 8

It’s a good thing my current #WIPSnips has a connection to the weather. Wish me luck. I’m flying today.

He snaps open the box lid as a car turns onto the street, its headlights hitting him right in the face with their brilliant LED glare. “Connie, will you—Jeez, that’s bright.” And Connie moves, with a mutter, just enough to block the light. The humidity rises on a whim, enough to form sweat beads along the hairline, and “Will you—.”

The car speeds past, sends a tidal wave of filthy runoff up, over the curb, splattering the both of them. The car keeps going.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 7

A hectic week lies ahead of me, so I’m getting my #WIPSnips in when I can. Also, I’m almost certain that the Spanish is a bad ballpark of wording, but it is a WIP…

"And when we run into authorities looking for the heads of English dogs, what then?"

"We won’t because, off the coast. In a boat. And you can teach me a Spanish phrase or two. And why would a refugee be traveling about with a slave? Perfect alibi, mate. Inn't it. So, go on. Teach me hello."

"Teach you? Fine. Hola."

"Hola. See? Easy."

"Hola," Tomas continued. "Soy un bastardo codicioso, como el resto de ustedes, y deberían desmembrarme."

"Did you just call me a bastard? You did, didn’t you?"

Tomas had, among other things. Rough translation: I’m a greedy bastard like the rest of you, and you should have me drawn and quartered. But Hartop didn’t need to know that. Let him learn how to say it, Tomas thought. Let it result in a surprise.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 6

I’m joining the #WIPSnips vibes and and synonyms team for this one. A velodrome, in this case. It’s a screenplay snippet too.

INT. VELODROME — BOX SEATS

A luxury bird’s eye view for the corporate sponsors and their families. Raymond chats with other conglomerate heads, leans back to accept a Mojito from an attentive staff member.

VELODROME

Sonny breathes. Takes time to get a better look at his opponents. The three guys, Captain RED-BEARD, DAGGERT and PICK, practically snarl before they spit and glare back.

The fourth woman, COPPERHEAD, winks with a come hither nod. Enticing trouble, Sonny smiles back until she dances her tongue out. It's split down the middle like a snake.

The last contestant, KAREN, avoids eye contact.

SONNY
Karen?!

This time she glares at him.

ANNOUNCER
Racers at the ready!

Karen focuses on the start. Sonny does too.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 5

Pedro embarrassed? Or awkward? Or caught in a lie? Never. #WIPSnip

"On your feet! Show me where you buried it."

Challenge accepted. Because Pedro wasn’t a fool. Not a complete one, anyway. He knew he had the advantage here, and he made a bold turn to face the towering blacksmith. "What will you do if I don’t, kill me? That will help you recover it, sure! You’re better off without it. And I don’t care!" Arms spread wide for the not caring part. He took a step back, gave Smith a curt nod as if the matter was settled.

Smith lowered his weapon. He leaned in and boxed Pedro's ear.

“Ow!” Pedro drew an indignant face, then moved to bolt down the beach. But Smith was faster: the man was far more agile than his iron made bulk would make people assume, and he snagged Pedro by the arm, pulled him along.

"Come on, then, home!" Smith grabbed Pedro's pack. He left the shovel behind.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 5

The #WIPSnips for Sunday

He relaxes on the bench once he reaches the bus stop, waits patiently alone, except for the kitten. He even teases her with a walking finger monster across his knee. Then, company, a woman Milo recognizes who frequents the bus line often enough. She’s a student, more than likely, an off campus commuter with a backpack marked by letters on the flap. She has never spoken to Milo in his life on those occasions when their paths have crossed. But today…

“Awe, how cuuuuttteee!” She bends right down and scutches clawed fingers at Nimbus while making kissing noises through puckered lips.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 4

From my weird west piece that I might get back to one day. Happy #WIPSnips 4th! Watch some futbol if you can.

$I wonder how a being can get used to finding it hard to breathe, but maybe it explains Magus's general oddness. Oxygen feeds the brain. I think it was Magus who reminded me of that once, but that doesn’t matter at the moment. "Magus. Tell me." Back to the whisper. "I been watching." "Watching what?" He scans baskets of produce near the counter then picks out two large juicing fruits and two round berries. He sets the juicers a fair length apart then takes the berries, setting them near each juicer. "This is us," he says pointing to a berry. "And this is THEM." The other berry. "Who is them?" "Look, look, look! And listen." He circles the berries about the juice fruits. Over and over, and "when we are here, they are here, our presence blocked by our sols throughout revolution, except our trips do NOT align. One moves faster than the other—by fractions—and NOW… now I see them." "You see them." "With lenses and mirrors and magnifiers, and such, I don’t have time to explain the process, because they are in view. They are advanced. And they are coming!"$

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 3

Yesterday’s #WIPSnips involved a body too. I think I might have a problem…

Dawn had broken. He and Diego would have to be getting up soon anyway. So Pedro slipped on what was left of his worn boots to head out and take that piss. He pushed open the tent flap and stepped out into the muggy morning to find Monty hanging by the neck from a nearby tree. Pinned to the man’s chest was a sign. MUTINEER.

Pedro remained stunned by the sight, hanging right in the middle of camp where others should have heard the commotion in the middle of the night. That’s how dead tired all of them were. And Monty, a mutineer? A loudmouth, sure. But not a mutineer.

The flap to the tent nearest the body flipped open and another soldier stepped out, surprised to find the hanging man so close. He nudged the body into a slight pendulum swing. Then he yanked off Monty’s boots.

“Oh come on,” Pedro shouted. He glanced down at his own boots worn thin at the toes and wished he had been faster. “I saw them first!”

The soldier rewarded Pedro with a not so subtle hand gesture before he went through Monty’s pockets.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 2

How many knock knock jokes are out there today? (Not mine) Anyway, here’s my #WIPSnips entry for July 2.

Lucas kept quiet until they were gone. He soothed Saint, even whispered sweet nothings in the dog’s ear, and Saint seemed to have forgiven him. Lucas’ best friend was a blind follower. Then the coast was clear. Lucas dropped out of the loft and headed for Adonis’ door. He knocked. Then he called out. “Reverend? Sir? I need to speak wi—”

The door pulled open and Adonis poked his face out.

“I need to talk—”

“—It’s impossible for you to be done—”

“—It has to do with the body.”

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jul 1

Stan and Tiny have an interesting relationship #WIPSnips

"You married a good woman," I overhear from a palm reader next in line. "She’s the reason for your longevity." The woman strokes a finger across Stan's hand, who sits in a chair opposite the reader.

"Marlarkey! You know who my wife is." He pulls his hand free and gestures to Tiny as she passes. "Odds are, she’s the one who'll kill me."

"Love you too, precious." Tiny throws Stan a kiss and keeps moving. Oddly enough, he catches it and winks. They reach the table where a woman wearing a headscarf sits, framed by two crystal balls on either end of the table. A Seer, is the claim on her banner draped along the table front. It has a spray of golden stars across a midnight blue backdrop that matches the headscarf.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 30

Guys, & specifically guys… if you’re new here and decide to follow me, I will check your profile. If you seem to follow women of a certain age & almost only women of a certain age & your few posts are, “look at my pets,” and “God fearing man,” —BLOCKED— JFC at least make note of the books I write…

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 30

Had to sub with competition. #WIPSnips

Tournament…(subbing with competition)

"…I was struck by what my brother said, and thought, how many in the world run away from others in fear of not seeing themselves."

Tomas stepped into the room. Pedro’s moment of joy dissipated. "I’m glad you opened it," he whispered to Tessa. "Keep practicing."

Tessa nodded with a giggle until she caught the stern glare of her father. She closed up her book, as Pedro straightened up, and she coaxed her little brother out of the room.

"She reads better than you—"

"—Sit down." Tomas pulled out a bench from under the table where he expected Pedro to sit. Pedro obliged with the oppressive aid of Smith, as Tomas settled on a seat across from him. Then, silence. A long, drawn out staring competition until Pedro cleared his throat.

"I found it in the city," he said referring to Tessa's book. "Never realized she’d pick up with it so fast—"

"Pedro!"

"Yes, Tomas—Mi…general—"

"Stop it!"

"Isn’t this where we stand now?"

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 29

It’s going to be an interesting #WIPSnips week because if you notice, I could double up with some of the week’s words within the same snips. But I’ll try not to. I’ll try…😬

Milo turns his eyes to his own plate, and—you can do this you can do this you can— “Connie, I uh—.” He reaches across the table, grazes his wine glass with a knuckle and, of course, overcompensates as it teeters. Up, out of his seat, reaching for his glass, knocking over the flower vase that spills the life giving water meant for the dying rose, trying to catch the vase, and thus knocking the almost saved goblet of wine too.

“Oh!” Connie scoots out of her own chair before the rolling mix of water and wine can waterfall into her lap. Milo snuffs a teetering candle, just in case, and shakes his fingertips because that little sucker of a flame bit him, and… the other candle remains upright, its flame flickering then steady.

Milo throws a napkin over the spill. “Unbelievable! Well, it IS believable because—.”

“Because what?”

He’s helpless. Staring into her big, round eyes only slightly less so because her nose is crinkled up and she’s smiling. If someone made an emoji of her face, people would eventually hate it because it would be so overused, and…in spite of the mess, she…is…smiling…

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 28

I managed this #WIPSnips with the last 48 hrs.

“I can’t do lunch today,” he added hoping to recover. “I got a late start. I need to make up for it.”

Then came a new voice on the line, the suave and sensational master himself, Skye. “Milo! Buddy. You can’t make lunch? How about dinner? I really and truly believe that I owe it to you. To the both of you.”

And now here they are, seated at the SkyLounge with its precarious view of the city; worst place to be in the event of an earthquake. Or an inferno. Or a terrorist attack. Or a myriad of other options Milo can imagine as a setting sun casts a red orange hue across the two story plate of window beside their table. If it shatters…

Of course Skye could nab a last minute reservation at this place. Milo imagines he has stock invested in it due to the name. And the food? Overpriced museum pieces.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 27

The #WIPSnips for root.

The conversation was cut short by the arrival of Captain REDACTED. REDACTED noticed. He grinned at the cacique while skewering his own raw vegetables to roast, and he joined in on the conversation. “Mateo tells stories of bearded pig men. Yes?”
Mateo gawked at REDACTED. The man’s language skills had improved tenfold, and before Mateo could hide his surprise, the captain leaned in with a sly grin and shared more. “I swear by this,” he said. “It’s all true.” He chuckled at the cacique and added, “But not today. Today we give thanks. To you.” REDACTED drew a knife from a sheath on his belt and offered it to the cacique. The chief took hold of the weapon and admired its quality. He toyed with it and cut a slice of root from his roasted kebab. It cut with a precision that impressed him, and he gave the captain a nod of gratitude.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 26

If you read this #WIPSnips and determine that Diaz is an ass, you are correct. Apologies for the length.

“Can I ask you something,” Diaz said from behind Mateo. They were both at the stern, left somewhat isolated from the regular chit chat. “There seems to be no animosity between you and your brothers.”
“Brothers?” Mateo asked.
“Yes. These Caribs—“
“—They’re not my brothers,” Mateo quipped. It irritated him whenever the white Europeans dismissed his people, the Warao, or any mainland Arawak tribe they discussed, as Caribs. The Caribs made the mistake of offering friendship to the Old World strangers, allowing them to invade and take root on the islands out to sea. “What is animosity?”
“I don’t mean actual brothers,” Diaz explained. “They are your people, your kind. Wolves and foxes may be similar, but they never share each other’s company.” He could see that Mateo wasn’t bright enough to follow his analogy. Diaz rephrased it succinctly. “Why don’t they hate you?”
“No comprende.”
The lieutenant sighed. “We have met many tribes,” he continued, “and have been greeted with hostility more often than not. You have been educated and accepted into a more civilized society. You have a position of importance among us. As a servant to… a servant of The Lord. They probably see you as one of us now, a traitor even. So why don’t they hate you?”
Mateo failed to see what the lieutenant was trying to convey. He shrugged. “As you say, they are my people. Do you hate your people?”
Gonzalo laughed at the irony of the ways of his own people. He couldn’t help himself. “As God is my witness, you can’t be a part of this era of conquest without making enemies of friends,” he replied then nudged Mateo. “You and I, though. We can be friends, maybe?”
“Si, Lieutenant.” If Gonzalo Diaz had been facing Mateo, he’d have realized that Mateo had no intention of trying to be his friend. But Mateo nodded and lied, and the lieutenant took the nod for a successful end to the conversation.

Diane M. Johnson@caseyadamsstark· Jun 25

Thanks to the great Terry Pratchett for writing a book titled Pyramids, which led to me reading and writing a little bit about it on my blog. And yes, I’m counting a blog post book review. Writing is writing. #WIPSnips dj-screenwriter.blogspot.com/2026/01/