Can you tell us about your latest release?
Yes, Sacrifices In The Name of Love is about interracial relations between two teens, Trey Martin and Tessa Phillips who get more than they bargain for when Tessa ends up pregnant, and out of fear of facing her self-professed racist father, she concocts a plan to conceal the baby’s paternity. Tessa is faced with making the most painful sacrifices she’s ever had to make. When she can no longer hide the truth about her baby’s paternity, she opts to leave town, thus leaving the baby and the love of her life behind. A few years later, she returns to find life has changed, but despite the obstacles, she’s determined to right her wrongs, but she must first face her demons and the demons of her parents.
Where do you take your inspiration from?
Life, people, places. Either can spark an idea for a story at any time.
Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?
Sometimes. If I’m writing a love scene, love songs are very helpful. Classical music makes my creative juices flow when I need my story to move forward.
What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?
I imagined the book making it to the top bestsellers list and so I submitted in order to make reach that goal. I can’t do that if I don’t submit.
Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?
I’m retired, so I don’t have a typical routine. I write when I feel inspired to write. I may write in the morning, or it may be late at night after the house is quiet and peaceful.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
I can let my imagination run wild and write about the things some of us have only dreamed about.
What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?
Right now, an area of mass destruction. I have so many books, I’m out of shelf space, so some are on the floor around my desk. I’ve kept every rejection letter I’ve received, and believe me there are many, and I keep them on my desk as inspiration and use that inspiration to persevere in spite of them.
Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?
The only emotionally difficult thing for me to write thus far was my first nonfiction book that I self published. It was about my journey through grief after the loss of my mom and son a month apart in 1994. I’ve had fun writing all of my fiction work.
Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work? And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?
No, I don’t. I have plans for having all of my work published.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I multi-task especially if I’m not feeling a particular work. I try not to force my writing.
Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?
I’m most excited about, and to date I’d say it’s my favorite piece, and that is my next book that I’m doing the rewrites on. It’s titled, Tempted By Love, and it was inspired by small bits and pieces of my life, mingled with a lot of fiction.
When not writing, how do you relax?
Participate in online writing groups and on social sites. I love to read, baking and spending time with my family.
How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?
My family thinks it’s great that I’m a writer, especially when my work if published and they have the finished product in their hands. I have let my husband read some of my work.
Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
Not too much. I write a column for my local paper, so I’m recognized more when I go out.
Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?
I would love to be on somebody’s bestseller’s list. I see myself as continuing to write because I have more stories to tell.
If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?
I’m retired after spending 30 years on my job. If I weren’t writing, I can’t see my life being any different.
Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?
(Laughter) Hell, I’d love to see all of them turned into a movie. I do envision my characters on a screen as I’m writing scenes.
What sacrifices could you make under the guise of love?
Trey Martin, a Black teenager and Tessa Phillips, a white teenager are about to find out in Sacrifices In The Name of Love. They are neighbors in a small Louisiana town where race mixing is still taboo in the 21st century. Despite the objections and beliefs of their parents, the two give in to the desires for each other. Tessa becomes pregnant and creates a web of lies to conceal the baby’s paternity because she fears the wrath of her self-professed racist father.
No longer able to hide the truth, Tessa will make some tough and painful sacrifices, all under the guise of love. Will she be able to live with those sacrifices? Journey with Tessa and Trey as they face challenges that include sex, death, lies, family secrets and forgiveness. Despite those challenges, Tessa is determined to right her wrongs.
Will those challenges make or break her as she faces her demons and those of her love ones, too?
Sacrifices In 'The Name of Love Blurb:
Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?
My website is www.vanessaajohnson.com. I’m also on Facebook, Myspace, and many online writing groups. If you google my name, you’ll find me.
Vanessa Johnson
Author, Sacrifices In the Name of Love
Ebook Available: RedRosePublishing.com & Amazon.com
About the Author
Vanessa A. Johnson, a life-long Louisianan began writing in 1994 after the untimely deaths of her mother and son. Her first book is titled, When Death Comes a Knockin’ a self-help, inspirational book about loss and grief. (Lulu Press, March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2470-X)
Johnson is included in numerous fiction, non-fiction and poetry anthologies: Help, I’ve Turned Into My Mother, Strebor Books, 2005; The Purple Pen Anthology of Short Stories, AuthorHouse, 2005; BlackExpressions’ Songs of Hope Poetry Anthology, 2005; Living by Faith, Obadiah Press, 2004; Down the Cereal Aisle, Daniel’s House Publications, 2003; and the Celebrations Anthologies, Notes To My Mother, Notes to My Grandmother, Notes to My Father, Adassa Prendergast Publishers, 2006; with inclusion in three more books in the 35-book series. Johnson will also be included in the Second Chance Anthology of Short Stores and Gumbo for the Soul Anthology: the Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community.
Johnson first novel, Sacrifices In The Name of Love was published 06032010 by Red Rose Publishing in eBook format (ISBN: 978-1-60435-712-7). She is doing rewrites on book number three, Tempted By Love and has begun book number four titled, Black Sheep of The Family. She is available through her web site: www.vanessaajohnson.com, Email: vanessaajohnson@hughes.net and on Facebook and Myspace.
Sacrifices In 'The Name of Love Blurb:
What sacrifices could you make under the guise of love?
Trey Martin, a Black teenager and Tessa Phillips, a white teenager are about to find out in Sacrifices In The Name of Love. They are neighbors in a small Louisiana town where race mixing is still taboo in the 21st century. Despite the objections and beliefs of their parents, the two give in to the desires for each other. Tessa becomes pregnant and creates a web of lies to conceal the baby’s paternity because she fears the wrath of her self-professed racist father.
No longer able to hide the truth, Tessa will make some tough and painful sacrifices, all under the guise of love. Will she be able to live with those sacrifices? Journey with Tessa and Trey as they face challenges that include sex, death, lies, family secrets and forgiveness. Despite those challenges, Tessa is determined to right her wrongs.
Will those challenges make or break her as she faces her demons and those of her love ones, too?
Vanessa A. Johnson, a life-long Louisianan began writing in 1994 after the untimely deaths of her mother and son. Her first book is titled, When Death Comes a Knockin’ a self-help, inspirational book about loss and grief. (Lulu Press, March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2470-X)
Johnson is included in numerous fiction, non-fiction and poetry anthologies: Help, I’ve Turned Into My Mother, Strebor Books, 2005; The Purple Pen Anthology of Short Stories, AuthorHouse, 2005; BlackExpressions’ Songs of Hope Poetry Anthology, 2005; Living by Faith, Obadiah Press, 2004; Down the Cereal Aisle, Daniel’s House Publications, 2003; and the Celebrations Anthologies, Notes To My Mother, Notes to My Grandmother, Notes to My Father, Adassa Prendergast Publishers, 2006; with inclusion in three more books in the 35-book series. Johnson will also be included in the Second Chance Anthology of Short Stores and Gumbo for the Soul Anthology: the Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community.
Johnson first novel, Sacrifices In The Name of Love was published 06032010 by Red Rose Publishing in eBook format (ISBN: 978-1-60435-712-7). She is doing rewrites on book number three, Tempted By Love and has begun book number four titled, Black Sheep of The Family. She is available through her web site: www.vanessaajohnson.com, Email: vanessaajohnson@hughes.net and on Facebook and Myspace.
Sacrifices In 'The Name of Love Blurb:
What sacrifices could you make under the guise of love?
Trey Martin, a Black teenager and Tessa Phillips, a white teenager are about to find out in Sacrifices In The Name of Love. They are neighbors in a small Louisiana town where race mixing is still taboo in the 21st century. Despite the objections and beliefs of their parents, the two give in to the desires for each other. Tessa becomes pregnant and creates a web of lies to conceal the baby’s paternity because she fears the wrath of her self-professed racist father.
No longer able to hide the truth, Tessa will make some tough and painful sacrifices, all under the guise of love. Will she be able to live with those sacrifices? Journey with Tessa and Trey as they face challenges that include sex, death, lies, family secrets and forgiveness. Despite those challenges, Tessa is determined to right her wrongs.
Will those challenges make or break her as she faces her demons and those of her love ones, too?
Thank You Vanessa!
My sincere thanks to you, Clare for the opportunity. Continued blessings on all of your endeavors.
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