Ask the Author: Grace A. Johnson
Answered Questions (27)
Grace A. Johnson
Boy, do I know the feeling! Sometimes I end up with writers' block because the scene I'm working on just ain't doing it—whether because of a plot hole or because I don't have a clear idea of what's supposed to happen in that scene. In those cases, what helps me is reading over what I've written recently and just taking some time to brainstorm! I love talking (to myself, admittedly) about my stories, putting together Pinterest boards, and listening to songs that fit the story to help me get a better grasp of what's going on in my story! Once I've figured out how to fix the plot or continue the scene, writing flows much easier!
In the cases where I have writers' block because of a lack of motivation on my part, what I need to do is fall in love with the story again and get excited to push through the block. That also happens by getting inspiration for my story (Pinterest being the chief), as well as taking a break to read a different book, work on a different project, or dump some of my thoughts on the story in a blank doc and just see what I come up with!
It also helps to have some reader/writer friends to help encourage you, brainstorm, or even give you feedback (because sometimes writers' block comes from having a low view of your writing and not wanting to continue)!
In the cases where I have writers' block because of a lack of motivation on my part, what I need to do is fall in love with the story again and get excited to push through the block. That also happens by getting inspiration for my story (Pinterest being the chief), as well as taking a break to read a different book, work on a different project, or dump some of my thoughts on the story in a blank doc and just see what I come up with!
It also helps to have some reader/writer friends to help encourage you, brainstorm, or even give you feedback (because sometimes writers' block comes from having a low view of your writing and not wanting to continue)!
Grace A. Johnson
Easy: ROMANCE! Christian romance, that is, because what's love without Love, am I right? I've adored romance since before I can remember, and every single one of my stories has to have some element of romance in it, whether as the main plot or subplot!
Grace A. Johnson
Oh, absolutely! <3 I would love to write more devotionals like With Fear and Trembling, Bible studies, and general nonfiction! The topics I'm considering now are femininity, purity, and writing/publishing/marketing advice!
Grace A. Johnson
Oh, of course!!! I absolutely love it!
Grace A. Johnson
I don't know the exact date, since circumstances keep changing, but I do plan on rewriting and republishing Held Captive within the next two-to-three years!
Grace A. Johnson
I've designed some, yes! The covers for The Gift of Her Heart, Daylight, Six O'clock, Home for Christmas, and A Christmas to Remember are ones I've designed through Canva! I did Held Captive's cover through Kindle Direct Publishing's cover creator (and you can tell *coughs*) with an image I found online (don't worry, I got permission to use it)! But the covers for Prisoner at Heart and Bound and Determined were designed by Roseanna White Designs, and the cover for Tell Me You Love Me Anthology was done by Issabelle Perry! :D
Grace A. Johnson
Aww, thanks so much, girl!!! I really appreciate it! :D Haha, I wish there were, but it all comes from God! ;) You too! <333
Grace A. Johnson
*gasps* I LOVE this question!!! Naturally, I don't know all the ships, and of course I would prefer a different one for different purposes (sloop for speed, galleons for cargo, frigates for battles, etc.), but if I had to pick...it would hands-down be the man-o-war!!! It's the largest type of ship of the line (of its time, that is)...basically a frigate with 120 guns, three gun decks, three masts with up to twelve sails, and a maximum speed of eight to nine knots!
Now, I've never been sailing, and I doubt I'd wanna go sailing on a man-o-war, but they're absolutely glorious to look at and make for fun stories! ;)
Now, I've never been sailing, and I doubt I'd wanna go sailing on a man-o-war, but they're absolutely glorious to look at and make for fun stories! ;)
Grace A. Johnson
Man, oh man! I remember the 3-page days! Honestly, the trick is to embrace those 3-page stories until you find The Story! Even if you can't make it far in your books, savor the writing process, no matter how long it lasts! Explore new ideas, try new styles, and grow as a writer! I HIGHLY recommend starting with flash fiction pieces and short stories - they can be a full story at only three pages, which makes running out of inspiration or getting writer's block a lot more difficult. XD
And don't worry about cliches! If you enjoying writing the idea, write it! No trope is ever written the same way, because no writer is the same!
And one day, you'll find The Story...that story that sucks you in and won't let you go, the story you simply must write until The End, the story brimming with ideas and inspiration. Just keep writing - you'll find it!! It took me at least three years of writing to find The Story (and I'd even finished a 40k novel before then), but when I did, my writing changed and grew by leaps and bounds!
I hope that helps! :D Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any more questions!
And don't worry about cliches! If you enjoying writing the idea, write it! No trope is ever written the same way, because no writer is the same!
And one day, you'll find The Story...that story that sucks you in and won't let you go, the story you simply must write until The End, the story brimming with ideas and inspiration. Just keep writing - you'll find it!! It took me at least three years of writing to find The Story (and I'd even finished a 40k novel before then), but when I did, my writing changed and grew by leaps and bounds!
I hope that helps! :D Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any more questions!
Grace A. Johnson
Girl, I am terrible at these personality things! XD I can't seem to fit myself in just one...so I think I'm either a INFP or ENTJ. XD And I know basically nothing about the Enneagram, so. *shrugs* XD
Grace A. Johnson
My favorite genre? Anything Christian and romance! Whether that's historical, mystery, fantasy, or suspense, as long as there's God and romance in it (and it's well-written, of course), I'll read and enjoy it!
From a surface level, no, I read what I write and vice versa - and that's mainly because I was inspired to become a writer and learned to write by reading! But when you look deeper, I do end up writing the type of stories very few others do - passionate but God-honoring romances full of adventure and suspense and LOTS of Holy Spirit!
There are two authors who right similarly (although I'd already written my debut novel, Held Captive, before I started reading their works): MaryLu Tyndall and Julie Lessman. Their novels have helped me cultivate my writing style and have encouraged me in many ways!
That sounds SO interesting! I don't read a lot of YA, but there are several Jane Eyre retellings out there...Mimi Matthews just wrote one called John Eyre. Katherine Reay writes Jane Austen retellings, and Pudge and Prejudice is a YA retelling of Pride and Prejudice. And Dearest Josephine might be kinda similar to what you're thinking too!
You can always draw from anything you read, whether you like it or it's in your preferred genre or not! You can learn what not to do, how to write certain styles, how to develop different kinds of plot points, tropes, and characters, and more! The broader your reading material, the broader your knowledge will be! :) Don't feel like your work has to be a carbon copy of other books in the market - being unique is always in style! ;)
From a surface level, no, I read what I write and vice versa - and that's mainly because I was inspired to become a writer and learned to write by reading! But when you look deeper, I do end up writing the type of stories very few others do - passionate but God-honoring romances full of adventure and suspense and LOTS of Holy Spirit!
There are two authors who right similarly (although I'd already written my debut novel, Held Captive, before I started reading their works): MaryLu Tyndall and Julie Lessman. Their novels have helped me cultivate my writing style and have encouraged me in many ways!
That sounds SO interesting! I don't read a lot of YA, but there are several Jane Eyre retellings out there...Mimi Matthews just wrote one called John Eyre. Katherine Reay writes Jane Austen retellings, and Pudge and Prejudice is a YA retelling of Pride and Prejudice. And Dearest Josephine might be kinda similar to what you're thinking too!
You can always draw from anything you read, whether you like it or it's in your preferred genre or not! You can learn what not to do, how to write certain styles, how to develop different kinds of plot points, tropes, and characters, and more! The broader your reading material, the broader your knowledge will be! :) Don't feel like your work has to be a carbon copy of other books in the market - being unique is always in style! ;)
Grace A. Johnson
This answer contains spoilers…
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Grace A. Johnson
I haven't, no, but I've heard it's really good! I'll admit K-pop isn't my preference, but I'd love to try it one day! I actually have a friend who's HUGE into K-pop (J-Hope bias, if you're wondering XD), so I might recommend it to her too! Thanks for reminding me about it!
Aw, I'm glad you think so! I hope you'll get a chance to! (No problem, girl!)
Aw, I'm glad you think so! I hope you'll get a chance to! (No problem, girl!)
Grace A. Johnson
Good question, Kat, because I honestly don't know if I ever mentioned his age! He was born the same year as Rina - 1655 - so in Prisoner at Heart, he is 29!
Grace A. Johnson
Daaang, good question, Goodreads! XD I guess this isn't a mystery in my life, per se, but rather a mystery in my entire family... You see, my fifth great-grandfather on my mother's side, Maximillian Wildes, has absolutely no records (aside from his death), and many stories have been circulating for years about who he was and where he came from. Some even suppose that his name wasn't Maximillian and that he was descent from a politician in Boston.
Anyway, I actually have plans to write an alternate history type novel about the circumstances surrounding his death, and a fictional version of what could have been his life story!
Anyway, I actually have plans to write an alternate history type novel about the circumstances surrounding his death, and a fictional version of what could have been his life story!
Grace A. Johnson
Ooh, good question! I'll try and keep my answer short! ;) I'm planning on six novels, actually. Once I finish Bound and Determined, I'll probably take a couple year break from DotSS before writing the next four books! Hopefully, I'll have a few more short stories in between, though!
Grace A. Johnson
Thanks for asking, Hanna! To be honest, it depends! I try to keep the setting as true to life as possible, so I'll give historical events and figures cameo appearances or brief mentions, but I do take some creative liberties. Since my first two books in the series aren't set during any memorable historical events, the facts I include are limited. However, I try to remain as authentic to the time period as I can, although I still bend a few rules! ;)
Grace A. Johnson
Great question! My current work-in-progress is Bound and Determined, the third book in my Daughters of the Seven Seas series. It's a direct continuation from where I left off in the last book. I have an unofficial blurb available on my website's books page--but, long story short (and spoilers averted), it's what I call a high-stakes adventure on the high seas, with a side of romance. 😉
When will I be finished? Ay... Well, I'm shooting for March of 2021 to finally type The End. After that, it could be anywhere between three to six months before it's released.
When will I be finished? Ay... Well, I'm shooting for March of 2021 to finally type The End. After that, it could be anywhere between three to six months before it's released.
Grace A. Johnson
The face inched closer, until the light cast away the darkness and I could see the evil expression, could feel the cold fear surge through my blood. He reached out...and then everything went black.
Grace A. Johnson
Oh...this is a tough one. I would probably go to Sara Ella's Second Reflection and help her characters rule their kingdom while singing some Third Reflection songs. (Sara Ella's The Reflection Chronicles is a great YA fantasy series that I absolutely love and recommend you read!)
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