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Mark Johnson

Goodreads Author


Born
in St. Louis, Missouri, The United States
Website

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Member Since
May 2016


I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Now, in my sixties, I live happily in Scottsdale, Arizona, among the saguaros and palm trees.

Since retiring in 2014 from corporate life, I've authored six books to pay tribute to vivid people and memories from my experiences in North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and Arizona.

From Fertile Ground, my first book, is a three-generation memoir and writer's mosaic that explores the importance of family and desire we each have to create our own path.
My second book, Tales of a Rollercoaster Operator, features up-and-down stories from my Missouri childhood. The St. Louis History Museum selected both books (published in 2016 and 2017) for its collection devoted to LGBTQ history in the Midwest.

In 2018, I published A
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Mark Johnson First, it's so great to hear from you, Vicki. Writing was my salvation last year. Somehow I mustered the focus and energy to complete and publish my f…moreFirst, it's so great to hear from you, Vicki. Writing was my salvation last year. Somehow I mustered the focus and energy to complete and publish my fourth book, "I Think I'll Prune the Lemon Tree", which includes essays about Arizona and living in Coronaville ... that global place that became all-too familiar for everyone. I think you would enjoy reading it. Hope to see you at the next author event ... whenever that may be!(less)
Mark Johnson Writing brings me joy and comfort. It is my creative sanctuary. When I write, I am happiest exploring the beauty of nature and the most meaningful mom…moreWriting brings me joy and comfort. It is my creative sanctuary. When I write, I am happiest exploring the beauty of nature and the most meaningful moments and people in my life,(less)
Average rating: 4.2 · 83 ratings · 33 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors
An Unobstructed View: A Per...

4.24 avg rating — 21 ratings — 4 editions
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From Fertile Ground: The St...

4.44 avg rating — 18 ratings — 2 editions
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Tales of a Rollercoaster Op...

3.78 avg rating — 18 ratings — 3 editions
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I Think I'll Prune the Lemo...

4.47 avg rating — 15 ratings — 3 editions
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Sixty-Something Days: Essay...

3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — 2 editions
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A Path I Might Have Missed

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
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Sixty-Something Days

As Thanksgiving approaches and we prepare to spend time with beloved friends and family, I'm excited to tell you that my sixth book Sixty-Something Days: Essays, Poems, and Fiction is live in paperback and Kindle formats. This memoir tapestry, which I wrote from 2022 to 2025, is a call-to-action to learn, grow, and create during every stage of our lives, but especially in our post-65 years. To fin Read more of this blog post »
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Published on November 17, 2025 14:02 • Tags: community, fiction, growing, learning, memoirs, new-books, poems, post-65, retirement, teaching, wisdom, writing
Prequel: An Ameri...
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by Rachel Maddow (Goodreads Author)
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The Goodbye Cat
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Mark’s Recent Updates

Theo of Golden by Allen  Levi
"This book was highly recommended. I was greatly disappointed by it. A fairly undramatic treatise on kindness, the author tries to hold the reader by teasing a "big secret" about his kindly main character. Then, around chapter 52 or so, there is an ex" Read more of this review »
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Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
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Mark Johnson and 701 other people liked Glenna's review of Theo of Golden:
Theo of Golden by Allen  Levi
"Bear with me—

I think the premise is great. I think the imago Dei message embedded in the story is wonderful. I like the idea of this Promenade community.

But, this book needed a lot of editing. I love a doorstop of a book, don't get me wrong, but I f" Read more of this review »
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Theo of Golden by Allen  Levi
Theo of Golden
by Allen Levi (Goodreads Author)
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I heard lots of favorable buzz about this book, so I had high expectations. The spirit of the story, giving nature of Theo, and the author's accessible writing style captured me in the first half of the book. However, I ultimately didn't feel the nar ...more
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A Work in Progress by Connor Franta
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Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
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Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
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The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung
The Young Will Remember
by Eve J. Chung (Goodreads Author)
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The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
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Brené Brown
“Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

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Everyone has a story to tell. This is a group to discuss the many types of biographies, autobiographies and memoirs. If it's a true life story, it bel ...more
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