Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an ageless Disney kid who loves Egyptian mythology and zombies. I’ve got two cats and a dog who like my cooking far more than my one child seems to. I’ve written several novels, most of them including zombies in some way or another. I currently have ten of my own books out and available, as well as at least four anthologies I have short stories in. I have collaborated in one full work called Devil Station that was a ton of fun to work with! I’m a sucker for fantasy and magic and many of my stories have that otherworldly aspect. I’m a music junkie and almost always have something playing while I’m working, reading, cooking, or cleaning. I’m also addicted to Minecraft so when I’m not at work, writing, or with my family out and about or at home, you can find me in that blocky world!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called Wonders: A Wanderer’s Journey and is being released under my pen name, AD Johnson. To be honest, I’ve always been drawn to Young Adult books when it came to reading but I didn’t think I could pull off that kind of novel myself. Wonders started as sort of a challenge novel for myself and went from there. I’ve been working on it for several years and I was thrilled to complete it this year. One of my dear friends is dying and she has always been a huge supporter of my writing. I’ve written Wonders for her, because she deserves all the adventure, magic, and revolution the world can offer and then some.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
They probably aren’t unusual but I prefer to have a snack nearby when I write for sure. I like hot popcorn and Junior Mints best! I also pretty much chug water when I’m writing. If I can’t pause to put something in my mouth every couple of minutes, I get anxious and can’t stay in my groove. I also tend to keep Facebook Messenger up so I can seek constant reassurance from my two best friends.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many it’s hard to name them all. My love of fantasy was first inspired by Emily Rodda, writer of the Deltora Quest series. It’s the one series I remember from childhood that had a phenomenal impact on me. The drive to create worlds people can lose themselves in spawned from that reading, and I re-read all eight every year. Now that my son is old enough, we read two chapters every night! My love of darker toned tales was inspired by Dean Koontz. I remember reading Phantoms in high school and I was blown away by how descriptive and fantastic he was! Every scene seemed to thrum with creativity and sharp-edged intelligence. I love every book of his I’ve ever read and he is personally the author I would love to be like when I get my big girl writing wings.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Wonders: A Wanderer’s Discoveries, which is book two of the Wonders series. I am also putting the finishing touches on a horror novel called Crooked Creek and Shadowlands, the second book in my Cameron Connelly series. I have three books with editors now and several others that I can’t wait to dive into, so I hope to be happily busy for the foreseeable future with many releases on the way!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly haven’t found one yet. I will admit at once that I don’t have a great mind for marketing, but I’m trying to learn every day! I love posting teasers on Instagram (even though I haven’t figured out how to make the buy links work…) and I also post on Facebook often. Hopefully, I’ll figure the marketing part out eventually but even if I don’t, I’m never going to stop writing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Don’t think about it too hard. Don’t steal material, don’t use images for your covers that aren’t yours to use, and don’t make enemies in the community. Writers are a weird, wonderful, welcoming group of people, but we are people. We need to work together for awesome things to happen.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever think you’re done learning because when you do, you’ll stop growing. Be embarrassed about your old work but appreciate it as a step toward where you are now. You will always get better as long as you never stop trying to.
What are you reading now?
I am re-reading the Deltora Quest series with my son and also re-reading Dean Koontz’s The Taking because it’s my favorite book ever.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to break into the YA scene as a serious contender because I have three series already planned out in that genre. The worlds are sprawling and fantastic and I know that readers of all ages would love to get lost in them. My number one goal has always been to create worlds people love to explore and I want to be able to do that full-time for the rest of my life as soon as possible.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Taking by Dean Koontz, a desert island survival guide of any kind, Phantoms by Dean Koontz, and admittedly I would probably take along Wonders: A Wanderer’s Journey because it’s my favorite book of mine so far!
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