Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an experienced digital journalist who has covered everything from terrorist attacks to the cat that’s Donald Trump’s doppelgänger. My collection of essays about family caregiving, The Reluctant Caregiver, received a gold medal at the 2018 IPPY Awards. I received the 2015 Rick Bragg Prize for Nonfiction from the Atlanta Writers Club. My work has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other anthologies. I writes about dementia and caregiving on my blog, The Memories Project.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Reluctant Caregiver. This collection of personal essays was inspired by my experiences as a caregiver for my parents. My father had Alzheimer’s and my mother had colon cancer.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually have a cat on my lap!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rick Bragg, Hollis Gillespie, Mary Karr, Sallie Tisdale,
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new concept that will still focus on aging issues, but may be in the fiction genre.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://joyjohnston.com/
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write it all down, edit yourself later.
What are you reading now?
I’m Just Happy to Be Here by Janelle Hanchett
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to explore aging and caregiving issues in various genres and grow my audience.
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?
Anything by Stephen King and poetry by Wisława Szymborska.
Author Websites and Profiles
Joy Johnston Website
Joy Johnston Amazon Profile
Joy Johnston’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account