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.

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.

More About Vanessa Johnson:

            Vanessa A. Johnson, a life-long Louisianan, began writing in 1995 after the untimely deaths of her mother and son in August and September, 1994. She and her husband, Welton reside in Ama, Louisiana with their 10 year old daughter, Alexis. Johnson is retired and currently working on her next book, Tempted by Love.

            Johnson can be reached through her website @ www.vanessaajohnson.com or Email: vanessaajohnson@hughes.net. She is also available on FaceBook, MySpace and Twitter.

About Sacrifices in the Name of Love:  

            Trey Martin, a Black teenager and Tessa Phillips, a white teenager, 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. When Tessa becomes pregnant she 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, she feels trapped and leaves town under the cover of day, thus leaving behind everyone near and dear to her heart. After almost four years Tessa returns home to Louisiana and discover many unexpected changes. Despite setbacks to include death, deception, lies and secrets, she is determined to right her wrongs and reunite with her son and the love of her life, but she has to face her demons and those of her love ones, too.

Related posts:

  1. Writing and Reading Habits
  2. Electa Rome Parks spotlight
  3. American Idol Alumni Spotlight Kellie Pickler

Filed under: Author • Books • Interviews • Other Books

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!