of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Portrayal vs Inclusion: Why Cuss Words Have No Place in Christian Fiction

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 28, 2021
8 min

Portrayal vs Inclusion: Why Cuss Words Have No Place in Christian Fiction

At first glance, that title is no doubt shocking. Geez, it shocks me, and I’m the one who wrote it! I never thought the day would come that I would have to do a post (or so much as formulate an opinion on) swearing in Christian fiction, but here it is. Here I am. Before we begin with my extremely offensive and opinionated rant discussion, I want to offer up a warning and perhaps even an apology in advance. I don’t mean to step on any toes, disrespect anyone at all, or hurt yo

116 views8 comments

i'm going on vacation (not literally, though)

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 27, 2021
2 min

i'm going on vacation (not literally, though)

You know something's up when my title isn't capitalized. I'm a stickler for capitalization. And punctuation. And proper grammar. And...yeah, I'm a troll. And that's beside the point. So, yeah. I'm going on vacation. Taking a break. I have a lot of reading and writing to catch up on--especially if I want to make my March deadline--so I won't be showing my face around the blog...or the internet...very often next month. However, you will be seeing a TON of fantastic guest posts,

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A Whole Ton of Fun Announcements and Stuff!

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 25, 2021
3 min

A Whole Ton of Fun Announcements and Stuff!

Needless to say, I couldn't find a good title for everything I've got going on today. I gave y'all a glimpse of what's to come in my last post, and today I want to share all about it! So here we go! Six O'clock I recently wrote a short story for a contest, but suffice it to say it didn't win. (There were over 400 other entries, so...) I do so love this story, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with y'all! But before I do so, I need to decide on a cover! I've designed five

59 views18 comments

Meet Hannah Linder (Reviews, book news, designs, and more!)

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 22, 2021
9 min

Meet Hannah Linder (Reviews, book news, designs, and more!)

Y'all, y'all, y'all, y'all, Y'ALL! (That's a lot of y'alls!) So, you know how I recently discovered Kellyn Roth (and totally freaked out about her)? Well, something similar happened about a month or so ago with a certain young author named Hannah Linder. It all started when Willowy Whisper (Hannah's pen name) invited me to take a poll on Goodreads. Well, her super cool pseudonym piqued my curiosity, so I clicked on her name and was transported to her profile--where I found ou

60 views2 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 22, 2021
1 min

Design of the Month: Yo Ho

Well, y'all know I'm all about me some pirates, so when I started up my next design for my Redbubble shop, I KNEW it had to be piratey. And what's more piratey than "Yo Ho"? Now, I don't know if pirates historically said "yo ho" (I will definitely have to do a post on pirate speak), but I do know that the Pirates of the Caribbean film series made the very extremely popular when Disney added the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)." So, without further ado, check out my lates

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Review: The Dressmaker's Secret by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 19, 2021
5 min

Review: The Dressmaker's Secret by Kellyn Roth

It's here! My review of The Dressmaker's Secret is here! I hope y'all have enjoyed Kellyn Roth's interview and guest post, because I have many more Kell goodies coming--including this review! If they knew who she was, they’d never accept what she’s become. Claire will stop at nothing to provide for her daughters. An unwed mother, she does everything possible to raise them whilst avoiding her scandalous past. Some secrets are best kept, even between mother and daughter. Alice

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Grace A. Johnson

Feb 18, 2021
1 min

Let's Get Building!

Just a friendly reminder--the linkup ends on February 28th! You can comment here or on the original post with your link! I can't wait to see what y'all come up with!

25 views1 comment

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 17, 2021
2 min

Ask Ann-Marguerite™ Update!

Y'all. I have had the HARDEST time lately! I mentioned that Ask Ann-Marguerite was moving to its own site, right? Well, I take it back. Here, let me explain... First, I wanted to do a WordPress blog because, I mean, it's WordPress. Great free domain, perfect for bloggers, leading website builder in the blogging community. I have several friends who have multiple WordPress blogs, and they're all so beautiful. However, I tried seventeen million times (all right, not that many)

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If Rina Were a Disney Princess (Quizzes, Collages, and Polls)

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 15, 2021
4 min

If Rina Were a Disney Princess (Quizzes, Collages, and Polls)

Guys, I have just a ton of fun, random goodies to share with y'all today! Some character art, collages, quiz results (seriously), and even a poll! So let's get started! First off, I want to share the amazing collages my friend Ella did for my upcoming release, Bound and Determined. I hope to share these again (along with more fun stuff) closer to the release date, but I've been bursting with excitement at how beautiful these things are, so here they are! (Please note: I do no

71 views2 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 14, 2021
1 min

Giveaway Ends!

Guys! I am so ecstatic to announce the winner of my Valentine's Day giveaway! I LOVE giving stuff away (just as much as I love buying stuff), so, without further ado, let's find out who I get to give one of my books! And the winner is... Kristianne! Congratulations, Kristianne! I'll be sending you an email with your book enclosed, so keep your eyes on your inbox! The rest of y'all, have a happy Valentine's Day and stayed tuned for my next giveaway!!

14 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 14, 2021
5 min

The Author of Love

One thing that amuses me the most, I think, about being a romance writer is how we are defined—and how I define myself. All writers are known for putting their characters through hellish nightmares that are both disturbing and painfully realistic. Romance writers are no exception, but, by accepting that title, they make one promise: the promise of a happily ever after. To achieve such, they themselves, even as authors, go through a heartrending journey as they craft their cha

29 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 11, 2021
2 min

You HAVE to Check This Out!

So, I want y'all to meet my friend! Her name is Emily K. Seaver, and, y'all, this girl is mighty talented! I have a lot of goodies to share in this post, but that's not all! Emily will be back with a guest post this month! Without further ado, meet Emily! If you’re ever looking for E. K. Seaver, you can probably find her hiding in her room with chocolate while pounding away at her computer, penning her next novel or poem and belting off-key Broadway songs. She loves her King

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Guest Post: Historical Romance Heroes Have Become Boring by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 9, 2021
4 min

Guest Post: Historical Romance Heroes Have Become Boring by Kellyn Roth

Y'all, Kellyn Roth is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical authors! Not only is she super sweet, she's also an amazing author! I'm currently reading The Dressmaker's Secret, and my review will be coming soon! In the meantime, I hope you'll check out my interview with her! Kell also has some fantastic opinions! I really enjoyed reading her post on mistakes indie authors make (and I wish I had read that one much sooner!), and I LOVED her posts on historical heroines a

67 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 7, 2021
4 min

The Days We Are In

One of my favorite hymns is probably one you’ve sung, or at least heard, many times before. It goes a little something like this: These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord: And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored. And though these are days of great trial, Of famine and darkness and sword, Still, we are the voice in the desert crying 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!' Behold He comes riding on the clouds, Shining like the su

53 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 5, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: "Anna" by Abigail Metgzer

I'm so excited to share with you guys this fantastic post by my friend Abigail! Y'all know I love names, so having her share her thoughts and research on one very dear to my heart is sure to be a ton of fun! I hope y'all enjoy this post as much as I did! _____________________ Anna. The name I once took for granted, had come back to me with a case. You see, it was a quiet winter’s morning when it confronted me, holding an official briefcase (the kind that a lawyer would carr

47 views1 comment

Review: Rough Way to the High Way by Kelly Mack McCoy

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 4, 2021
5 min

Review: Rough Way to the High Way by Kelly Mack McCoy

Pastor turned long-haul trucker, Mack, struggles with grief and perceived failures as a minister while he is confronted with a mysterious hitchhiker, smugglers, and a determined killer. A journey that began as a search for solitude and windshield therapy after his wife Georgia's murder becomes a high stakes adventure as a Texas Ranger and high ranking FBI agent seek to track down her killer. ________________________ *Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and

32 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 2, 2021
2 min

VALENTINE'S DAY GIVEAWAY!

GUYS, GUYS, GUYS! Y'all know I LOVE free stuff. I mean, I spend astronomical amounts of money at Bath & Body Works just so I can get one. thing. free. I've also entered so many giveaways that I couldn't keep count if I tried! (I can count, however, how many I've won. Zero.) Anyway, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so I thought--very short-term, I'm now realizing--"Why don't I do a giveaway?" Well, I hem-hawed about what to actually give away, before I finally decid

25 views0 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Feb 1, 2021
3 min

Fantasy Writers' Worldbuilding Linkup

*clears throat and splays hand in a broad gesture* Welcome, one and all, to my first ever linkup (also my first ever fantasy-related anything...ha ha)! Before I jump into the details, I'd like to introduce myself (and my intentions). I've never hosted a linkup before, and this one will probably be a little different than the usual ones, but I'mma give it a go! I'm typically a historical romance writer, although I grew up on fantasy and speculative fiction, so finding me in th

114 views6 comments

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