of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Coming Soon: The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 29, 2021
3 min

Coming Soon: The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman

Y'all may have heard me talk about Julie Lessman a few times before. Actually, you've probably heard me talk about her a LOT. She's one of my favorite authors, a good friend, and a huge influence in my writing! Anyway, she's releasing her FIRST EVER MYSTERY!!! *excessive cheering ensues* Technically, this is a romantic suspense - and, being a Lessman novel, it's 50% romance and 50% mystery/suspense instead of 20/80...which makes my romance-lovers heart very happy. For non-rom

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Cover Reveal: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 27, 2021
2 min

Cover Reveal: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

GUYS IT'S HERE. THE COVER FOR BEYOND HER CALLING IS HERE! WHICH MEANS BHC WILL BE HERE VERY, VERY SOON! *squeals incessantly* This is a post that needs no introduction...simply lots of pictures. And fangirling. And chocolate. *showers everyone with Hershey's Kisses and confetti* Let's start with an up-close peak at Ivy and Keefmore in the background... Isn't it just SO lovely??? Come to think of it, I should probably do this whole post with a Scottish accent in honor the sett

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Review: Letters to My Father by Crissie Ann Leonard

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 26, 2021
3 min

Review: Letters to My Father by Crissie Ann Leonard

I was so excited when I began this novel to join Wiletta on her journey—because from the first moment I saw the title of this book, I knew it would be a lovely, inspiring story full of Jesus, and I was right! But what I didn’t expect was for it to be so gripping! Letters to My Father was a smoothly written story that was both unique and engaging. The events flowed so well—from Wiletta discovering the letters to meeting up with all of the writers—and the pacing was even and ba

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Grace A. Johnson

Jul 25, 2021
5 min

My Writing Journey

Welp, here it is, y'all. The full story of how I became a writer. This was originally a page in its own right on my site, but I took this down to share here on the blog! I hope y'all enjoy learning about my super-writer origin story! *winks* By the way, if you're interested in knowing more, then you should TOTALLY check out my recent interview with Kristina Hall here! She asked some fabulous questions! My love affair with books all began when I memorized Tell Me the Christmas

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Review: Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 23, 2021
5 min

Review: Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. I don’t know if you noticed, but, uh, I’m not doing my usual thing. As in the star rating, short summary, and favorite quote thing that I do for ARCs. Yeah...it’s just...this book. I can’t. I can’t give it a star rating because my ratin

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Review: To Dwell among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 21, 2021
7 min

Review: To Dwell among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Did I purposely order a copy of a book I had no idea if I would like at all just so that I could read and accurately review the free copy of the second book I was getting in the mail? Yes. Do I have any regrets? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I will t

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Grace A. Johnson

Jul 19, 2021
3 min

GraceAJohnson.com Gets a Whole New Look!

You may have noticed when you pulled up this post that my site looks a wee bit different. It is. Y'all remember when I asked you to take a reader's survey for me? I asked a bunch of questions that made little to no sense? Yeah, that one. You remember it. Anyway, this is what I did with your feedback. I revamped my entire site. I changed the colors, the theme, the layout, the fonts, my logo, my tagline - all of it. And I like it. I mean, I'll prolly change it again in a couple

87 views26 comments

Review: At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth (and More Goodies!)

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 19, 2021
8 min

Review: At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth (and More Goodies!)

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. What can I say? I think it’s common knowledge by now that I have thoroughly enjoyed Kellyn Roth’s novels and that I view her as an amazing writer, in league with Christian literature’s top authors. Every installment of her Chronicles of

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At Her Fingertips Blog Tour: Character Q&A: Ivy Knight

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 16, 2021
7 min

At Her Fingertips Blog Tour: Character Q&A: Ivy Knight

There's no doubt that I simply adore Kellyn Roth's historical novels - I've been bugging y'all about them for months now! Which is why I think it's high time to share a little bit of the Alice and Ivy wonderfulness with y'all - so let's give an extremely warm welcome to one of my favorite Roth characters (and one of my favorite heroines too), Miss Ivy Knight from At Her Fingertips, which releases TOMORROW! Want to follow the rest of the tour? You can find the schedule here! G

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The Importance of Differing Perspectives

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 13, 2021
10 min

The Importance of Differing Perspectives

Or, in more accurate terms, how your novel is like a potluck. *waves* Well, hello there, my lovelies! I'm just here to share with y'all a post for which I put off writing Bound and Determined for two days - I mean, a post I was inspired to write after thinking about my struggles with my characters. Seriously, though. When I had the idea for this, everything made sense and was like full of writerly revelation. Then I started writing it and realized that it makes no sense. at a

62 views16 comments

Cover Reveal: The House That Didn't End by E. K. Seaver

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 10, 2021
2 min

Cover Reveal: The House That Didn't End by E. K. Seaver

This post needs no introduction. I'm preeeety sure that cover right there is intro enough. Y'all remember E. K. Seaver? (Hopefully, you signed up for her launch team...) Anyway, she's my amazing friend who wrote this amazing book. Maybe you had a chance to read the early version she had on her blog. I did, and on top of that I got to help line edit it...so maybe I'm biased when I say that this is gonna be one of the best fantasy books you've ever read. *clears throat* But my

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June Wrap-Up + July Goals (and maybe a photo dump...)

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 10, 2021
3 min

June Wrap-Up + July Goals (and maybe a photo dump...)

Believe it or not, but before I wanted to be a writer, I was really into photography. I mean, not so much so that I had a nice camera or took good pictures or anything (although, admittedly, some of them were pretty good for an eight-year-old...just not the selfies), but I very much enjoyed it. Still do, and I’m trying to get back into it, so yeah. This post is part monthly update, part my first ever photo dump. Mostly flowers and food (because I love taking pics of my food..

133 views16 comments

Cover Reveal: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 7, 2021
2 min

Cover Reveal: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

Well, hello there, lovely person. I see you've been drawn in by that interesting title up there. Or perhaps 'twas this beautiful photo to my right there which has so thoroughly captured your attention. Whatever the case, you've come to the right place to (1) admire that gorgeous cover I mentioned and (2) learn more about Roseanna M. White's upcoming release! About the Book 1906 Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by expl

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Grace A. Johnson

Jul 4, 2021
2 min

A Message to America

Today is Independence Day, and although technically the Declaration of Independence wasn't signed on this day, we still celebrate the Fourth of July as the day the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration, making a statement to the colonies, Britain, and the whole world that we would be an independent nation under the jurisdiction of God Most High. Now, we've had our struggles. America may have been founded on godly principles when it was named the United States, b

75 views8 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 2, 2021
3 min

I thought I was depressed. I would sit on the bathroom floor with my head in my hands and cry. Because I thought I was a disappointment. Because I couldn't handle the stress. Because I thought I was better off having never been born at all. I wouldn't have killed myself, but sometimes I wished someone else would go ahead and do it for me. This was the stage in my life where at thirteen, my mottoes were "we're all a little bit depressed" and "depression is just the thorn in my

106 views15 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 2, 2021
5 min

Review: Ignite by Jenna Terese

Where to begin? There is honestly nothing more difficult than writing the opening sentence to a review—especially of a book that deserves the very best opening conceivable. No doubt there are and will be better phrased reviews of this novel, more beautiful adjectives used, clearer thoughts expressed. But that’s not why I’m here. My purpose is to gush exceedingly about Ignite and make absolutely no sense while doing so. So here we go. First off, I just want to say that Jenna i

90 views22 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jul 2, 2021
4 min

Author Interview: Jenna Terese

Y'all remember Jenna Terese, don't you? I've been gushing about her for a month now. Probably because (1) she's an awesome person, (2) she's a marvelous author, and (3) she wrote a spectacular book! Speaking of book, I'm super excited (did it again) to share my review of Jenna's debut novel Ignite later today...but first, I want to introduce y'all to the author! But seriously, though, if you're already interested in reading Ignite (or this interview made you interested), then

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