of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 29, 2021
2 min

Cyber Monday Sale!

If y'all've been following my Facebook and checking your inbox, then you know that not only is Held Captive completely FREE for Black Friday through Cyber Monday but there are HUNDREDS more clean and Christian indie novels (and nonfiction too) on sale for less than $1! If you haven't, then stick around for more information! *winks* Only hours remain, my lovelies, until Cyber Monday ends and all these amazing ebooks and signed paperbacks return to their normal $5 or even $20..

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Grace A. Johnson

Nov 26, 2021
8 min

Know the Novel Part 2: Within the WIP

Part 2 of Know the Novel is HERE! Yes, my lovelies, it's time for updates and progress reports and sneak peeks and all that fun stuff! Before we dive in, I'mma shout out to the lovely Christine Smith, who created this amazing linkup! You can read her kickoff post for this month here, and if you're interested in joining, you still have a chance! Or you can wait until December for Part 3 to talk about how many words you wrote in your WIP in November! Did you miss last month's p

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Can I Have Your Thoughts on Cover Design?

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 24, 2021
1 min

Can I Have Your Thoughts on Cover Design?

Well, that was unexpected. You probably didn't anticipate seeing me until after the holidays, let alone asking for your thoughts on cover design. Then again, I am known for my spontaneity. I'm not. I'm really not. Point is, I'm here. I have questions. I need answers. Let's get this over with. And, before you ask, no. I'm not talking about designs for Bound and Determined's cover. That's not coming until sometime in the spring (hopefully). Nay, me luvs, today I'm sharing with

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Review: To the Uttermost by Kristina Hall

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 22, 2021
3 min

Review: To the Uttermost by Kristina Hall

Whoo, boy, lemme tell y’all, we could be here all day if I tried to recount every aspect of this book and everything I felt while reading it...and I reckon y’all ain’t got all day, now do ya? So I’ll just direct y’all to my review of the previous novel, Strangers and Pilgrims, here, which gives you the lowdown on Kristina Hall’s writing style and an overview of how she writes her novels. Because, as a continuation of SAP, To the Uttermost is really quite similar in everything

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Review: A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 21, 2021
6 min

Review: A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

*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. Stars: 3.5 Synopsis: Emma Grace McMurray is on the run from the ghosts of her past...and those who search for her even now. When her past catches up to her, can she trust a man from the high class she abandoned to help her? Favorite Quo

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Grace A. Johnson

Nov 17, 2021
8 min

The Sunshine Blogger Award #2

I don't think I've ever been this late to a tag. Joelle over at The Pen Inspired nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger award back in September. September, people. Y'all know what month is it now? November. Yeesh. Time flies. That, or else school saps it away. ANYWAY. Y'all may remember the first time I did this tag/award back in May, when I respectfully borrowed it from Maya Joelle (I know, two Joelles, right?). (And, yes, I did return it in pristine condition, don't you worr

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Grace A. Johnson

Nov 13, 2021
1 min

Happy National Indie Author Day!

It’s here! #NationalIndieAuthorDay is here! We’ve been celebrating for a week, and now it’s finally time to wrap things up...but the party’s not over yet! In honor of Indie Author Day, I challenge you (or would a double dog dare sound more irresistible?) to reach out to an indie author! Friend, family member, favorite writer—whomever they are, send them an email or shoot them a message on social media telling them why you’re thankful for them and their writing, what you love

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Why Do You Love Being Indie? (Indie Author Week)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 12, 2021
5 min

Why Do You Love Being Indie? (Indie Author Week)

I am so honored, you guys, to have such an amazing selection of indie authors on today to give you their reasons why they love being an indie author! I'm blown away by their answers (partly because they're so eloquent, mainly because they put into words what I think every indie author feels), and I hope y'all will find them inspiring as well! Jayna Baas: I have a love-hate relationship with my work as an indie author. There are days I want to bang my head on a wall, but I lov

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How to Support Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 11, 2021
4 min

How to Support Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

There is nothing more important to an author—indie or trad, published or not—than support. I mean, we all need support, don’t we? As easy as it may sound to shoot an author an email saying how much you loved their book, there are other, better ways you can show your support for them and their work. That said, I personally love it when I get a message from a reader—warms my heart more than anything else—and I’m not the only one! Unfortunately, those emails are a personal, priv

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How to Become an Indie Author (Indie Author Day)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 10, 2021
6 min

How to Become an Indie Author (Indie Author Day)

This, my friends, is a topic that I could go on about forever. There is simply too much to say, too many variables, too many steps to recount. As overwhelming as that sounds, it’s actually very easy! I hope to write an in-depth post detailing the specific steps that must be taken in the process of self-publishing (particularly through certain platforms), as well as guides to pre- and post-launch promotion, self-editing, etc. The point is, so much goes into becoming and remain

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My Favorite Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 9, 2021
2 min

My Favorite Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

Now, this I could go on about all day! There are so many amazing indie authors out there that I absolutely love! I’m also going to include several hybrid authors (authors who are both indie-published and traditionally published) with a list of their indie books, because I know of several fantastic writers who straddle both worlds! Without further ado…on to the authors (in no particular order)! Kellyn Roth, author of the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. Hannah Linder (aka Willowy

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Why I Became an Indie Author (Indie Author Week)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 8, 2021
3 min

Why I Became an Indie Author (Indie Author Week)

Interestingly enough, I think I’ve been asked why I self-published more so than I’ve been asked about indie authors in general...so maybe this should have been my first post. *shrugs* Either way, buckle up, because I have quite the tale to tell! Actually, I’m going to keep it short, because I’m supposed to be writing Bound and Determined right now… From a surface level, I became an indie author (in other words, I self-published my books) because there weren’t really any other

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What is an Indie Author? (Indie Author Week)

Grace A. Johnson

Nov 7, 2021
2 min

What is an Indie Author? (Indie Author Week)

Today is a very special day, my friends. Why? Because today begins a week-long celebration of indie authors...all in honor of National Indie Author Day on the 13th of this month! I am super excited for all the amazing posts coming every day this week, as well as the author spotlights I’m doing on Facebook! I hope y’all will join me in learning more about indie authors, what they are, who some of my favorites are, why I became one, and how you can become one too! My introducto

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Grace A. Johnson

Nov 1, 2021
5 min

Welcome to November!

Here we are, y’all. The second to last month of the year. November. Boy, has time flown. Just think—last November, I was blogging about names and the flat-earth theory and the election. I also released an updated version of my Christmas novella, The Gift of Her Heart, and was still working on Bound and Determined. This November? Well, I probably won’t get that much done, but I do have one really big goal for this month… But before we get into that, allow me to announce the wi

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of blades and thorns

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