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Author Revealed

Christine Johnson

Christine Johnson

Author Revealed:
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. Hand-eye coordination. Seriously. It's bad.
Learn more about Christine Johnson
Christine Johnson Revealed
About Christine Johnson
  • What is your birthdate?:
    2/2
  • Previous occupations:
    I've worked in Human Resources at a big insurance company, been the assistant manager of a tanning salon, a library clerk, a nanny and a yoga instructor.
  • Favorite job:
    Taking care of my kids and writing books, by far.
  • High school and/or college:
    I went to North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and then attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:
    Hmm. I love Ani DiFranco and Ziggy Marley. And old Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard and also classical guitar music.
  • Favorite movie:
    The original version of REAR WINDOW with Jimmy Stewart.
  • Favorite television show:
    Top Chef!
Revealing Questions
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. A crazy, messy, surprising and beautiful carnival ride
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Leap and the net will appear - Zen saying
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. I think there are big kinds of perfect happiness and little kinds. My husband, my kids, seeing the dream of being a published author come to pass - those are the big kind. But I really revel in the littler moments. Like: a rainy, chilly dark fall night. Sweater weather. Cider weather. Fire-in-the-fireplace weather. Got it? Okay. So add to that sleeping kids in a quiet house, five pages of freshly-written stuff saved on the computer and a book I've been dying to read sitting on the arm of my favorite chair, ready to be opened. What ensues in the next hour - reading, sipping the cider, listening to the fire inside and the rain against the windows - that's one of those moments that I live for, when I wouldn't change a thing. When I am perfectly happy just as I am.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Cockroaches. They *scuttle* and I can't handle that.
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. Oooh, tough. I'm in my house, which is probably my favorite place to be, generally. Aside from that, there's one particular beach in St. Maarten where I mentally vacation at least once a week.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
A. In writing? My characters tend to bite their lips and raise their eyebrows far too often. In life? Probably "Let's see. . ." My toddler can mimic the way I say that way too perfectly.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. Hand-eye coordination. Seriously. It's bad.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
A. I'm not terribly flexible. I mean, physically, I'm flexible as all get-out, but in general, I wish I could be less rigid, more go-with-the-flow.
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. I think the one I most appreciate in myself is determination.
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. I have to pick just one?! Yeesh. Okay. I'd like to be a great white shark. I'm obsessed with sharks. But I'm just saying that there are about a thousand other people and things I'd like to spend the day as, too!
Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
A. Jane Eyre. If I only had to pick one, it would be her.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
A. It's hard to get any better/more evil than Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series, isn't it?
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. Probably lateness. I'm chronically early, though, which isn't really much better.
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. Reading. Hands down.
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. I'm already doing it! Writing books is the best job ever.
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
A. Honesty, compassion and a sense of humor are probably my top three.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. This is a really hard question. I love food. I love buying it, cooking it, ordering it in restaurants and most of all, eating it. I could probably eat only Indian food for the rest of my days, but picking one dish is impossible!
On Books and Writing
Q. Who are your favorite authors?
A. SO MANY FAVORITES. Seriously. I love John Steinbeck and the Ann Patchett and John Green. Scott Westerfeld is a genius. So are Holly Black and Neil Gaiman. Heidi Ayarbe takes my breath away. Ask me tomorrow, and I can give you a different list. There are so many different historical literary periods. Different genres with a list of authors who are each "best" at one particular sort of thing, like plot. Or imagery. Or an unexpected turn of phrase that makes you put down the book so you can really absorb it.
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
A. Couldn't say. That list changes daily. Today, this afternoon, I can tell you that I most love Ann Patchett's BEL CANTO, Neil Gaiman's CORALINE, CHRONICLE OF THE SEVEN SORROWS by Patrick Chamoiseau, A LITTLE PRINCESS by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and PAPER TOWNS by John Green. Tomorrow? Different list.