Carolyn Johnson
Writer
Carolyn Johnson writes Middle Grade fiction and historical romance. Contact Carolyn to speak at your school or library event, or for more information about creative writing and literature workshops for students in Grades 4-8.
About Carolyn
Carolyn Johnson is a native of Toronto, Canada. She spent several formative years in France where she learned French fluently. An avid reader, she spent her teen years rollerblading to the public library and browsing the stacks for hours. At university, she studied linguistics and classics, before teaching academic ESL for several years. After a few years at home with her young son, Carolyn returned to the classroom to teach French to students from Grades 2 through 8.At a seminar in 1999, Carolyn first felt the pull to become a writer. A year or so later, she had the idea for a novel, but it wasn’t until 2018 that she would complete the first draft. Unsure of what to do with the story, Carolyn shoved it under the bed for a time. Then, in 2019, one of the projects designed for a Grade 7 French immersion class led to the idea for Adam and the Witch Queen. She planned to quit teaching in 2025 to pursue writing full time, but life had different plans. In 2021, Carolyn left teaching and wrote Adam and the Witch Queen, and then redrafted the first novel she had written, As Tall as the Sun is Bright as the second title in the Adam and Rosalyn series.Carolyn reads constantly and stops at nearly every Free Little Library she passes. On weekends, you might see her zip past on her motorcycle, en route to a yet-undiscovered coffee shop.
Adam And The Witch Queen
Ever since his dad went missing two years ago, Adam just can't seem to concentrate in school.He spends most of his time making paper airplanes instead. When one of the planes starts a fire in the cafeteria, Adam gets suspended. At home, his frustrated mother loads him with chores. But while getting out the lawn mower, he discovers a mysterious trap door in the floor of the shed. To his amazement, it leads to a strange city, where he soon finds himself in trouble...again.This time, he's in good company - he gets snatched from danger by a group of rebels. Their goal? Take down the Witch Queeen. Adam's goal? Get home. Unfortunately, it looks like he'll have to help the rebels before they can help him.
Kids' Q & A
Click on the question to find out the answer!
Where were you born? Where do you live?
I was born in Toronto, Canada, and I that's where I live. However, I spent three years living near St. Germain-en-Laye, France, as a child, and six years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in my twenties.
What made you decide to become a writer?
I have always loved reading, but it wasn’t until I attended a workshop at university where a woman was talking about her life as a Christian writer that I began to wonder if maybe I could write.But I fell into teaching instead and the only writing I did for years was in my journal.Then one summer I did a massive tidy of my apartment. I’d accumulated a ton of craft supplies and I remember looking at my knitting machines, debating whether to keep them. The thought came to me like a bolt of lightning: Am I going to spend all my time and energy learning to use the knitting machines? Or am I going to get down to writing?I realized shortly afterward that I had to write. It was like a pot about to boil over. I left teaching in 2021 and wrote two novels in that school year.
What other jobs have you had?
French teacher, ESL teacher, swim instructor, lifeguard, seamstress, shop clerk, Sunday school director.
Where do you get inspiration for a novel?
It’s different every time. But often, I go back to the very oldest stories of Western civilization and I ask, what would it look like if we were telling that story today for the first time? For instance, Queen Belya in Adam and the Witch Queen is a “type” of witch you find in many old tales out of Eastern Europe, called Baba Yaga. Her house is made of old bones and skulls and she tries to capture children and eat them.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love to make things— whether it’s a gourmet meal or a pair of socks. Recently, I got my motorcycle license, so I’ve been taking rides on our Vespa or our Kawasaki Vulcan cruiser.
Do you have a family?
I am married to Jeremy and we have a young adult son, Miles. And a cat—Mr. Wolf.
What’s your favourite book?
You might be surprised by my answer. It’s the Bible, because it’s full of thrilling stories, beautiful poetry and great advice for life. I read it every day and never grow tired of it. But some of my favourite books for young people are L.M. Montgomery’s Anne books, and Erich Kästner’s Emil and the Detectives and Lottie and Lisa. The first grown-up book I read and loved was Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. I'd better stop there. I’m looking at my bookshelf and seeing hundreds more books I love!
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