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Merida Johns

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My insight into the power of fiction came during a conference call in late 2017 with a group of fellow life coaches. "What would it be like to help women and men achieve a flourishing life through storytelling instead of another self-help book?" I asked them.

After that phone call, I started answering that question. Almost three years later, the result was my debut novel titled Blackhorse Road, a heartfelt story of womanhood and the power of choice, gratitude, and forgiveness that was published July 21, 2020 by my publishing company, Coffee Cup Press.

Before embracing writing fiction, I was an academic and the author of several textbooks in health informatics and leadership. Later, I put my experience to use as a leadership coach, with a foc
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Merida Johns There are myriad definitions of writer’s block, but Merriam-Webster probably has it right—a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceedi…moreThere are myriad definitions of writer’s block, but Merriam-Webster probably has it right—a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece. I think we all have experienced writer’s block one time or another that invokes irritation, frustration, exasperation, and even conjures up an inner critic who is ready to heap tons of self-blame on us.
When I get writer’s block, I see it as an opportunity to clear my mind, and I push that frustration and inner critic to the side and take a minute. Writer’s block is my brain telling me it is overloaded—it needs a rest; it needs a small retreat. I call it the mindful minute. The mindful minute can take various forms. Sometimes it is just sitting, taking a deep breath, closing my eyes, and being with myself and just listening! Listening to the sounds around me, being curious about them, and not judging whether they are good or bad. When extraneous thoughts come to mind, I acknowledge them and then gently push them away and go back to listening. Other times, it is sitting, taking a breath, closing my eyes, and focusing on my emotions.

So, when I hit a writer’s block, I look at it as an opportunity to recharge my creativity. I take a mindful minute (or maybe two or three). Afterward, I write down my feelings about the experience in my writer’s journal. My creativity is awakened and its flow breaks through the writer’s block. Here are examples of my “in the minute” journal entries:

9/13/2020: In the minute listening: Although I cannot see them, I can hear and visualize the piano keys in deliberate slowness moving up and down, producing the clearest of sounds. What beat is that, I ask? Whole notes, half notes? What does it feel like to be a piano key moving in that purposeful order?

9/14/2020: In the minute smiling: Feel what happens when you smile: I smiled, and tranquility came over me, and I felt I as if I were floating on air. I felt at peace. I felt that nothing else mattered except being in this moment of calm.
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Merida Johns When I started writing fiction, I took two pieces of advice before pounding the keyboard—write about what you know and know what you write. Blackhorse…moreWhen I started writing fiction, I took two pieces of advice before pounding the keyboard—write about what you know and know what you write. Blackhorse Road blossoms from my imagination but is influenced by my experience and observations--that's writing about what I know.

But my fiction is enriched by the backstories that set the context for the characters and events in the story—historical incidents, politics, economics, philosophy, religion, and psychology that influence the values of the characters and ultimately the consequences of their actions. I uncover these backstories from usual fact-checking and readily available historical references to know about what I write. The sources that I like best to enhance the palette of my stories are diaries and letters. These provide a personal perspective to the context that help form a relationship with the reader--that's knowing about what I write.
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Published on May 18, 2024 22:00
Flower Girl A Novel
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Three Cool Benefits of Micro Steps

New Year Resolutions may not be for everyone—a Forbes survey says about 40% of Americans take the step., but …
 
If you are among those who commit to ch Read more of this blog post »
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Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
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Many of us have had one (or maybe more) imaginary friends and can still recall their names, their appearance, and the comfort they brought us. And yes, I had fun with mine! So, it is unsurprising that The Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend brought back s ...more
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The Second Home by Christina Clancy
The Second Home
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Perhaps your family has a second home—a cabin in the woods, a cottage by the beach, a getaway near a river . . . filled with memories of carefree days, family adventures, relationships, and even sibling drama!
Christina Clancy brings all these memorie
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Flawless Witness Flower Girl Novella Sequel by Merida Johns
" Thank you for your thoughtful review of Flawless Witness and recommendation as book group worthy. "
Flawless Witness Flower Girl Novella Sequel by Merida Johns
"Oh, the feels

Trigger warning for this short, powerful book. There's abuse, emotional trauma, mention of suicide and stalking.

Flawless Witness is eye opening for both victims of a narcissist and people who have managed to avoid this kind of relations" Read more of this review »
Merida Johns is now following Bruce Weiss and Gina Mitchell
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Flawless Witness Flower Girl Novella Sequel by Merida Johns
" Thank you, Nancy, for your review and providing prospective readers a cliff hanger. "
Flawless Witness Flower Girl Novella Sequel by Merida Johns
"Suzanna Jordan tries to hide the memories of her ex-husband’s abuse from herself and the world for many years. That is until the day she reads his obituary. An obituary that does not do him justice at all. She keeps on trying to hide from herself and" Read more of this review »
Flawless Witness Flower Girl Novella Sequel by Merida Johns
" Thank you, Bruce, for your review and the insights you've provided. ...more "
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Quotes by Merida Johns  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Don’t make snap decisions, good or bad, about someone. Before forming an opinion, figure out what makes a person tick. Sam in Blackhorse Road A Novel”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“Lying once makes it easier to do it the next time and the time after that. Deceit has a funny way of propagating until it finally destroys the thing it was attempting to protect. Sam in Blackhorse Road A Novel.”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“Too often folks get caught up in a false dichotomy, an either this or that trap. There’s usually at least a third good option waiting to be found. -- Craig in Flower Girl A Novel”
Merida Johns, Flower Girl A Novel

“What defines a person are not one's financial or physical attributes or beliefs. Instead, it's the choices that one makes in surmounting life's challenges" . . . Lucinda, Chapter 1, Blackhorse Road.”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“Energy wasted on the past doesn't produce much for the future. Sam, Blackhorse Road A Novel”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“If you're going to get what you want in life, you have to have a contingency plan in your back pocket--Barry in Blackhorse Road A Novel.”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“Acknowledge the goodness in life for there you will find happiness. Live in the present for there is the path to a worthwhile life. Seek out your options for there you will discover the best choice. - Lucinda, Blackhorse Road”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost

“Lying once makes it easier to do it the next time and the time after that. Deceit has a funny way of propagating until it finally destroys the thing it was attempting to protect. Sam in Blackhorse Road A Novel.”
Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road: A novel of deception and forgiveness and love gained and lost




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