As I visit various blogs to promote my new release, The Sleuth’s Miscalculation, I have noticed that my writing journey has come up several times. It has not only been fun but it’s been eye opening to see how the Lord has encouraged and groomed me over the years.
As I look back I see how He put strategic people in my life to encourage and bless me, and bonus He’s allowed me to encourage others which makes me super excited.
Here is a quick recap of my career as writer. I worked for six years to get a publisher, then once I had one the line I wrote for closed after my fifth book released. I found a new publisher, then a couple of years lager leapt into indie publishing, and now I both indie publish and write for a publisher.
Life is constantly changing and so am I as a writer. In the beginning my goal was to be a romantic suspense writer, but that didn’t work out. I switched to contemporary romance and found success. Now I’m also writing romantic mystery as well as contemporary romance. The Sleuth’s Miscalculation is a romantic mystery–not to be confused with a cozy. This is a romance story with a strong mystery thread and a little suspense mixed in because I couldn’t help myself. :)
I had so much fun writing this that I already wrote the second book in the series and turned it in four months early! Here’s an excerpt from The Sleuth’s Miscalculation. This is from chapter two and is one of my favorite scenes.
GAZING OUT HER KITCHEN WINDOW, NANCY moved the phone away from her ear as her over-excited friend Gloria emoted. “I know it’s crazy, but I’m desperate. You have to help me. Think of it as an adventure. It’s not every day you’re given permission to break into a home. I can’t leave the park with ten of my daughter’s friends here and no other adults stuck around. It’s her fifth birthday. Please, Nancy.” Gloria’s voice came across as a whine. “I don’t know who else to call. I’ve tried everyone I can think of, and they’re all busy.”
“Okay. I understand.” She kept her voice calm and soothing. “But, are you sure you want me to break a window to get inside? There isn’t a key hidden anywhere? Or I could pop over to the park and get your house key.”
“No. That will take too long. These kids expect cupcakes, and they’ll turn violent if I don’t deliver.”
“Do you have any idea how expensive it is to replace a window?”
“Sweetie, do I sound like I care? Money isn’t an issue, and it won’t be the first time I’ve had to break the tiny window to open the door. The glass company and I know each other by now.”
Nancy’s eyes widened. This was nuts. She knew Gloria had money, but this was a little over the top.
“The histrionics my five-year-old will go into once she realizes her cupcakes aren’t here are worth any price to avoid. Please hurry.”
Nancy stifled a giggle at the woman’s exaggeration. Then again, she’d witnessed the child’s tantrums, and they were not a laughing matter. “I could stop by the bakery and pick up a dozen cupcakes, my treat.”
“No! Elsa is allergic to so many things; I can’t risk a hospital visit. Besides, I made her favorite recipe.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Okay. I’ll do it, but I’m not comfortable with this.”
“Noted. Just get here!”
Nancy slipped on flip-flops then thought better of it. If she’d be walking through broken glass, she’d need real shoes. A minute later she ran out the door and slid behind the wheel of her blue Mustang, threw it into gear, and hit the gas. Her tires squealed as she rocketed forward.
The car roared beneath her as she screeched around the corner and zipped up the next block. Good thing her mom was the sheriff. Two minutes later, she parked in front of Gloria’s ranch-style house. The Victorian bed and breakfast that the new guy was staying in next door was beautiful. Painted in period-colors and with a wrap- around porch it begged you to come in and sit in one of the old-fashioned rockers. Gloria’s newer home was immaculately landscaped and well-kept, but the Victorian’s grandeur made her friend’s house look dismal in comparison.
Nancy hopped out and jogged along the side of the house into the back yard. This was crazy, and she knew it, but she couldn’t leave Gloria to the wrath of ten five-year-olds, or risk little Elsa going to the hospital if she accidentally ate something she was allergic to. She looked around her friend’s perfectly manicured yard. “What exactly am I supposed to break the window with?” The yard was child proof.
With a sigh, she ran back to her car, grabbed the towel she kept in the trunk for those just-in-case times, then hustled back to the door. She wrapped the towel around her forearm making sure to cover her elbow with several layers, then with one quick elbow to the pane it broke. Shattering glass smashed to the ground. Carefully, so as to avoid the sharp, jagged edges she reached in and unlocked the door, and then stepped across the glass crunching beneath her sneakers.
Cupcakes sat on the counter. All two-dozen decorated in pink frosting with large princess stickers stuck to the paper holders.
“Hold it!”
Nancy whirled around and screamed. She focused on the gun in his hand pointed at her. “What are you doing?” The new deputy her mom hired looked like he meant business. Her heart pounded. “Easy now. I have permission to be here.”
“Raise your hands where I can see them.”
Her stomach lurched. “Are you serious?…”
At the beginning of this post I mentioned how life is constantly changing. The characters in this story deal with that theme quite a bit. How has change affected your life recently? Did you find it to be inspiring or more of a challenge?
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Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Hi Kimberly, this story sounds fun- I love a good mystery, especially with some romance thrown in!!
Life has been pretty constant here, but I can definitely resonate with God placing strategic people in my life over the years. It is my prayer that God will use me to be one of those who can bless others and share what He has done for me.
Blessings:)
Hi Kimberly! Enjoyed reading your new release, especially laughed at the scene above. My five star review: Small town atmosphere with quirky, lovable characters and a twist and turn plot makes this mystery romance a hit. The unexpected miscalculations of both the new deputy Carter and sheriff’s daughter made me laugh. Just what the doctor ordered for a whimsical entertaining summer read. Kimberly Rose Johnson’s writing style draws the reader into the suspense.
No big changes in our lives. I have been retired from teaching for six years. Everybody is getting older. Hard to believe our oldest son is 40, our oldest grandson will be 13 in August and our Sheltie is 16. One change is probably in my reading. Since I have more time, I explore new authors and new genre. Best wishes and happy writing.
I’ve had no big changes in my life recently. We moved back to my hometown 2 years ago but I’d always lived within an hour of it, so it wasn’t a huge deal.
Your new book sounds fantastic. I just borrowed in through Kindle Unlimited so I’ll be reading it soon.
This is a wonderful story! I enjoyed reading and will read it again. :-)
Hi Kimberly,
I’m looking forward to reading your new release. It’s on my TBR list. I’ve enjoyed all the books of yours which I’ve read. You have a fun, fresh way of writing, and it also helps that your stories take place in places dear to me. FUN FUN!
The only real changes in our lives right now are grandbabies. We now have two and it’s been fun to see them grow. Neither one is walking yet, but soon. We’ve also realized we need to reorganize our house so little hands don’t destruct and destroy. However, I won’t have it any other way.
That’s a fantastic prayer, Wemble!
I love your review and am so pleased you enjoyed the book! Thank you! Do you mind if I quote you?
Exploring new authors and genre’s is fun. Every now and then I step out of my reading comfort zone and discover something new to me. :)
Have a blessed week.
Enjoy the quiet time of no big changes. :)
I hope you enjoy the story.
Have a great week.
Wahoo, a repeat kind of book. Thanks!
Ah grand babies. So precious. I’ve noticed via your FB posts you’ve been doing some remodeling. I hope it’s going smoothly. We remodeled our bathrooms about a year-and-a-half ago. I’m so glad we did it, but I didn’t enjoy the process.
Happy Reading!
Kimberly! Any time you would like to quote me, I am honored! On my bucket list is to be published and at this time in life writing reviews and praise paragraphs is one way I am achieving my dream.
Sounds like a fun book. I’ve read a lot of yours and have enjoyed them.
One recent change in my life has been getting involved in CERT – Community Emergency Response Teams. My husband and I are meeting a lot of neighbors who are not believers, and keep praying for ways to show Jesus’ love to them.
We are facing more health issues (so are our relatives), but God is always with us.
Enjoyed your post very much. Your books sound very good….since I am avid reader I will be checking into them!
That’s funny, Kimberly. I started out trying to write Romantic Suspense too. I guess because I’ve always watched a lot of detective shows. But I kept solving the suspense early and concentrating on the romance. A writer friend told me I should try straight romance and then I went to a writers conference where the speaker said you should probably write what you read most. Duh, I’ve always read sweet or inspirational romance.
We’ve had a busy few weeks, and I hate that I still haven’t read this new book! Love the excerpt, and I know it will be fun to read! I’ve had a big change the last 6 months, or actually almost a year now. Most of the time I can no longer find time to read a book or 2 a day, but I know my faith has grown tremendously, as we’ve seen God guide us.
Thanks, Margaret! What a great thing to do! I imagine CERT will provide many opportunities to show Jesus’s life be.
Thank you , Jackie! I’m sorry to hear about the health issues.
Thank you , Jackie! I’m sorry to hear about the health issues.
That is funny, Shannon. We are exactly opposite..:)
Ah yes, change has a way of drawing us closer to Him as well as cut into that precious reading time.
Thank you for sharing your writing journey, Kimberly!