Vanessa Johnson of Ama publishes first mainstream novel

Vanessa Alexander Johnson

Vanessa Alexander Johnson, an Ama resident, has published her first novel entitled “Sacrifices in the name of love.” The book was released on June 3 in eBook format at www.redrosepublishing.com/books.

The book is about an interracial teenage couple who end up having a child together in a small Louisiana town. The girl flees for fear of her racist father, leaving the child behind. She later returns to the town to right her wrongs, but finds that life as she knew it has changed.

Johnson said she has already finished the first draft for her next book, “Tempted by Love,” and has started writing a sequel to her recent book.

She began writing in 1995 following the deaths of her mother and son in August 1994.

“That’s when I decided to turn those pages, upon the nudging of a dear friend, into my first book, “When death comes a knockin’,” a self-help inspirational book about loss and grief.

Since then, Johnson has been published in several anthologies with short stories and poems. Johnson said she is excited to be among other authors who have been chosen for publication.

“It’s like giving birth to your child when you see your hard work finally in a finished product. And of course, like any proud parent, you want the world to see your baby, and having it published is your way of showing your new baby off to the world,” she said. “You pray the world thinks it’s as beautiful as you do.”

Learn more about Johnson at www.vanessaajohnson.com.