My friends, I’m honored that Tara Johnson is stopping by today! Her latest book Where Dandelions Bloom will be released this Monday, July 1st! To read her books is to become an instant fan. Today, she shares a few of her favorite things with us.
Welcome, Tara, and thanks for visiting our corner of cyberspace!
Just for fun: Tell us a little about yourself. Please include why.
Your favorite:
Color: My favorite color is a mix of blue and lavender called periwinkle. It never fails to brighten my day.
You can never go wrong with those colors. So soothing!
Restaurant: El Porton Mexican restaurant in Little Rock.
I LOVE Mexican food. I may have to look up that place.
Movie: Oh, this one is so difficult! I have a three-way tie between The Count of Monte Cristo, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Monty Python and Search for the Holy Grail. Yes, one of these things is not like the others!
Cool! We have very similar tastes in movies. The Count of Monte Cristo and It’s a Wonderful Life are some of the best.
Book: Other than the Bible, my favorite fiction books are To Kill a Mockingbird, The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers and Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof.
Similar tastes once again! To Kill a Mockingbird has a special place on my shelf, and I love anything by Joanne Bischof.
Dish: My favorite dish is my mom’s homemade lasagna. It’s the ultimate comfort food!
Nothing can beat mom’s cooking! I love my mom’s chicken and dumplings….yummy!
Vacation Spot: Savannah, Georgia. The history nerd in me can’t get enough of the historic district, plantation tours, and the river walk. The dining is amazing, the scenery is unparalleled, and the beauty of the ocean at Tybee Island is icing on the cake.
One of my dream vacations is to go to Savannah someday, especially the historic district.
Hobby: I have many hobbies but basketball is one of my favorites. I love watching it, playing it, teaching it…everything about that sport makes me happy.
When I was a kid, I always enjoyed playing basketball with my dad. He always beat me, hands down.
Place to unwind: My happy place to unwind is outdoors. Whether it’s sitting in my porch swing reading a good book, going for a walk, or puttering around in my garden, being outside restores my creativity and settles my mind.
Ah, yes, being outdoors always refreshes my spirit. At this time of year, my front porch is my second living room.
Song: “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles. I wish I’d written it. The imagery is poignant and the melody is incredibly haunting. I have many favorites, but “Gravity” is one I’ve never grown tired of listening to.
Picking a favorite song is hard for me. It always depends on the genre and my mood. A Living Prayer by Alison Krauss is one of my top 20 favorites.
Friends, here is a little more about Tara:
Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, as well as numerous other accolades. In addition to be published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she has been a featured guest on Voice of Truth radio, Enduring Word radio, television and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.
Website: www.TaraJohnsonStories.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraLynnJohnsonAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarajohnsonministry/
Twitter: @TaraMinistry
Book Blurb:
Cassie Kendrick is on the run. Her abusive father arranged her marriage to a despicable man, but she’s discovered an escape. Disguised as a man, Cassie enlists in the Union army, taking the name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young photographer.
Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase the darkness and guilt lurking from his past, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Matthew Brady to capture images from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships with many of the men he encounters, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding.
Battling betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel learn to forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the darkest places?
My favorite color is deep purple, my favorite book of all times is Gone With The Wind. I loved Tara’s books and learning about her. I also love to read to unwind.
I play a bass guitar in church and I love Southern Gospel and Praise and Worship songs. Church and family are my life.
I also play a bass guitar in church and love Southern Gospel too. After reading your list, I believe you and I would get along fine! 🙂 I’m so happy you stopped by, Brenda!
Gone with the Wind is one of my favorites as well. I’m a fan of anyone who can play bass…ours keeps our band together! Lol