Author Spotlight: A.M. Johnson, Where Passion & Pen Have No Limits
I love when readers point the finger at me when someone asks who their biggest TBR enabler is. Because, let’s face it, I love to share the authors and books I love. So, when I can return the favor and accuse a book bestie of filling my TBR with amazing books, I’m gonna take that opportunity. And when Julie Collier recommended I read A.M. (Amanda) Johnson’s Let There Be Light, she created a TBR spree of epic proportions.
Because not only did I add that title to my TBR, I added the duet book with Let There Be Light (Seven Shades of You), and the entire For Him series. And I binged the feck out of them. And then rebinged them all. And grabbed and binged the available audiobooks, too. Because I love the way audiobooks allow me to relive the books I love. Plus, the narrators are among my favorite voices ever. Listening to them bring Amanda’s characters to life is a truly memorable experience.
If you want to talk with me about emotional, intense, immersive stories, with engaging characters depicted in strikingly vivid, lyrical language, we’re talking about A.M. Johnson’s books.
I was really reluctant to read the first book Julie recommended, Let There Be Light, because I had tried to read a few college age character based books, and they were difficult for me. Mainly because I teach teens and young adults, and I was having difficulty placing them in romantic situations in my mind. Plus, I’m a mom of teens, so… yeah. But she spoke so highly of Amanda’s books that I dove into Love Always, Wild instead. And holy heart-stopping joy! I was captivated by Amanda’s vivid language and imagery, truly bringing Wilder and Jaxon’s story to life in the most beautiful way. I literally hugged my Kindle when I finished this book.
I was so immersed in Wild and Jax’s world that I binged the next two books in the For Him series right away. And was equally enthralled by Not So Sincerely, Yours (NSSY) and Dear, Mr. Brody (DMB) as I was with Wild. It went beyond the beauty of the stories, it was the amazing sense of the depth I fell into through Amanda’s use of language and tone within the stories. The way she describes characters, moves them through the storyline, and infuses them with emotional clarity is incredible.
And since the fourth book in the For Him series wasn’t out yet, I took the leap and jumped into Let There Be Light (LTBL) while I waited for Marcos to get his story. You know how I kick myself often for not reading something or someone sooner? Yeah, this was another of those situations. The fear I had of reading a romance about “kids” close to my spawns’ and students’ ages faded into the background- hell, into nothing- as I experienced Royal and Camden’s story through Amanda’s words. It’s poetry. In a narrative. With characters who are so beautifully authentic I feel like I know them in real life. And a story so beautifully told I feel like I was actually there for it. It’s just absolutely stunning. There’s a reason it was the 2019 IAN Winner for Best LGBTQ Fiction. It is truly a remarkable read.
What made reading LTBL even more special for me was buddy reading it and Seven Shades with my older spawn. There are very few books we both enjoy, mainly because we enjoy different genres, but this duet really resonated with both of us. And being able to talk about the multiple layers of emotion, language, and themes within the book made for some fantastic together time for both of us.
And yes, I absolutely read the duet novel for LTBL- Seven Shades of You (a 2020 IAN Finalist in Young Adult/Teen Fiction). And it was equally as emotional and vivid and immersive and poetic. I forgot I was reading about college kids. Amanda’s characters have a beautiful maturity, a sense of being wise beyond their years, while still fitting perfectly within the setting and situations relevant to them. And that creates a lovely sense of realism and depth and connection that I truly value and cherish.
In August of 2021 I won a release day giveaway Amanda was doing in her FB group for the release of Dear, Mr. Brody. Yes, I did jump up and down in my bedroom when I saw my name tagged in that post. Yes, I did jump up and down in my family room when the box arrived with the signed paperbacks, bookmarks, postcard, stickers, keychain, and a pop socket (that is still on my phone). And those beautiful books with illustrated covers of NSSY and DMB sit on my treasure shelves with the others in the series I’ve added since then. I absolutely love the illustrated covers Amanda has for several of her books. They truly embody the artistry within the pages, and represent the characters and stories beautifully.
When I found out Amanda was going to be at Indies Invade Philly in 2021, I did a major happy dance. I couldn’t wait to meet her. She was the brain behind several of my favorite characters, and several of my favorite stories. And yep, I forgot to get a picture of her the first time I visited her table. But I went back! Because I was not going home without a picture if I could help it.
Amanda’s friendship is one I cherish. Whether I’m discussing her books with her, or sharing about experiences as moms, connecting with her always brings smiles and laughter, even within the chaos of our lives. Amanda is a truly beautiful soul whose depth and authenticity is as evident in her honesty and interactions within her group and in person as it is within the pages of her books and the hearts of her characters.
I cannot wait to see her again in March at Charm City Romanticon. By then I’ll have even more books for her to sign as I work my way back through her amazing backlist. And I am so looking forward to an Amanda hug. Until then, I’ll live through the hugs she bestows through her amazing characters.
Just the facts:
First book I read by Amanda: Love Always, Wild
What I love most about her books: Beautiful storytelling, poetic language, intense connections among characters, and connection between reader and character
Fave book by Amanda: Dear Mr. Brody
Fave character: I absolutely adore Marcos. We meet him in Dear Mr. Brody, and he gets his own story in Forever, Con Amor. I just love everything about him. He definitely owns a permanent place in my heart.
Fave cover: Let There Be Light. It is just absolutely stunning.
Get all the info about Amanda on her website: https://www.amjohnsonauthor.com/
You can get her books on Amazon
You can find Amanda on social media here: Facebook Instagram TikTok
Facebook reader group: AJ's Crew
