Interview with Contemporary Romance Author Linda Baten Johnson

Linda Baten Johnson has spent many hours packing and unpacking as she and her husband George have lived in 20 different places in the United States and enjoyed a stint in England. In between moves, Linda worked as a Realtor, a teacher, and logged many volunteer hours. One of her favorite volunteer assignments was at a lighthouse in a National Park where they were housed in the assistant keeper’s cottage.

Growing up in White Deer, a small town in the panhandle of Texas, Linda won blue ribbons for her storytelling ability. She still loves telling stories, reading stories, and sharing stories.

We’re celebrating Christmas in July this week. Welcome to my blog, Linda. Please tell us about your Christmas novel, Cocoa and Christmas Crackers.

Joy Young, an attractive, young waitress at the Cozy Cocoa Shoppe, intends to graduate with top academic honors and without a penny of debt. She believes that working hard and doing the right things will bring the rewards she desires. Her philosophy works until Dane Michaels threatens to take the coveted award she considers to be hers.

But Joy refuses to back off from this fight, even with Dane, her handsome rival. Can she win without sacrificing her principles? Or her heart?

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

All three of our daughters were involved in academic rivalries for college scholarships, which gave them an opportunity to grow in many ways. As for the Christmas crackers, we were introduced to the tradition when we lived in England, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate the crackers into a novella.

What kind of research did you do?

I learned how to make Christmas crackers, so we’ll have a bowl of them for guests this holiday season.

Yum! Christmas crackers sounds delicious. Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

I like Joy Young because she is hard-working, loyal, and loving. Oops! That makes her sound like the ideal dog. She is not a dog—she’s a spunky, attractive heroine with a good sense of humor. However, she must resolve some past issues before she can move toward the future she craves.

Where can my readers find you online?

www.lindabatenjohnson.com

Thank you so much for this interview. Your book sounds wonderful. I hope my followers will check it out.