Featured Interview With R.H. Johnson
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I write what I know, and I know each of the major characters in all of my novels. They all possess a variety of skills, for better or for worse, and they have in common a powerful desire to beat the odds. I was born and raised on Staten Island, NY — New York City’s forgotten fifth borough — and began meeting the people whose stories would later find their way into my books. My background includes military, consulting, and corporate work, all of it useful in ferreting out the real stories behind the headlines. I now live in Princeton Junction, NJ, but travel extensively in support of my writing.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing seriously while still in elementary school. A book about a blue dragon caught my attention, and I have enjoyed living in fantasy worlds ever since. I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in English, focusing on modern British literature. My first love, though, was the Arthurian legend, and I’ve read as much as possible in that genre, beginning with Old English versions.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite author is Tracy Chevalier, who invests a great deal of effort and research into all of her fiction. When not reading one of her books, I’m most likely reading a thriller. I enjoy everything written by Joel Rosenberg and greatly miss Vince Flynn, whose Mitch Rapp thrillers are first rate.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Sailing the Gates of Hell” examines a nasty real-world problem: human trafficking. The novel begins with a young woman being kidnapped while on a luxury cruise along the coast of Alaska, and before you know it she’s on her way to Thailand, where she’ll be forced into the sex trade. A great deal of action takes place in the wilds of Alaska, chiefly Admiralty Island, and the book captures the sights and sounds I experienced while researching the book on location. If you visit Alaska, do not play with the brown bears.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles