Chapter 2 Enter Mrs. Macchiato https://tljohnson2028.substack.com/publish/home Maurice was comfortably past his twenties, though his precise age remained an elegant mystery, gently hinted at by subtle greys at his temples and a striking tuft of white nestled in his bangs. Each ivory strand whispered a story. And were one to listen attentively, each tale would unfold... Continue Reading →
Volume II – On the Nature of Names
The Alchemy of Ink and Words “The bravest part of any story is the moment you choose to enter.” https://tljohnson2028.substack.com/publish/home 🪶 What’s in a Name? In my last post, we met Maurice—the enigmatic matchmaker with a velvet coat, a fondness for misdirection, and a parrot who can sense true love. Originally, he was called Maurice Handsome Cicero—a... Continue Reading →
Love Birds
Chapter 1 The Matchmaker and the Parrot Maurice Heartman Cicero wore a small, dark mustache that curled like punctuation above his pointed goatee - an exclamation at the end of a carefully composed face. He was not born in a metropolis, nor had he spent more than a fortnight within its hallowed, hectic confines. In... Continue Reading →
Lost in Virt: The Life a DPC
I just finished the final draft of this novel. It started as an adventure.Then it turned into years of work—creative juices flowing, ideas churning, and life lived through words on the page. I met characters who took on lives of their own, and I watched their story arcs unfold. This didn’t happen overnight. Over the... Continue Reading →
Keeping It Together While Falling Apart
(Today’s Pain Log) I’m writing this from the recliner that pretends to be a solution. It isn’t. It’s a truce. Ten, maybe twenty minutes of less-awful before everything starts screaming again. Nights are math problems I can’t solve: how many positions can a body try before it bargains with dawn? Quick status for those following... Continue Reading →
Keeping it together while falling apart.
Keeping it together while falling apart. What an excellent experience. The feeling of community and support was healing to a soul that needed reassurance. The Wisconsin Writers Association Conference was in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, last weekend. I met some fantastic writers and even more amazing people. The Vibe was positive and welcoming. Thanks to Sarah,... Continue Reading →
Been busy trying and failing and learning and trying and growing and living.
Hi folks, Sorry, it's been a while. It's more difficult to sit and write these days. But with that said, I am still full of stories. Some would finish that sentence differently. I have posted a story on Substack and remind you that I am still hitting the keys on the keyboard when I can.... Continue Reading →
✨ The Alchemy of Ink and Words
Volume I – Chapter One: The Matchmaker and the Parrot T.L. Johnson Jul 01, 2025 “The disguises we wear are not always born of deception. Sometimes they’re stitched from the threads of longing.” 🪶 The Chapter Has Landed It’s time.Chapter One of The Matchmaker and the Parrot is here in full. This first installment introduces us to Maurice Heartman... Continue Reading →
The Alchemy of Ink and Words, Vol. I
Maurice: The Matchmaker Every finished story begins as a mess. A line in a notebook. A passing daydream. A scribble that doesn’t quite make sense until it won’t stop whispering to you. This series—The Alchemy of Ink and Words—follows the journey from raw idea to finished tale. Along the way, you’ll meet characters who changed... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the Realm Beyond
Hello, and welcome. My name is Terry Johnson, and this is the beginning of a long and winding journey—one that stretches from the rolling hills of Wisconsin to the edge of the multiverse and back again. I’m a novelist, world-builder, and storyteller who has spent a lifetime exploring the space where imagination meets meaning. I’ve... Continue Reading →
Hope, Dreams and A Change of Plans.
The transition from teaching to writing was supposed to be smooth. I had imagined that I would continue teaching until retirement and then transition into a full-time writing career. I hoped to get an agent, but as my wife says, “Hope is not a strategy.” So, I put together a business plan, intending to launch... Continue Reading →
All That Is – Reverberates Within Me
A Poem of Sorts - written long ago, if I could remember when, I'd say. When I read it, I think of my wife, who resonates in your remembrance. All That Is – Reverberates Within Me All That Is – Reverberates Within Me It is sound, yet music to my ears.My breathing is a resonant... Continue Reading →
If You’re Reading This, You’re Already a Friend
A short note for fellow travelers. There are places you go to be seen. And there are places you go to simply be. This is the second kind. I’m not here to sell you anything or flood your inbox. I’m here because I have stories to tell—some already written, some whispering still. And because, for... Continue Reading →
Keeping It Together While Falling Apart
Dispatch #1 Writing can be a difficult task. Ask anyone who’s ever sat down in front of a blank page or that yawning white Word doc. Sometimes it prompts a blank mind. Great for Zen—not so great for novel-writing. For some, writing a thousand words is a herculean challenge. For me, it used to be... Continue Reading →
The Plight of the Bumble Bee
I am reposting a article from last year to celebrate the Buzz I heard today. That's right the first Bumble Bee Buzz of the year happened on April 15th 2024 in Hartland Wisconsin. Which is pretty good timing as I have a few dozen dandelions sprouting ready to help the bees make it until other... Continue Reading →
Surviving False Spring!
And the Early Spring Cleaning. Most insects are ectotherms. You may have learned this term as cold-blooded. The insects gain their warmth from the environment. Ecto-meaning outer, Thermal-heat. Therefore, they are more active when it is warmer and less so when it cools down. In Wisconsin, where I live, the temperature outside drops below freezing... Continue Reading →
Nuptial Flights and Feeding Frenzies.
Last week, with the sun shining bright, the flying ants emerged, and hundreds of thousands of insects erupted from the lawn and filled the air. These flying insects were a smorgasbord for the birds that frequent my yard, often producing a feeding frenzy of avian activity. Photo by FRANCESCO TOMMASINI on Unsplash This year, I... Continue Reading →
The Plight of the Bumble Bee
You have all heard about the plight of the bumble bee. Not to be confused with the Flight of the Bumblebee. An Orchestral interlude written by Rimsky- Korsakav I might suggest you listen to the music while watching the video below which I captured a few weeks ago in my backyard garden. https://videopress.com/v/tLFeMwS8?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Video by... Continue Reading →
Why we should plant Native Plants!
Native Plants - are the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. Our goal is to increase biodiversity on our properties. To do that, it makes sense to plant species that provide the most food and habitat for the greatest number of organisms. Beware of plants... Continue Reading →
A Peek at the Weeds!
Those of you who have been following along or are reading this in the book version will know that I made some mistakes when I first began converting my suburban lawn into a biodiverse habitat. Hopefully, you have learned from my mistakes and even found entertainment from my documenting them and relating them to you.... Continue Reading →
July 22, 2023
I have finished my thematic rewrite of Dream Pirates. It goes out to my Beta readers today. I am so excited. Below you will find an excerpt. For the last two weeks, I have posted 2 articles per week for my blog/book, Listening for the Sounds of Summer. Each week I included a Peek at... Continue Reading →
Midweek Peek into my Yard!
Hi Folks, If you are new to the blog, Welcome. If you have been here a while you probably won't be surprised that we have some visitors to our little piece of paradise. Join me while we are converting a suburban lawn into a biodiverse habitat, all the while Listening for the Sounds of Summer.... Continue Reading →
T.L. Johnson 