Chapter 5: Lonely Sovereigns After his latest clients had flown the coop—peach parasol, lace, and indignation all flapping at once—Maurice busied himself with cleaning. A new appointment was due in less than an hour, and the relentless blowing sand had once again begun its invasion of the interior. It found corners with the devotion of … Continue reading Love Birds Chapter 5
Writing
Airspeed Velocity of Monarch Butterflies
Four-part essay series completed on Substack. I will soon be adding the complete essay to my author page, but for the time being, all four parts of Airspeed Velocity of Monarch Butterflies, the reflection on my 200-mile walk from my home in Hartland to my parents' birthplace, are available on my Substack. My Substack is … Continue reading Airspeed Velocity of Monarch Butterflies
Chapter 4 Rumor and Song
Love Birds Serialization “Dear Mrs. Macchiato, please—sit here. It is by far the most comfortable of seats.” Maurice gestured with a smooth flourish and extended a guiding hand toward a plush red velvet loveseat, its gilt trim gleaming faintly, its cushions indulgently overstuffed. The room, though modest in size, was stylishly appointed—a delicate balancing act … Continue reading Chapter 4 Rumor and Song
Enter Mrs. Macchiato
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 Enter Mrs. Macchiato
Love Birds
Chapter 1 The Matchmaker and the Parrot Note: This is part of a searilized release of chapters of a Novella. New chapters arrive monthly. Start here but then rememebe there is always more to the story. Maurice Heartman Cicero wore a small, dark mustache that curled like punctuation above his pointed goatee - an exclamation … Continue reading Love Birds
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.
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 Keeping it together while falling apart.
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 Been busy trying and failing and learning and trying and growing and living.
✨ 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
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 Hope, Dreams and A Change of Plans.
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 Keeping It Together While Falling Apart
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 July 22, 2023
T.L. Johnson 