Member Spotlight: Bennetta Johnson
Author: Jody Wallace
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: March 2007

Q. Hi Bea! We're so glad to have you as a member of MCRW. Are you a native of Nashville or somewhere else? If somewhere else, where, and how did you end up here?

A. I've lived in Sparta my entire life, will be moving to Cookeville shortly. So while I'm not a native Nashvillian, I am a good Tennessean and your chapter is close to me, only about 70 miles away.

Q. What made you decide to try your hand at writing romance novels?

A. I've been reading them all my life. I always wanted to write, but while I enjoyed the genre, I was more drawn to paranormal which wasn't the norm way back when. When I saw the market changing, I began taking steps to move to full time writer.

Q. Tell us about your "WIP" or work-in-progress? What in specific do you write?

A. I'm working on a paranormal fantasy about Pagan Harlow, daughter of two prominent trixters. She's reluctant, but saucy and tough as nails. Maybe if you took Anita Blake, threw in a little Harry Dresden and John Taylor and then added a pinch or two of Rachel Morgan and Merry Gentry? She's tough, but with a wicked sense of humor and totally original despite my comparisons above, lol.

Q: How do you balance your writing with your other responsibilities? (Yes, as always, I'm looking for tips...)

A. Not too well right now, lol. I'm hoping to become more disciplined once the chaos of the move settles.

Q. What do you do when you're not writing? Do you have a "day" job, hobbies, obsessions?

A. I'm a privately contracted web/graphic designer. I also build affiliate websites and make commissions for those.

Q. Do you have children, pets, plants, a spouse, dust bunnies, a thimble collection or anything like that?

A. One dog, a wire haired terrier who's absolutely the best dog ever, lol. I also have a three-legged cat who lives in the basement. She lets us use it sometimes, she's generous that way.

Q. What are some of your favorite books, romance and other?

A. I loved Robert Anton Wilson, may he rest in peace. I cut my teeth on Johanna Lindsay, Rosemary Rodgers and Bertrice Small. I still read their stuff. I loved Anne Rice when she was still writing vampires and witches. I liked Laurell Hamilton until Anita Blake got so slutty and angsty. I still read Merry, but her stories are seeming more and more phoned in. I like Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Simon Green, Cheyenne McCray, Patricia Briggs, the chick who writes the Kitty series and lots more. I'm a bit obsessive in my reading.

Q. If you could go on a dream vacation anywhere in the world on someone else's perfectly legitimate dime, where would you go, who would you take, and what would you do?

A. The middle east (but only if there was no war.) I'd love to see Egypt, Babylon, everything. Greece would be my second choice.

Q: Tell us a secret!

A. I started my career in web design as a phone sex operator, shhh!

Love Notes, the official monthly newsletter of Music City Romance Writers, is provided to paying members free of charge. If you are an MCRW member and would like to submit an article to Love Notes, visit the main newsletter page for more information. If you would like to reprint one of these articles in your RWA chapter newsletter, please give proper credit to both the author and the original source. For any other uses, please contact the president.