It's been a busy month. I spent a weekend on retreat with writer and friend, Nancy Naigle, working on final edits to inkBLOT, our co-written suspense novel. We squeezed in a visit to a new horse farm and a church bake sale. It was a great weekend! Not to mention the bake sale goodies and barbecue we ate there! Yesterday I met with Kelly, the editor of Designed to Flourish magazine. There's always something new to talk about where that's concerned too. I can't wait to see the July/August issue. I'm featuring Gail Fuhrmann and her gift for writing lyrics! See it in July at www.theflourishmagazine.com

K. Dawn Byrd chats about her new book, Mistaken Identity

Title: Mistaken Identity by K. Dawn Byrd
Today, I’m chatting with the author of Mistaken Identity, a young adult suspense. It’s great to have her with us today. First of all, Dawn, how did this story come to you?
1) Sometimes I get the strangest ideas! I wondered what would happen if a not-as-pretty good Christian girl and her gorgeous non-Christian best friend fell in love with the same guy. Who would get the guy?
Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had already published several books with Desert Breeze Publishing when they opened a young adult line. I'd been writing romantic suspense and thought it would fun to try my hand at a young adult novel. It was so much fun that I'm signing a contract for a young adult mystery series that will debut in January.
Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs.
2) I love sour things....pickles, lemons, sour candy.
3) I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up in order to have more time to write. (My husband always wanted to stay out way too long and take the scenic route home. He still has his bike, but I don't miss mine at all.)
What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm editing my October release with Desert Breeze. This Time for Keeps is an inspirational romance.
Parting comments?
Thank you for hosting me! For those of you who love Christian fiction, please check my blog for weekly book giveaways. I interview 3-5 authors a week who give away their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

Where can fans find you on the internet?

Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geWeGQ6Ueu4
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok
www.kdawnbyrd.com
www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

I'm also on Twitter (kdawnbyrd) and facebook (K Dawn Byrd.) I am the moderator of the Christian Fiction Gathering facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444) If you join this group, you'll get reminders about the weekly book giveways.

inkBLOT Bookmark Gets First Place at Lori Foster Author Get Together

Yay! Nancy Naigle and I were excited when our cute bookmarks for inkBLOT (our YA... well, actually crossover suspense novel) got a lot of attention and won first place at the Lori Foster Author Get Together last weekend. Can't wait for inkBLOT to get published now. It's right around the corner. We'll keep you posted.

BEA Excitement and Sweet Tea and Secrets

My wonderful friend and co-writer, Nancy Naigle, recently went to the BEA Conference in New York where she was treated to a lot of great workshops. She also was at the Book Expo where her new novel, Sweet Tea and Secrets was showcased. Woo hoo, way to go Nancy! I have a new widget posted from Amazon where her book is shown. I love the front cover. Every time I look at it, I want to grab a glass of iced tea! Just finished reading Sweet Tea and Secrets and I totally loved this book! You've got to read it! It's packed with emotion, suspense and all around Southern charm. If you're not from the South, you'll want to be... :.) Lose yourself in the pages of this wonderful page turning tome of love, secrets and treasures.

Being Frank with Anne reviewed on Women of History Site

http://womenofhistory.blogspot.com/2010/12/being-frank-with-anne.html

The Upcoming Book Signing at Olde Towne Art in Portsmouth

On Friday, June 3rd at Olde Towne Art gallery in Portsmouth, Virginia, I'll be signing copies of Poetic Dreamer from 5 to 8 p.m.. The cool thing about being at this art gallery is that a number of artists there inspired some of my poems with their artwork. Nothing moves me more artistically than seeing beautiful art and photography. I mention the names of some of the artists there in this new poetry book. Hope you can make it!

Paul D Camp Community College's Third Annual Literary Festival - Big Success

Besides music and visual stimuli, nothing inspires my Muse like hearing other authors read their work. I was blessed to once again be part of Paul D. Camp Community College's Third Annual Literary Festival. Emceed by poet and orator Nathan Richardson, it was well planned and organized by Professor and Literary Club Sponsor Ronette Jacobs and everyone on the staff of the literary club. Harriette Arrington, Dean of Academic Programs, engaged the children in another room with her storytelling. Paul D. Camp Community College President Paul Conco did some wonderful storytelling.

Author Annette Montgomery shared her book of history on African Americans in Suffolk. Lots of recognizable landmarks in the photos. Reginald Johns, a poet and motivational speaker, wowed the crowd with his words. I bought a hardback book of his, Love is Life's Lesson. It combines art and poetry. Love it!

As always, Nathan Richardson and Synnika Lofton delivered mighty words with just the right touch. I shared poetry from my newest book, Poetic Dreamer. One of the poems I shared is titled, Go Paint Yourself. In this poem, I imagine coming up behind Norman Rockwell as he paints his Triple Self Portrait. In my hand, I hold an ice cream cone as I await his reaction as he paints. My last comment in the poem as though he were speaking himself- "Just call me Norman Rocky Road."

The Artwork of Lowell Boileau and My Poetry in Poetic Dreamer

I admired the artwork of Lowell Boileau and felt moved to write a poem about his artwork, Riverbend. Here is the resulting poem beside his art. He's a great artist from Michigan. This is the first poem in my new poetry book, Poetic Dreamer. http://bit.ly/i8JtYH See more of his artwork at www.lowellboileau.com www.phyllisjohnson.net

Twelve Year Old Loves Being Frank with Anne

http://www.beingfrankwithanne.com Today I wanted to share one of the highlights of my day. I got a phone call from someone in Texas. Many times when I see a call coming in when I'm not expecting one from another state, I make the assumption that it's a solicitor. Today however, I answered the phone and to my delight, it was a twelve year old girl from Texas calling me about my book, Being Frank with Anne. A Holocaust Museum had purchased the book and this girl had read it and loved it. In the sixth grade, she had already read, The Diary of a Young Girl, and also enjoyed reading my poetic interpretation of the diary. It was a really gratifying phone call and I asked if she'd told her teacher about my book. She said that she was going to tell her about it soon. Thanks Miss Fisher for making my day!

Poetic Dreamer, my latest book

Here is the cover for my newest book, Poetic Dreamer. One third was inspired by artwork of my artist friends. The second third was inspired by photography by Richard Bernabe. The last section was fueled by life in general. I've been collecting these poems for years and they are probably more of me than my first three books. Hope you enjoy this book! It can be found at Lulu.com and will soon be posted at Amazon.com

What's Happening

2011 is starting out to be a really busy year. I have a college talk coming up, a book signing at Point Harbor Community Church on January 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and am taking art and photography classes. Inspiration has come in the form of artwork by friends such as Robbie Younger and Laura Gibbs. I have lots of other artist friends at Olde Towne Art Gallery and teachers who constantly encourage and inspire me. My co-written book, Inkblot, written with award winning writer Nancy Naigle, has been entered in another contest. Wish us luck! The beautiful painted furniture shown here is by artist Robbie Younger, owner of The Painted Garden boutique in Smithfield, VA.

HRW Writer's Conference a Success

http://http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/phyllis-johnson

The Diary of Anne Frank at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk

The Virginia Stage Company is putting on a great presentation of The Diary of Anne Frank at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk. Talented actors and actresses put on a great performance and the four story set was skillfully crafted for a realistic reenactment of the Secret Annexe. The play is being directed by Chris Hanna. This is moving and well done. I am honored to be a part of this event with my book signing for my poetic interpretation of the diary, Being Frank with Anne. This play runs through October 10. There is an Anne Frank/Holocaust exhibit in the theatre lobby as well.

My Blog on Being Frank with Anne at Dawn Byrd's Blog

http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/2010/09/register-to-win-phyllis-johnsons-being.html#comment-form

Summer Happenings

It's been a whirlwind summer so far. Last night I hosted an open mic night with Hampton Roads Writers at Towne Bank on Mt. Pleasant Rd. We had a nice group considering summer travel and I shared some of my 3 books of poetry as well as enjoyed listening to others read their poems and prose. Zach read a short story and did a stand up comic act. His girlfriend (I don't have the sign up list or I'd mention her name) recited a poem she'd known and done in diction class. She had nice stage presence. Several others shared their prose from their own published books and as always, it was an inspiration to us all. My next adventure is to do a monologue on Saturday night at the Smithfield Little Theatre's annual One Acts Play Festival. This will be a first for me so I'm excited and challenged by it. Currently I'm working on a humorous YA book and a book of monologues for teens. Hope you're having a great summer!

My Blog Posted at JWorld Cafe

My Amazing Journey as a Writer

I think receiving a toy typewriter as a child and reading Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl may have had a lot to do with my becoming a writer. Like millions of others, Anne’s diary left a real mark on my life. For Anne, writing was a way to reach beyond the secret walls that enclosed her. Wise beyond her years, she left behind a legacy of hope and encouragement in the face of danger.
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Upon reading her book, I tried to emulate her positive attitude and have only come to realize in recent days that she may have had more of an impact on me that I had acknowledged. As a young girl, what had me enthused was the fact that my middle name was Ann and I attended Holland Elementary school. Here was an Anne in another Holland. Visions of windmills, wooden shoes and tulips came to mind. Then, the visions of the atrocities and injustice rang loud. It haunted me and made me realize that I wanted her determination, compassion and courage.
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Like Anne, I had the same love of words and rhythm, something that developed when my dad read to me and my siblings every night, often from a poetry book. I still have the Child Craft book he read from.
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Anne loved celebrities, cutting and gluing their pictures to a wall. I came to appreciate acting and became an actress for the Discovery Channel, getting parts in FBI Files, New Detectives, Diagnosis Unknown and Psychic Investigator. It was another way I found myself in kinship with Anne’s mindset.
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When various forms of injustice bother me, I often think about Anne and her desire for world peace and equality. During the year of my book’s release, I contacted the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. I wanted my book to be posted at the Anne Frank Center in New York. I came in contact with Buddy Elias, Anne’s first cousin, who told me to send it to the Anne Frank Fonds in Switzerland. (Of which he is a CEO). After having it approved at both locations, I sent it to the center in New York where it is posted at the website bookstore. It is also archived at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. When I was in contact with Buddy, I had no idea he was Anne’s first cousin. He told me that Anne would have loved the book.
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Six months ago, I emailed Miep Gies and to my surprise, she emailed back. She requested copies of the book and CD, Being Frank with Anne. I excitedly sent them and heard from her. She expressed her gratitude for my having written the book. I was humbled beyond words. Now, at her recent passing, I am in awe of the fact that I had contact with a woman who risked her life to try and preserve the lives of others. That was truly admirable. God works in mysterious ways, somehow connecting me to Anne Frank, and allowing me to help continue her legacy.
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Hampton Roads Writers - A Great Group for Writers!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1286135827547

If you're a writer, you may want to join Hampton Roads Writers. This amazing group of talented writers gets together monthly to share and listen to each other's poetry and prose. I've been fortunate enough to attend some of the events and even host one of their open mic events. The networking is wonderful and I've met some great people there. They meet at the Myra Oberndorf Library in Virginia Beach.

Blogging at Romancing the Blog with Nancy O'Berry http://obe-romancingtheblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-18T10%3A41%3A00-08%3A00&max-resu

http://obe-romancingtheblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-18T10%3A41%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

Nancy O'Berry is great at writing historical fiction. Here's my blog at her blog site. Also about Another Place and Time- (pen name Cara Preston)

Lisa Lipkind Liebow's Blog- Another Place and Time Promo- "Pace Yourself"

http://llleibow.com/blog/2010/01/19/pace-yourself-2/#respond

I've had the pleasure of being a guest blogger on Lisa Lipkind Liebow's blog site. It's a great way to get to know other authors as well. Have a great Valentine's Day!

Today's Blog at Poetica Magazine - J World Cafe

http://www.poeticamagazine.com/apps/blog/

Check out my blog at Poetica magazine today! Also see the talents of writers and artists from all over the world!

Have a great day!