My Christmas gift ... to myself!

Ten years ago, while going through a health crisis, I found myself bedridden. Unable to "do" much, I realized I still had use of my fingers and my mind. So I put them both to work and (on a whim) participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). 

I loved the premise of the story I churned out in that month, but like the work of so many first-time novelists, the manuscript ended up stuffed in a drawer. I had yet to learn there was such a thing as story structure. So the book languished in no-man's land.

A few days days ago, a full decade later, another whim breezed by—the idea to publish the work. And so I decided to do so as a Christmas gift to myself in gratitude for all of the events and stories in which I've been embroiled during the intervening years. A departure from my usual Omni Tales or historical fiction, here's what you can expect in this dystopian race against time that clocks in at 98K words:

Hayley Gabriel is a bookworm by trade and couch potato by choice. The night she takes the leap to go out on a date with charming Raiff St. James, the world turns upside down—with catastrophic results.

Throughout her life, Hayley’s been told she’s a jinx. Sure, she wants romance and excitement and adventure as much as the next thirty-year old, but without the risks those pursuits generally entail. So, she satisfies her longings by burying herself in the books she reads as a junior copyeditor for a San Francisco publishing house. Even she couldn’t mess up the lives of the fictional characters she reads about!

When The Event occurs, that is to say, a global cataclysm, she’s forced to choose between sitting on the sidelines to watch the world quietly die or jumping light-years out of her comfort zone to join Raiff on a quest to save mankind. Her search for answers and solutions takes her to places she dared never go. 

All the while, the cosmic clock ticks on.

AVAILABLE CHRISTMAS 2024

The Smallest Hour

A doomsday tale that takes readers to the garden spots of the world as well as to the depths of the human spirit

(a gripping read for travel lovers, deep thinkers, and foodies) 

by JSD Johnston

Kindle . Paperback

“I don’t travel as much as I’d like and enjoyed getting to do so through the book! The Smallest Hour is a fantastic tale, and I recommend it to anyone who likes stories with adventure, good food, and meaningful relationships. You will definitely want to read this story through to the end!!!” —L. Dagnen, author

P.S. While I "edited" the book, I spared my proofreader from doing a pass, so please do apprise me of typos so I can fix 'em. 

Thanx! Erhm, I mean thanks!

🧹A Broom with a View — just in time for Pumpkin Season! 🎃

At long last, the latest rhyming book in the witch-based Bobbiez Bakery series is ready for reading, listening, and even playing!

Things are humming along smoothly at the Bobbiez Bakery, that is until little witch Gretchen gets her first broom and decides to right a wrong she observes on her travels.

The elder witches want nothing to do with Gretchen’s crusade, but she feels she has no choice in this 4th story from the Bobbiez series where good deeds are served up fresh from the coven.

This is a color-your-own story and activity book awaiting your artistic flair, brain power, and imagination. The back of the book contains a QR code to the complimentary narrated video.

Here's the link to the paperback

Here's the link to the narrated video

And here's the link to a PDF if you want to print specific activity pages

It seems like it's been ages!

SB/K podcast episode for 25 September 2022

AUDIO

VIDEO

Waxing omniosophical

 Mixed-media artist Sanndi Thompson give her take on the Ocademy

Look what just washed up on shore ...

... a podcast! The first one from my new digs

 

AUDIO

   

VIDEO

 

343◻︎' day 012 - I attempted to make a grown-up dinner

The story: I finally used my cute little retro air fryer for something other than toast. The salmon came out perfectly (I was amazed) and was a lovely follow-up to a glorious spinach, bleu cheese, pecan, and pear salad

The truth: I only took this photo to capture the fun of using a fish-shaped plate to serve fish. The little fryer did a terrif job, but the "thick" part of the salmon could have used a minute or two longer. I ate "the other" piece of fish while waiting for the rice to cook. I have yet to go through my spice cupboard and have no idea where I put the tarragon so I tossed on some unnecessary lemon pepper just for looks. The leaves pulled off my tree are there merely to distract from the fact the lemon was pre-squeezed (used for cooking). As for the spinach salad, the only greens I had today were the lettuce shreds on a half a taco leftover from yesterday! The salad in question is pre-made and will be consumed manana ... IF I remember and don't go for more tacos instead!

Oh and the red fabric? Yeah, that's a dish towel 

343◻︎' day 001 - adventures in tiny living on the urban edge

This was the day my sleeper/sofa (ordered late February) arrived. A week prior, I'd been told it had been delivered to the local furniture store ... only they had no record of it. Mind you, these folks are on the ball and not the least bit flakey.

Since I'd been paying rent for 3 months for a place I did not yet live in (tried a foldout sleeper chair and it was a bust), I was not keen to go another 12 weeks. But miracle of miracles, the fine furniture folks pulled strings, called in favors, and had a new sofa made. That's the one I received.

It's got brass studs and was selected to sync with my living area theme of "a retired pirate captain from the Golden Age who went through a wormhole, ended up in modern day Naples LBC, and decided to downsize." ... Yep

Happy UnAnniversary!

It was 2 years ago the Ocademy's grand launch was waylaid by the world health crisis. Here's where we've been and where were' going

AUDIO 

VIDEO 

It's time for some Whimsy

Our Whimsicalitea Board is finally on board! And we've got some fun tricks up our sleeve for 2022

AUDIO

   

Breaking in the Snoring Kraken Podcast

AUDIO

VIDEO

A Prayer to Deora

Hallowed Deora,

Cherished mother and guardian of all,

Thank you for your constant care.

You guide our thoughts, protect our hearts, and nurture our spirits. 

Your grace satiates our soul.

You banish prideful doubt and fear through your all-powerful, all-encompassing love. 

When shadows fall, your infinite patience and gentle compassion prevail.

Open our eyes to each moment's unfathomable gifts, opportunities, comfort, and peace.

Show us how precious we are, how to share your loving-kindness and bountiful goodness more fully, how to give without expectation.

Teach us to forgive.

We turn to you with every need. Our lives attest your glory and dominion.

We trust your unwavering truth

and always will.

Ultpa..