Children’s author wears many hats

Couples move to the Clarkston area for many reasons, but only Barbara Johns can say she moved to the area to run the famous Davisburg Candle Factory.
For four years, Johns and her husband Fred were the proprietors of the novelty store. During their time at the shop during the 1980’s, the couple found the candle factory to be inhabited by a helpful cat.
Later christened ‘Midnight,? the feline became the impetus for Johns? entry into children’s literature as she wrote about her experiences with the cat in her 2005 book, ‘The Cat in the Candle Factory.? The first work spawned a sequel released last year, ‘Christmas at the Candle Factory.?
‘Kids can listen over and over again and develop that love of language, reading and storytelling,? Johns said.
Both works released from Johns? publishing venture, Steeple Ridge Press, founded in 2004.
‘The cat actually lived there in the building and I always thought the animal in a factory was a cute story because the candle factory is unique,? Johns said.
‘There are really no children’s books that have this type of setting. The setting was special; therefore the book was special as well. I always thought it would be attractive to children.?
The stories have found new life. In March, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation of Los Angeles announced it would like to record Johns? works as part of the BookPals Storyline, a literacy outreach program where children can access spoken-word stories read by SAG members.
Johns made her way to Clarkston because of the shop. The Johnses were living in Wayne County when they and a group of entrepreneurial friends decided to purchase the factory.
‘We moved out here because we decided we wanted to live closer to (the factory). We fell in love with Clarkston and so, here we are.?
Although she now spends her winters in the warm climate of California, Johns still thinks of Clarkston as home.
‘I’ve been here 25 years and always loved what Clarkston is all about. It’s a solid town. It’s that small-town life where the people who know you are supportive of you. They’re there in good times and bad. There’s nothing really quite like it.?
After moving to the area and meeting her feline muse, Johns made the switch to realistic fiction writing. She authored several works of a different nature before making a switch to children’s literature, including working in promotions for Clarkston Community Schools as a public relations representative for ten years.
‘I spent most of my career writing non-fiction things, scripts, training programs, press releases, and brochures,? Johns said. ‘A lot of my writing was factual. This is the first fiction writing I’ve done.?
Carolyn Stich, of Holland, Mich., has been putting Johns? words into motion while illustrating both literary installments. Seeing her words brought to life is a thrilling part of the book-creating process for Johns.
‘When you’re seeing art that interprets what you’re doing, it’s a kick, it’s really fun,? she said.
Johns? line of work these days is a bit different than where she worked after finishing college. She graduated from Miami (of Ohio) University with a degree in retailing, minor in English, and began working for J.L. Hudson Company at the flagship store in Detroit.
‘When my children arrived, writing became my freelance job. I could take on a project’and for me it was perfect because I was raising three kids and I could go out and do interviews and come home and do the writing,? Johns said.
‘I could meet my deadlines and not have to be away from the kids too much and that eventually developed into a writing career. The books are sort of the pinnacle, a dream I had, and they’re finally here.?
Johns? eldest son Geoff, 34, picked up his mother’s passion for writing and took it into the world of comics. As a child, Johns remembers letting her son indulge in his passion for comics, assuming he would grow tired of it as he became older. Geoff never relinquished his love for the ink and is now an acclaimed writer for DC Comics. He was named Wizard magazine’s ‘Man of the Year? in 2005.
In her own work, Barbara wears many hats as the head of Steeple Ridge Press.
‘I’m the publisher, the author and the publicist. It is hard, but I love it,? Johns said. ‘Everything I have done in my career has prepared me to do this. I love writing, putting things together and I even like publicity. It’s fun to reach out and see what kind of response you get. It’s fun to see what you can do.?
Johns hopes to leave a succinct legacy by creating a manual for future self-publishers to ease the process.
‘It’s like anything else. You don’t know everything that is involved until you’re in the middle of it and you can’t believe it,? she said.
For more information about Johns and her works visit www.steepleridge press.com. BookPals Storyline can be found at www.bookpals.net.