We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Johnston recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Andrew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

People will say I was a kind, caring, and creative man. They will see I tried to be helpful when possible and unpredictable at the best of times. I was involved with athletics, musicals, and plays in my youth. I think the best anyone can do is show up, be kind, and keep people laughing.

I want to leave behind a legacy of imagination. A legacy people will say he brought others joy. Ultimately, if my stories can help someone in some way that’s all that matters.

I’m not too concerned with what people will say about me when I’m gone. We are born and then we die. If I left a positive impact then I did my job as human being.

I want to be remember for the books I wrote. I want to be remembered as the guy you could depend on. Being loyal and a good listener are also important. I make it a priority to listen to people’s problems and offer what advice I possess.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an epic fantasy author from southwestern Pennsylvania. I am on the autistic spectrum and include my experiences with it in my books. I began writing at the age of twenty-five, seeking a purpose in life. I believe after eleven years that purpose has been found. I don’t just write books. I review and collect them. My goal is to collect ten thousand books before the age of eighty. I have counted how many books I have, but there’s still time.

I think what sets me apart from other authors is how immersive my stories are. You are immediately swallowed by the world and characters inside it.

I am most proud of my novella, The Discarded Knight. It has a relatable cast and story. You see in it that standing up to bullies is a must. Especially if the bully is your own father which is something many children, teens, and adults have experienced. I want future readers to know that like my characters they can overcome anything.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal for the last elven years has been to write books full-time. I love being creative. More people are reading my books and telling me what they meant to them. This makes the dream of writing full-time more important than ever. I hope to become kind of a hybrid author someday as well. A few books published by myself and a few by a publisher.

I had huge dreams starting out. I’ll continue to hold on to them for as long as I can put pen to paper.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was the victim of fraud by a fake literary agent. She was claimed to provide marketing services and ended up taking me for two thousand dollars. The fake agent made me think I was going to have a book deal with Penguin Random House. The publisher’s fraud department proved I was dealing with a scammer. I immediately severed ties with this person. She threatened come to my place of work and my house. I had to basically start over with everything.

I proved my resilience by staying calm and working harder to build myself up. I pushed forward with my book The Ignited Moon. Eventually, I ended up doing a book signing that featured both my books. The Discarded Knight and The Ignited Moon. I immediately went viral on my X account, @hwjohnston7

Soon after my books started selling like wild fire, My novel The Ignited Moon received ninety pre-orders.

In short, I broke through the experience of fraud and found success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,authorandrewjohnston.com
• Facebook: Andrew Johnston
• Twitter: @hwjohnston7
• Other: TikTok: @hwjohn
  Blog: www.hwjohnston.blogspot.com