We recently connected with Margaret Johnson-Hodge and have shared our conversation below.

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

That I wrote novels in a way that touched people, let them know they were not alone in some personal struggle and that we are all human, more similar to one another than different.

Margaret, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Margaret Johnson-Hodge and I am an Award-Winning National Bestselling Author. I began my writing journey when I developed a love of reading at an early age. At four I enjoyed picture books. By six, I was reading The Long Island Press, the local newspaper in my hometown. Thought I didn’t understand most of what I read, I loved finding out about people and things. At twelve I read Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and became inspired to write my own story, which became my very first novel, 28 years later, published by St. Martin’s Press.
Not a quick journey by any means, my writing mentor, Writer Brenda Conner Bey Miller (rest in peace) pushed, cuddled, insisted, emotionally supportive and guided me to sharpen the book I started at twelve into something good. When she felt I was ‘ready,’ she had me send my novel to her best friend, Author Doris Jean Austin (rest in peace) for a manuscript review. Taking Ms. Austin’s suggestions, I refined my book. Pleased with what I had written, Brenda insisted I go with her to a ‘Meet the Agent’ event in New York City, where I was able to get my first Literary Agent.

Though I was unable to secure a book deal with that first agent (she moved to Budapest) I continued to work on my book. A great friend of mines—Vanessa Benton—knew of a book editor, Glenda Howard at St. Martin’s Press who was ‘looking for Black Fiction’ and connected me with her. I was offered a book contract a few weeks later for “The Real Deal” and then scrambled to find a Literary Agent. Neeti Madan at the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency agreed to take me on as a client. I ultimately published four novels: “The Real Deal,” “A New Day,” “Warm Hands” and “Butterscotch Blues” with St. Martin’s Press, gaining the title of “Award Winning Author” and “National Bestselling Author” with my second novel “A New Day.” From there I moved to Kensington Publishing, who published “Some Sunday,” “True Lies,” and “A Journey to Here.”

I decided to leave mainstream publishing in 2003 and publish my own works. To date I have released “This Time,” “Red Light Green Light,” “In Search of Tennessee Sunshine,” “Tumbled,” “Promised,” “Penny Candy Dreams,” and a biography “A Woman Named Mary Frances.” I’m Contributing Author for four anthologies and created and developed three writing workshop manuals, give writing workshops throughout the year and mentoring aspiring writers. I help guide them through the writing journey from a simple idea all the way to a published book. The service I provide is unique is because I have been on both sides of the writing fence—I’ve been published by mainstream publishing and have self-published, allowing me to provide a plethora of important information, full of the good, the bad, the ugly and all the pros and cons.

What I am most proud of is doing what my writing mentor, Brenda Connor Bey Miller always insisted on—passing it on. She instilled in me that when I ‘made it,’ that I was to ‘reach back’ and help those who are striving to become published writers. Her mentor, John O. Killens, instilled it in her and she instilled it in me. Every time I do that, I feel am I am making her proud.

As I stated, my journey was not an easy one. I unexpectantly lost my husband to an aneurysm six months after I decided to leave mainstream publishing. I went through years where I thought I didn’t have any more ‘stories’ inside of me to share and I’ve had to done dozens of ‘hats’ to publish my own works. But, at the end of the day, I’m happy with my choice and love the freedom to write when I want, how I want and what I want to write about. I’ve been able to venture into other creative areas that I know would not have been possible had I not decided to ‘do for myself,’ and I own, full out, all the rights to all of my novels, leaving a true legacy for my children, their children and their children’s children. I don’t believe there is anything more powerful than that. Yes, my journey has been long, but I know it’s far from over and I’m looking forward to what the future is bringing. Words have the power to change lives. I know because it changed mines for the better…

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

I’ve been writing since the age of twelve. When I got to college, I was thrilled to have the chance to take a creative writing course. The class was full but I was told to approach the professor and see if he would be willing to let me take his class. I waited eagerly outside of his classroom one day, approaching him and sharing that I had been writing since a pre-teen and would love to take his course. He asked me if I had anything written. I told him yes, thrusting ten pages of my ‘novel’ his way. He said he would read it and let me know the next day.

The next day, I again waited eagerly outside his class, hopeful and optimistic that he would grant me admission. As soon as his students began to leave out, I rushed in, asking what he thought. He looked at me, shook his head and said I didn’t have enough ‘talent.’ I was crushed beyond words. Took his opinion to heart and did not write another thing for a whole year.

Decades later, I met a journalist who had also gone to my college. I shared my story and she said she had the same experience with the same professor., telling her she didn’t have enough ‘talent.’ We both had the last laugh as she went on to became a journalist, traveling the world, meeting dignitaries and writing for various newspapers and magazines, including the London Times, Black Enterprise, Heart and Soul to name a few, as well as her articles being a part of the Harvard Scholar Archives and I became that Award-Winning National Bestselling Author. And the professor? Well, you know what they say: those who ‘can’t,’ teach. Had we listened to that teacher, where and who would we be today? The morale: you have to stand strong in your belief in yourself when no one else does…

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

How I craft my stories. I am often told they read like ‘a movie,’ that readers feel as if they are inside the pages with my characters and I write the ‘fictional folks’ in such a way, readers feel as if they are people they actually know and care about. With regards to my writing mentoring, I always give 110% to anyone I help and my clients not only know that I genuinely care, they feel and see it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mjhodge.net
• Instagram: mjhwriting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksofmargaret.johonshodge/

Image Credits
Sophia Johnson Margaret Johnson-Hodge