We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zaneta Johns. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zaneta below.

Zaneta, 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?

My business is Zan Expressions LLC, which encompasses my poetry collections, collaborative books, and quotes. I am a truth-telling vessel of grace and light. My legacy will be a revered literary footprint, along with my kind ambitious children and grandchildren. My hope is best described by this excerpt from “My Last Prayer,” a poem from my most recent poetry collection, After the Rainbow: Golden Poems:

I pray that my life honors God’s commands—
that I used every gift intended to make a difference
that every word I shared spread love
that I was kind to others and myself
that my “Well done” was rightfully deserved.

I pray that I am ready.
No more words are needed—none left unsaid.
I pray that I am weightless—
no burdens, no sorrows, no regrets.
I pray that only love is left behind—
that my family knows that I loved them dearly.
I pray they know they made me proud—
so proud that all in heaven will hear about them.
I pray they know that while my body is no longer,
my soul lives within them.

Always remember that what matters is love.

Zaneta, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Through creative expressions, I allow God’s light to shine through me. I have written poetry throughout my adult life; however, my deep passion for poetry arose in 2020. For me, creative writing is a source of comfort, healing, and my distinct way of celebrating people and nature. My poetry books are: Poetic Forecast: Reflections on Life’s Promises, Storms, and Triumphs (WSA Publishing 2020) and After the Rainbow: Golden Poems (Prolific Pulse Press LLC 2022). I am a co-author in two collaborative books: Voices of the 21st Century: Resilient Women Who Rise and Make a Difference and Voices of the 21st Century: Conscious Caring Women Who Make a Difference (WSA Publishing 2021 & 2022 respectively).

I am grateful and proud to be a #1 bestselling author on Amazon. Poetic Forecast was a Hot New Release and topped Amazon’s Bestseller List at #1 in six categories. My two Voices of the 21st Century books became #1 international bestsellers on Amazon and feature my poems as the Dedication page. I am actively sought out by the international poetry community, including collaborations with United Kingdom poets, Sarfraz Ahmed and Pratibha Savani; poems translated to the Urdu language; invitations to international festivals and recitations; and poems featured in almost thirty anthologies and publications during the past year. I am a co-editor (with esteemed poet and publisher Lisa Tomey) in a powerful anthology entitled, Social Justice Inks (Prolific Pulse Press 2022).

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I see the pandemic as a spiritual reset in all aspects of our existence. I pivoted at age sixty-three when I published Poetic Forecast. I planned to sit back and quietly draft more poems without any public engagement. I joined the Women Speakers Association, an international visibility platform for women’s voices, to network with other women and explicitly, not to speak publicly. However, I quickly learned that readers crave interaction with authors. I could no longer hold back or be silent, nor did I want to. This was my personal reset.

I moved out of retirement into the public eye. Last year, I accepted an invitation to serve as Moderator for the Passion of Poetry, an online forum for emerging and esteemed poets. I also joined the editing team for the Fine Lines Literary Journal. My early podcast and open mic appearances were challenging at times, but I persevered. Determined, I warily completed my first interview, followed by a second, and the rest is history. Now I eagerly await the next interview, book signing, or recitation. Invite me… I am ready!

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

Free expression is a privilege not afforded to everyone across the globe. My inspiration flows from numerous sources of joy and pain.

• When I am happy and want to capture that moment, I write
• When life seems unfair or unjust, I write
• When nature’s bounty appeases me, I write
• When a loved one passes, I write
• When someone achieves something significant, I write
• When a colleague needs comfort, I write
• When a traveling nurse seeks respite, I write
• When miracles reach milestones, I write
• When a grief-stricken parent requests a tribute, I write
• When a dear friend faces a grave diagnosis, I write
• When I am invited to international recitations, I write

I am blessed to spread love through my words. Like music, poetry meets you where you are and leaves an impression on your soul. The possibility of touching someone’s soul is very rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zanexpressions.com
• Instagram: @AuthorZanJohns
• Facebook: Facebook.com/zanjohns.1
• Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/ZanetaVJohns
• Twitter: @ZanJohns1
• Other: Goodreads: Zaneta Johns

Image Credits
I am the owner of the images provided