Better World Books Podcast: Todd Johnson

04/22/10 • 22 min

THE SWEET BY AND BY is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. Debut author Todd Johnson has drawn the characters so vividly and with so much love that, for me, they have become woven into the fabric of my own memories. I know when I think of a true caretaker, the person I’ll imagine is Lorraine, and when I am talking about women in their twilight years, I’ll think not only of my own grandmothers, but of Margaret and Bernice.

Now, I’m not usually someone who signs up for books (or movies) that are meant to make me cry, but I think I’ve actually had an epiphany here about the difference between a tear-jerker and a genuinely touching and emotional story. Todd Johnson achieves the latter with THE SWEET BY AND BY because he didn’t set out to jerk your tears, he set out to tell a story about people who are often marginalized or ignored. At first glance this book seems to be about aging and dying, but when you get to the heart of the matter it’s really about living and love.

Read it. You’ll be glad you did. But first, check out my talk with Todd, where I can barely hold back the tears!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Read it. You’ll be glad you did. But first, check out my talk with Todd, where I can barely hold back the tears!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Previous Episode

Better World Books Podcast: Jeffrey Stepakoff

Jeffrey Stepakoff has a career that many people would drool over (myself included); great success as a writer and producer in Hollywood, followed by an incredibly well received first novel, FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA. But that wasn’t the plan when he first started out. When we sat down to talk last week Jeffrey said “he just wanted to be left alone to write”!

Clearly that worked out. In Hollywood, Jeffrey worked on shows like SISTERS, THE WONDER YEARS and DAWSON’S CREEK not too mention several movies. He loved the life, but really wanted more time with his family so decided to transition to writing books. FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA is Jeffrey’s second book, but first novel and it is quickly becoming a national bestseller.

Jeffrey and I hit it off right away and he quickly became what I like to call an Insta-Friend. (You know the kind of thing, where you start talking and there’s no awkwardness and you feel like you’ve already known each other for years.) You’ll see in the interview how we get into the personal side of the writing life before we even jumped into the book. Catch the moment in the interview where Jeffrey turns the tables on me. FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA is a love story and as we dug into the intensity of the relationship he asked if I believe in love at first sight. You’ll have to listen to find out what I said! What would you have said to that question? Email me at [email protected] or feel free to comment here on the blog!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana

Next Episode

Better World Books Podcast: Norris Church Mailer

Norris Church Mailer is a real person. That may seem like an odd way to start a blog post but her memoir and her life could be the stuff of great fiction. A beautiful girl, a much older famous man, his former wives, his large brood of children, a modeling career, famous friends, attendance at historical events, and the list goes on. But what makes A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS so readable is that it’s real and Norris doesn’t hold back.

She shares the good, the bad and the ugly. There were affairs, there were arguments, there was sickness and death – but there was also love and family and art and humor. After reading A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS, meeting Norris was like meeting someone I’ve always known. She was unapologetic about her life choices (as she should be) not in the least bit braggy and totally brave. She admits her health is not good (she’s living with a cancer that should’ve killed her years ago) and yet she is still living her life to the fullest.

My favorite moment in the interview came when I asked Norris if she ever felt out of place when hanging out with people like Muhammad Ali or Fidel Castro... and she said “No. I looked around at the other people there and I thought ‘Why not me?'” I totally love that. I’m going to make it my new mantra.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host