Books with author Keshia Johnson

A traumatic event in young Anna’s life left her scarred. Figuratively and literally. But growing up in a tie-hack camp with her parents in the mountains of Wyoming has made Anna strong. Her nice, safe, and predictable life is interrupted when Abe comes to work in the camp. Best friend to her dear cousin Finn, who perished while they were fighting in the “Great War”, he’s come to see and experience the wonders that Finn has told him about. He wanted to know the hard work of the tie-hacks, to see the beautiful mountains of Wyoming, and meet the girl Finn swore would be his perfect match. Never in her life has so many things happened to her in such a short period of time. In the year that follows her first embarrassing meeting with Abe, Anna’s life completely changed. There were a few times when she didn’t necessarily believe it was for the better. Here is an excerpt from Anna and Abe describing their first meeting. So it was nice to just sit on the bank letting my mind reflect and soak in the serenity of this beautiful quiet spot. Usually if I was just going to wash my hair I just took off my sock and shoes and rolled up my pant legs and waded in. But today I really didn’t want to get my shirt all wet. I had my camisole on underneath and it covered all the important parts the same as a bathing suit I reasoned. All the crews were in town and no one was around. No one would ever know. Plus my hearing was exceptional so I would hear anyone before they were close. While pondering whether I was safe in my modesty, I removed my handkerchief from around my neck and reached with my fingers up to the puckered tissue. This was a habit I did without thinking. Tracing the scar from the start below my ear and following it down under my chin to the hollow of my throat. Over the years the redness had faded and the skin had stretched out some. The top part of the scar was an ugly thin line but it widen as it crossed my chest between my breasts and ended with a large ugly splotch on my right side Feeling mischievous and reckless I pulled my blouse over my head. Straightening the straps of my camisole I relished in the sun on my bare shoulders. I quickly took off my stockings and shoes and rolled my trouser legs up and waded in. I filled the bucket with the chilly water and bending over I dumped it over my head. The prickly cold felt good. Filling the bucket with water again I set it on the creek bank. Then I grabbed the soap and started lathering my wet hair. I froze when I thought I heard a noise. Parting the hair covering my face I looked around but didn’t see anything. Not hearing anything more, I continued lathering my hair, humming as I went. I flipped my hair back wiping the suds from my eyes before reaching for the bucket of water. I froze again, for out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. I turned quickly, gasping as I scrambled for my shirt lying on the ground. But a slippery rock was my downfall, literally. I fell backwards on my backside with a solid thump and a large splash. Another gasp came out of my mouth but this time it was because of the sudden shock of cold water and surprise of falling. I sat there with the water running around me, my soapy hair in my face and I heard a deep chuckle.

The fire came out of nowhere, and it spread rather quickly, destroying everything in its path.The animals were devastated and angry, and so with nothing left and no reason to stay in the place that was once their home and against the warnings of Owl and Rabbit, they left the safety of the forest for what they thought would be a better life.Not long after leaving the forest, the animals were captured and set to be tortured. Rabbit, the reluctant and unwilling leader chosen by Owl to rescue and bring the others back, wanted nothing to do with them, so in total disobedience, he ran away."If they'd just listened, they wouldn't be in this mess," he told himself. "This is not my problem!"With a leader not wanting to lead and with no help in sight, what fate awaits the captives at the hands of their captors?

The concept was born at my daughter Kylee's first birthday party. After a long day of running around gathering supplies to throw a great party, my son Joshua tugged on my shirt and asked, "Dad who had the first birthday party" To save myself from having to answer a million questions, I pointed to a greeting card that Steve and I had just completed, and which featured four brightly colored dinosaurs having a birthday party. To make a long story short, over the years Joshua and Kylee asked a million more questions (at least, it felt like a million more), and the story evolved into this book. Since then, the family, in association with Dreammation EFX Studios Inc. Dreammation Digital Media Group, and a handful of non-profit organizations, has performed the story of The First Birthday Party on radio, television, at the Kids Fair, L.A. Children's Hospital, the Special Olympics, the Foster Care Service, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, and at Child Safety Awareness events across America.