Locally-born writer collaborates with wordsmiths far and wide to spread his craft
By Anne Henderson
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:34 AM PDT
Payette — Imagine this: You are a man in your 50s. You have spent much of your professional career securing the success of other people’s companies, and then, disaster strikes. You get a rare heart condition that forces you to leave your job. When you are well again no one, not one company or person will even look at you sideways. They don’t want to take on your medical liability, they would rather hire a young 25-year-old, who in all honesty, will work longer hours for less pay. Or, maybe the company will hire two 25-year-olds, then, they won’t have to offer benefits at all.
This particular turn of events played its course in the life of a locally-born man, one Michael Johnson.
Originally from Payette, Johnson left the area to pursue the trappings of a successful life — starting with a college education at Pacific University where he majored in Mathematics.
After college Johnson worked at the Pendleton woolen mills for roughly eight years. There he had what he described as “a hodge-podge of responsibilities.”
He worked with management on material resource planning, projecting, sales and quality control matters.
This experience led Johnson back to school at the Oregon Graduate Center. There he studied computer science and management, but said he did not finish his final project because he was in love and followed a woman away from school.
“The lady that I thought I was in love with didn’t want me to finish the program,” he said. “It was one of those silly mistakes that you realize 15 years later.”
However, Johnson had success using his writing talents to compose business articles for company use.
He ran his own business, Northwest 9000 in Beaverton for about 10 years. However, he had a heart condition that prompted him to get out and, when he was well again, prevented him from securing employment in his field.
At just about this point in his life, Johnson’s mother and father alerted him to the fact they were getting older and could use some help back at home.
Some may remember his father James R. Johnson is a retired physics and chemistry teacher from Payette High School where he taught for many years.
So, Johnson packed up his life in 2000 and returned to Payette to begin a new chapter.
The change in lifestyle has allowed Johnson the time and space to work on literary aspirations that have been laying dormant. He said he now spends about half of his time “doing writing stuff.”
Currently he has several projects underway, including a book of sonnets he has put together with another writer from Australia.
Johnson said he met the author through his Yahoo writing group, and, because they both like to write sonnets they decided to compile a collection, “Spring Sonnets for the 21st Century.”
He is also creating a chap book, (a small volume) of his own poetry, entitled “Coyote Moon & the Spring Rain of my Minds Eye.” He describes himself as a traditionalist. Johnson used to think he was avant garde, but has discovered over the years he appreciates and can best write in the traditional style. However, poetry is hard to publish.
In 2007 he did publish a book, however it was not his own. It was written by his grandfather, James W. Johnson. “The Bitterroot Trail” is the name of the book — an international best-seller in 1935.
Johnson hopes to publish an anthology of short stories, which he refers to as the “Ballyhoo stories.”
Centered around Western ranch living — they will feature the talent of eight to ten other Northwestern writers.
The collection was inspired by a story Johnson created about a modern-day range war.
The main character, a rancher, has a run-in with an evil woman from back East who has descended upon his territory. The story itself was inspired when Johnson read news of people stealing cattle for drug money.
“I thought... rustling is alive and well.”
The final project this busy man has underway is what is described in the business as “a space opera,” entitled, “The PSS MageSight Inspection.”
These types of stories are adventure yarns set in outer-space. Unlike the fantasy genre, space operas can only contain one or two unbelievable instances.
Johnson said, although this is his first major attempt at the genre, he has always enjoyed it and first began to understand the value of good science fiction through the acquaintance of a professional writer while in college.
“I've been into science fiction since I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” he said.
The writer who inspired his true appreciation is Ursula K. Le Guin.
Johnson said Le Guin would come into the library where he worked during college because she was best friend to the head librarian.
Le Guin knew Johnson wrote a bit and would always ask him what he was up to. After his response she would often suggest story topics. Johnson said he rarely followed up on her suggestions, being young, headstrong and full of his own ideas.
Johnson said he has grown as a writer by leaps and bounds since that time.
“I like to think that I have better control over my writing abilities now,” he said.
“Nobody ever sets out to be the world’s greatest writer. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to write anything as awe-inspiring as Hemingway, for example,” Johnson said.
Johnson, instead, said he has realistic aspirations for his work.
“If people find my writing fun, entertaining and sometimes poignant, I’ve hit exactly the right note.”
Perhaps some of his knowledge about what makes good writing comes from his careful appraisal of other people’s books. He reviews four to six new books each month and posts his reviews on-line for use in libraries, or, even by the authors themselves.
Although Johnson does not get paid for this work he enjoys it and says it is a good way for writers to get their names out there.
Recently, Johnson got an e-mail from the famous Powell’s Books based in Portland. They had invited Johnson to be a part of the book review circle and the e-mail was to alert him he was considered to be listed as a professional book critic. Johnson said not more than 24 hours passed before he got another e-mail confirming “clearly you are a professional book critic.”
As a result of this honor, once a quarter Johnson votes on what he thinks the best books have been in the fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories.
His most recent pick for non-fiction was “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I have Learned,” by Alan Alda. “It is one of the best books I’ve read in ages,” Johnson said.
Check out Johnson’s other book reviews and work at his Web-site http://www.pencraft.biz.
