T.L. Johnson, Author and Owner of Midnight Haven Books Sits Down With Us!

What made you decide to write romantic suspense?

I’ve always loved a good psychological thriller; the human mind is endlessly fascinating to me. But this particular story grew out of a conversation with a coworker about book boyfriends, and it nudged open a door I didn’t realize was waiting for me. I love when a story has a little romance threaded through the shadows. I guess I’m a hopeless romantic at

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heart… even though I’m not the most outwardly affectionate person, I love deeply. Romantic suspense lets me explore the tension between danger and devotion. It felt like the perfect place for my voice to live.

Do you have a favorite book you've written, or favorite characters from your writing?

Choosing a favorite feels impossible. I’ve written The Storm and the Rose and am deep in edits and layering for The Rose and the Shadows, and every character carries a piece of me; they each hold something I’m fiercely protective of. I love them all for different reasons… the broken pieces, the sharp edges, the quiet strengths. So no, I can’t pick a favorite. They’re all mine.

Which pet is in your photo and how do they help or hinder your writing?

 

That’s our cat Genevieve (Gigi). My daughter snapped this completely unposed photo of Gigi next to my debut and it melted me. She’s the quieter of our cats; the classic black-cat archetype. Affectionate when she chooses, aloof when she wants to be. She doesn’t hinder me at all. She curls at my feet, especially if I’ve got my electric blanket on, which let’s be honest… is almost always when I’m writing.

Our other cat, Persephone, is the chaotic one—white fur, very vocal, tiny menace—so if anyone interrupts my writing, it’s her. But Gigi? She’s the calm in my creative storm.

Is your pet ever included in your stories?

Not directly. There’s a black cat mentioned in The Storm and the Rose, but she’s not specifically Gigi. Maybe one day I’ll give her a cameo worthy of her dramatic little soul.

What made you open Midnight Haven Books?

Publishing my debut independently meant diving headfirst into the world of self-publishing—every hidden corner, every gate kept answer, every learning curve. I don’t do anything halfway, so I devoured everything I could. Through that process, I realized how many indie authors struggle to market their books or get them on physical shelves. I started hosting “Self-Rec Saturday” on Threads so authors could practice sharing their work, and it just took on a life of its own.

That momentum grew into Midnight Haven Books. It was already my imprint, and I’d thought  of eventually acting as a small press, but then this summer, I thought… Why not create physical space?  A place where indie authors could see their books on shelves. Local bookstores in my area don’t typically carry indie titles, and consignment can be a tough deal for authors. So I said, fine, I’ll create the space myself. I’ll buy directly from the author or through the distributor and build the haven I wished existed.

Midnight Haven Books is my love letter to indies… and to readers who want more than the mainstream feed gives them.

I know you've created a literacy lifeline for teen and adults in West Virginia. Which is amazing! Can you tell me more about it?

We pour so much energy into getting books into children’s hands, which is wonderful. But somewhere in middle school, right around the age when everything gets messy and emotional… reading starts slipping away. Teens get assigned books they’d never choose for themselves. Reading stops being an escape and becomes a chore. By adulthood, so many people haven’t picked up a book in years.

But then, suddenly, they try again maybe in their 30s or 40s even… and it’s like something unlocks. They say, “This is what I’ve been missing.”

The literacy lifeline is my attempt to bridge that gap. My bookshop focuses on teens and adults because those readers need just as much nurturing as kids—sometimes more. I want to give them choices that spark something in them again. I want them to feel invited back into the world of reading without rules or assignments.

I’ve met with the West Virginia Women’s Business Center, and it’s been so helpful to talk through ideas and community needs. As an introvert, this entire journey has been me pushing myself out of my comfort zone… but it matters. And when something matters, I jump.

Lastly, do you have any advice for new writers, or those wanting to open a book shop?

For writers: start. Start anywhere. Start messy. Start in your Notes app while you’re making dinner or sitting in your car. I began by using talk-to-text and ended up with thousands of notes—some nonsense, some golden. You don’t need perfect conditions. You just need the first spark. A scene. A line. A feeling. Follow it!

For aspiring bookshop owners: figure out your why. What gap are you filling? What community are you building? For me, there are no bookstores in my county, and no place for indie authors to be seen. A mobile shop made sense with my full-time pharmacist schedule. Once you know your mission, the logistics fall into place piece by piece. It doesn’t have to happen overnight. Just start with the why.

Hadley Grey Update!

First, isn't TL Johnson awesome? I mean she bridges the gap with literacy in West Virginia, is a cheerleader for indie authors online , and still has her own books to write, shop to create, and work to be done. She's amazing!

Christmas Novella Out Now!

Secondly, The Christmas Secret is now out on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited! If you enjoy an obsessed MMC who makes bad choices to be able to stay close to the women he loves, with a bit of Christmas feel, then this book is for you! It's a novella too, so will definitely help with any end of the year reading goals.

Beta Readers

Also, edits on the first book of The Sages Series (Sci Fi Romance), are complete and I am looking for beta readers in case you're interested. You can see the teaser for the series on TikTok, here. And if you are interested and not already signed up as a beta reader (or ARC reader), please feel free to use the contact form below or any form on the website.

As always, Happy Reading!