Community Corner

Enumclaw Author Seeks Support for In the Company of Dragons

When not working behind the counter at Sweet Necessities, Barb Johnson has tales of dragons, fairies and heroic maidens to share. But she needs a little help to get her stories into the hands of young adults, her target audience. Enter Kickstarter.

When not working behind the counter at Sweet Necessities, Barb Johnson has tales of dragons, fairies and heroic maidens to share. But she needs a little help to get her stories into the hands of young adults, her target audience. Enter Kickstarter.

Johnson took some time to answer some questions for Patch about what got her started writing, where her inspiration comes from, and tries to tease out just a little bit of the storyline which, we're told, journeys into the real life town of Enumclaw. 

For more on her Kickstarter campaign, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/835087038/in-the-company-of-dragons-a-fantastic-ya-tale.

How long have you and your family lived in Enumclaw? What brought you here? What do you like best about living here? 
I actually moved here in 1987, and have lived here (with the exception of 2004-2008 where I lived on Vashon Island) every since. I love Enumclaw and the small home town feel you get here.  I love the fact that I know half of the people here! It makes it a little challenging sometimes, when you only have a few minutes to run into the store for milk and you end up spending an hour visiting with all the people you run into, but I wouldn't change it for the world! I'm here to stay! (what brought me here? a boy lol, but I stayed...he didn't ) lol ;)

You mention being a single mom. What was the inspiration for writing this story? Are there lessons that you want your own child(ren) to take away from this, about the values of truth, honor and what makes a real hero?
I have always been a dabbler with writing and a huge day dreamer, so I feel like I am surround with inspiration all the time! Especially here! It's nothing for me to look out towards the foothills and imagine a dragon flying around the peaks, or see signs of Fairies (that I have done a pretty good job at convincing my girls they are real LOL)! But even with all the fun, I do think it is important to add a little message to every story for folks to take with them. Having 5 kids (twin girls and 3 sons) It was important for me to write in things close to my heart. My biggest pet peeve has always been discrimination. I can't even watch The Help without getting so angry at how those women were treated. To me, discrimination is the gran-daddy of bullying. It's where it starts. People automatically link discrimination to racism, but it is really anyone that is against another because they are different, which includes so much more than just the color of our skin. I also want to show my girls that women can be empowered with their minds and hearts, not with just their looks, and I want my boys to know that everyday heroes are more about being men of honor, gentlemen and standing up for what is right now matter what, and that this can be achieved without having to wear a cape. Don't get me wrong...capes are cool, but if we stand together as HUMANS and embrace the differences, the world could be a better place.

Outside of writing, what do you do as a career? 
Currently I work at Sweet Necessities a few days a week. The rest of my time is spent with family, friends and of course...writing :)

You tease the end of the story veers toward the real life town of Enumclaw. Can you not give your local readers even a small hint as to how this comes about?
Well... all I can really say is that it has to do with measures taken to save Ethreal, the realm in which my characters reside. Oh and I can tell you that Enumclaw is also where book #2 in the series begins .... but that's as far as I can say lol, wouldn't want to give away too much ;)

Is there anything else we didn't touch on that you want to make sure people know about you and/or the book?
I think the KS campaign pretty much answers any other questions that might come; here is my Facebook page. This has been a long time coming (been working on it for a couple of years now) and I am just so excited and feel so blessed that it has made it this far and that I have so many followers and supporters before the book is even available! It's my dream to be a published writer when I grow up, so maybe that means I can now finally grow up!.... nah! ;)


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