Hands

In My Own Words

Poetry, spoken word or unspoken, short or long fiction. At times I walk near memoir, but until my recent TEDx talk, I had not crossed the line into full non-fiction. As Neil Gaiman says, “Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over.” In that, playing God (fiction) has been more alluring to me than being played by Him and then bearing witness (non-fiction). However, as I learn and grow, the importance—to others and to me—of speaking my truth more directly has also grown.

There are bits of Iowa, Colorado, Oklahoma, San Francisco, New Orleans, New York City, and New Jersey in me: Places I have lived and never left. I am all of them and so is my writing. Our concepts of God and how they shape us often appear in my work, along with snapshots of my own lesbian experience, and the passionate and careful continuum that is living both a spiritually and sensually fulfilled life.

If my words are occasionally uncomfortable to read, to hear, too close, too personal, then this work is working. I hope you find some of yourself in my writing and keep coming back.

To book me as a speaker or panelist, please email me directly at andrea.r.johnson@gmail.com.