We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Pollard-johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
One of my favorite quotes from my quote wall is from Jerry Spinelli’s autobiography, “Knots in My Yo-Yo String.” In it, he talks about aspiring writers who ask him if they have “enough” talent. His response is always “What is enough?” I love it because it applies to everything–what is enough creativity?; what is enough strength?; what is enough skill? Clearly, people have different start points, different genetics, and varying amounts of dedication. But some succeed. It must be because they have enough of many attributes. That means we can make the most of what we have and push ourselves to be the best we can be to reach our goals.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Becoming a traditionally published writer is not what many would call “easy.” It takes time, lots of support, and a fair number of conferences to get to a point where a writer understands what must be done to get their words in front of the right person’s eyes and see the process through to a book one holds in their hands. For me, however, publishing wasn’t necessarily the end goal; I find writing is a reward in itself.

It’s probably not a surprise then, that I began writing at a very early age. I was the editor of my high school newspaper, and then confined myself to term papers as I worked through college and into the teaching profession. When I took time off to raise children, however, I returned to creative writing with a passion. I wrote during preschool and while my kids were at swim lessons, carrying around a legal pad in an oversized purse. After taking a course in creative nonfiction, I began querying periodicals, and found a niche in the food and wine industry. I wrote for several local, regional, national and international publications as diverse as Seattle, Bridal Connections, Vegetarian Journal, and Black Belt magazines.

At about that time, I began to also write fiction, some short pieces that were sold to periodicals, and eventually books. My first book sale was “The Truth Test,” a mid-grade novel about a 12-year-old boy who discovered a way to ensure his friends were telling the truth. Following that was “Recipe for a Rebel,” also mid-grade, about a boy who discovered cooking as a way of healing after his parents’ divorce. I returned to teaching and writing for publication took a backseat. Since retiring, however, I’ve written and sold two cozy mysteries for adult audiences: “Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage” featuring BFFs who decide to flip houses to become financially independent after disastrous divorces but discover a body in their first Craftsman, and “Toxic Torte,” a culinary mystery that features an ambitious young journalist determined to deduce which chef poisoned a caustic restaurant critic. Both are selling well as both eBooks and print versions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a buddy came to Tucson, I would delight in showing them all my favorite places. We’d start with a trip to Tubac to check out authentic southwestern attire, food, and decor, and have lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Elvira’s, in Tubac. We’d spend the afternoon shopping and sightseeing in Patagonia, then make our way up to Green Valley for a scrumptious Italian dinner at Ragazzi’s, home of the best Lemon Drop martini I’ve ever had. The next day we would strap our paddleboards and kayaks to the Jeep and spend some time at Patagonia Lake State Park, feasting on a picnic we brought along. Mid-afternoon we’d take the back road to Sonoita and sample some awesome wineries–Rune and Arizona Hops and Vines, for sure, before dining at the Copper Brothel Brewery in downtown Sonoita. After a good night’s rest, we’d head into the University district to browse the shops and order some of the yummiest salsas and creative tacos anywhere at Boca in the University District. We’d stop at Crooked Tooth Brewery for a gluten free brew before heading home for an evening of sunset-viewing and uncorking one of the reds we bought in Sonoita. The next day, we’d head up to Mount Lemmon, stopping along the way at the various vistas for photo ops and a couple of short hikes. We’d return in time to belly-up to to Tanque Verde’s Barnyard’s bar for a quick libation while enjoying my personal favorites: Crispy Cauliflower and Fish and Chips with PigTail Fries. With only a day left in her long weekend, I’d offer her the choice of fabulous shopping at Dillard’s or a visit to the Desert Museum. We’d be sure to carve out time to visit the Santa Rita Lodge shop at Madera Canyon for a reenergizing iced tea while we do a little bird, coati, and Coues deer watching, before stopping by Manuel’s in Sahuarita for a Cadillac margarita (one will do it!) and delicious Shrimp Tacos. On the way to the airport, we’d stop at Quail Run books in Green Valley so she could pick up a good story for the flight home, and Studio 111 for a quick pilates stretch, then promise her there are many more wonderful places in Tucson to ensure a return visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is a supportive tribe. In my case, I have been blessed with an incredibly supportive writer’s group; we call ourselves the “Tiny Rhinos.” All of the members are published, many in multiple genres. Most importantly, we have an unwritten rule to find the good first, critique second. We build each other up. Additionally, I enrolled in a wonderful genre-based Master’s program at Seton Hill University full of insightful, creative, hard-working writers twenty years ago, and loved every minute of it. We all talked the same way and laughed at the same things. It was truly magical to immerse myself in a room with these folks, and I still keep in contact with many of my fellow alums.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/lori.pollard.johnson.books

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loripollardjohnson/

Twitter: @LoriPollJohn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.pollard.johnson.books

Other: Facebook: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lori-Pollard-Johnson/author/B001KH8ES2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1725058483&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/corpse-in-the-craftsman-cottage/

Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/toxic-torte/

Image Credits
Lori Pollard-Johnson

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