Derail D. Johnson

Author Bio: Faith, Fiction, and Fire: How Derail Johnson resurrected his pen after 18 years.

For Derail Johnson, stories have always whispered from the shadows. As a high school junior he penned a 100 page book as a going away gift sparking recognition from his peers and encouragement from his teachers. But life intervened graduation, work & obligations and his pen fell silent for nearly two decades. Until one day at work, his spirit cried out to God, how do I begin again? The answer rang clear pick that pen back up.

Derail returned to writing with a fury, with over 76 book titles in the making and laying the groundwork for a five part church drama packed with suspense, secrets and spine tingling twists. His genre is clear horror and thrillers with a spiritual edge.

Derail Johnson was influenced by Wes Cravens & Steven King. Derail Combines Faith and fear in plots that challenge morality, destiny, and deception.

His biggest obstacle? Reigniting his imagination after years of dormancy. But he overcame it by trusting the divine impulse that guided his creativity. Now with The Family of Faith Part 1 and other stories he will write Derail’s storytelling engine is roaring. His dream is to create stage plays and produce major motion films that shake souls and fill seats.

He may have been doubted, dismissed & overlooked but he’s turning silence into noise and the best part is he’s just getting started stay tuned readers.

Author Interview:

1.What inspires you most to write?

To be able to create multiple stories and draft up a major plot that peaks readers minds and get them reved up about a great story.

2. What is your favorite genre?

Horror, but I also like writing about Christian stories as well and telling a story about hope and letting my readers know I hear and see you and that they’re not alone.

3. Who is one author you admire if any and why?

That honor would go to the great Wes Cravens, I love how he made the scream franchise which was created on my birthday but also because it’s a game of cat & mouse. Ghostface is seeking his prey all while the main character thinks she’s put him in the review mirror he keeps coming back for more & more.

4. How do you overcome blank writing spells?

Luckily I haven’t had that issue yet with the lord’s wisdom and guidance I have over 76 book titles and counting I can be at work or home and ideas just pop up in my head.

5. What legal publishing advice can you give?

I’d say make sure it’s your own work and legit publishing company definitely don’t wanna steal someone copyright.

6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

Either 15 or 16th and unfortunately not best seller yet but as I write many of my books to me each one is worthy of a best seller.

7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

The remake of I know what you did last summer the ending scene didn’t live up to its true potential to the legendary movie I would have written something very shocking and jump scare like ending.

8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

Some difficulties I find is getting eyes on my books and readers buying my work but as I said before all of my stories are best seller qualities.

9. What are your best experiences in your writing career?

I’d say getting around a group of experienced writers like fellow authors Debbie Widhalm & William Steven’s & Johanna Vendel they have been my go to if I have any questions and navigating this author world.

10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background?

Definitely have to have some relaxing music fall like music or Christmas. 

11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

Sometimes, I feel like I have the world on my shoulders but you know what raise up and praise yourself because you know your worth don’t let them, you who you are you show them because the grind don’t stop just like when I got into the author world I said just watch a thunderstorm is on the horizon.

12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I always look at this way I want all my readers to be able to afford and read my work so I make it to relatable pricing and when I feel it’s taking off maybe I’ll raise it up and I mostly promote my work on facebook, instagram & by book trailers.

13. Why should anyone read your book?

My body of work is not like anything you’ve seen or read before I’ve learned from the best Writer Wes Cravens & James Wan & Jordan Peele I bring drama, cliffhangers, thriller, & inspiring Christian stories to a new meaning, my book 'The Lord’s 3 Angels'' critics say; may be my best book ever! I truly feel I was destined for this field of work writing books.

14. Did you have a book coach?

No. I don’t but I have great mentors in Debbie & Joannah & William.

15. What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject was definitely English because it gave me the freedom to write and create my own world filled with stories that could change the world and inspire a generation of new young writers.

16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

It’s a little bit of both I have self published half of my 16 books and I’ve worked with The Authors Point on my big drama church book 'The Family of Faith' a 5 part series built around The Crawford family, who had a plan to steal their congregations money & invest it for their own wrong doing with secrets underlying from the surface a mystery son threatens the pulpit and it’s a fight for the crown.