Local Author Brings 'Love' to the Masses and Launches Publishing Company

On a windy evening, with snow flurries dancing in the air, author and meditation practitioner, Sadeqa Johnson, celebrated the release of her first novel, “Love in a Carry-On Bag” inside the cozy confines of Cecil’s Jazz Club in West Orange.  Friends, family, supporters and fans mixed and mingled as jazz band, James Gibbs and Friends provided the perfect complement for Johnson’s debut. 

“Love in a Carry-On Bag,” is a soulful, gritty, sexy and realistic tale of what happens to love when ‘life happens.’ Main characters, Erica Shaw and Warren Prince, are dynamic, passionate and flawed individually — together their cataclysmic union, highlighted by weekend interludes, gets complicated when professional commitments, family drama and distance threaten to breach their bond.

“My husband, Glenn, and I started off in a long distance relationship. He was from D.C., living in Philly. I was from Philly, living in New York City and that served as the inspiration for the book,” Johnson shared as she addressed the crowd.  “I’m also inspired by jazz music and I love—love—love, Esperanza Spalding.  If I had to pick a soundtrack for this novel, it would be ‘Wild as the Wind’. 

During her remarks, Johnson recounted the 10-year journey from conception to creation of her inaugural tome which included marriage, a career as a public relations manager in the publishing industry and the decision to become a full-time stay-at-home mom to her three energetic children.  Nevertheless, the author remained committed to her craft and carved out time to write.  “I write because I have responsibilities,” said Johnson, “it’s my release.”

“It’s a blessing to see that her [Johnson] dream of completing her book is realized in spite of the challenges she faced along the way,” says Ginger Garrett, who purchased one of the advanced copies of the novel at the party.

The event also served to announce the formal launch of 12^th Street Press, a boutique publishing company specializing in unique voices, a co-venture between Johnson and husband Glenn. After numerous drafts and letters of rejection from editors and major publishing houses, it was husband, Glenn who broached the idea of the couple starting the firm.  

While “Love in a Carry-On Bag” is 12^th Street Press’ first publication, Glenn Johnson has big plans for the company.  “We are working to bring other African-American authors to the forefront. It is important for our stories to be told and we are best poised to ensure that. We don’t have to wait for someone else to give us their stamp of approval.”

"Love in a Carry-On Bag" will be released, March 6. Pre-orders are available on Amazon.com.  Johnson's next local event will be a book signing and discussion at the Hillside Public Library on March 10 from 2-4 p.m.