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Tim Johnston

Goodreads Author

Born

Iowa City, IA

Website

http://www.timjohnston.net

Twitter

TJohnstonWriter

Genre

Fiction, Suspense, Crime

Member Since

November 2009

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Tim Johnston is the author of the novels THE CURRENT and DESCENT, the story collection IRISH GIRL, and the YA novel NEVER SO GREEN. A New York Times, USA Today, and Indie national bestseller, Descent has been published internationally and optioned for film. The stories of Irish Girl won an O. Henry Prize, the New Letters Award for Writers, and the Gival Press Short Story Award, while the collection itself won the 2009 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. In 2005 the title story, “Irish Girl,” was included in the David Sedaris anthology of favorites, Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules. Tim’s stories have also appeared in New England Review, New Letters, The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, Double Take, Best Life Magazine, ...more

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Combine Editions
Tim Johnston’s books

Average rating: 3.64 · 40,536 ratings · 5,193 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	Descent 3.61 avg rating — 23,354 ratings — published 2015 — 35 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules by David Sedaris (Editor), Richard Yates (Contributor), Dorothy Parker (Contributor) 3.70 avg rating — 8,820 ratings — published 2005 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Current 3.63 avg rating — 8,056 ratings — published 2019 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Distant Sons 3.96 avg rating — 1,173 ratings — published 2023 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Irish Girl: Stories 3.88 avg rating — 311 ratings — published 2009 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Never So Green 3.83 avg rating — 127 ratings — published 2002 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Paint League: The First Four Chapters 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Become an Influencer: Influence Unleashed: Influence Unleashed: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Successful Social Media Influencer 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Emma's Dreamland 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dark Matters 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Tim Johnston…

21 posts
Tim Johnston's Blog: Assorted Bookly Tidings

DISTANT SONS drops TODAY!

Thrilled to be launching another book at legendary hometown indie bookstore PRAIRIE LIGHTS tonight! Get the deets here: https://www.prairielights.com/live/ti...

View more on Tim Johnston's website »

4 likes · Like • 6 comments • flag

Published on October 17, 2023 05:25

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Tim’s Recent Updates

Tim Johnston answered Brandis's question: No question; just so thankful to have discovered your writing. Since reading The Descent, I’ve been hooked. You write beautifully, poetically yet not pretentiously. (I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be moved by a description of someone peeling potatoes, but you’ve done it in Distant Sons). You engage the senses; you convey a realness and often a quiet sadness in your characters. The effect is powerful. Thank you!? Thank you for this thoughtful commentary, Brandis. It's so gratifying to hear from a reader that I've done what I set out to do!
Jul 12, 2024 12:08PM · 4 likes · like
Tim Johnston answered Harriett Gillham's question: Just finished Distant Sons.. and just wanted to tell you how much I liked the book. I love your detail, your characterization, and the way you convey setting. I have put your other books on my to read list. Thank you for sharing your writing. Were you ever a carpenter? So glad you enjoyed DS, Harriett, & thank you for letting me know! And yes, carpentry was how I supported myself, & the writing, for a good 25 years. Cheers & hope you enjoy the other books too!!
May 26, 2024 06:36AM · 2 likes · like
Tim Johnston made a comment on DISTANT SONS drops TODAY! " "The elasticity of storytelling..." I like that a lot, Lynn. So glad you found the book & that you found the work of these men captivating. Thank you ...more "
Nov 06, 2023 07:02PM · see blog post
Tim Johnston made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — This book is not mine, please move it (part 16) topic " Hello, I've got two books showing up on my author's page that are not mine: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... and https://www.goodreads.com/book/s ...more "
Sep 12, 2023 07:11PM
Tim Johnston and 19 other people liked Drew McCoy's review of Distant Sons: "Johnston writes the perfect literary thriller, crime drama. Just enough plot, just enough pacing to keep the pages turning but his prose, good lord, the man can flat write, and I didn't want this one to end. Third book in and he keeps getting better " Read more of this review »
Sep 12, 2023 06:40PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Distant Sons by Tim Johnston. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Distant Sons by Tim Johnston <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tim Johnston made a comment on Distant Sons [not so distant] " Gordon wrote: "Thanks for the tip ☺️ I’ll put it on my list !!" [Here's a little known fact about Distant Sons, just between us: it features a characte ...more "
Apr 22, 2023 07:01PM · see blog post
Tim Johnston made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Also not my book topic " Just noticed there's a 2nd book appearing on my dashboard that is not mine: Getting Off The Nickel by Tim Johnston Appreciate the removal of it. Thanks! ...more "
Apr 15, 2023 09:16AM
Tim Johnston made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — not my book topic " Howdy. Looking for help in removing this book from my author's page, since it is not mine: Society-on-Demand by Tim Johnston Thanks! ...more "
Apr 14, 2023 05:06AM
Tim Johnston joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
Apr 14, 2023 05:05AM · like

More of Tim's books…

Quotes by Tim Johnston (?)

“Long after everyone else has given up and gone home and gotten on with their lives, he would keep on believing because, without evidence, you could never kill his belief.”
― Tim Johnston, Descent

4 likes

“Did the mind break down or did it simply correct? Vectoring away from pain?”
― Tim Johnston, Descent

2 likes

“Here is a hilarious, surprising, tender, always genuine tale of American youth in the crosshairs of the new century--a battle of growing pains culminating in a bloody headlock with nature, family, machismo, activism, and love. CB Murphy has written a terrific and timely novel which speeds by and ends, like youth itself, far too quickly.”
― Tim Johnston

2 likes

See all Tim Johnston's quotes »

Polls

June Side Read Nominations ~ 1st Poll
Top 5 Books Move onto Final Poll

Nothing to See Here

by Kevin Wilson

6 votes, 17.6%

The Girl from Widow Hills

by Megan Miranda

6 votes, 17.6%

Carnegie's Maid

by Marie Benedict

5 votes, 14.7%

Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters

by Jennifer Chiaverini

5 votes, 14.7%

Daughter of Moloka'i

by Alan Brennert

3 votes, 8.8%

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

by James McBride

3 votes, 8.8%

Oona Out of Order

by Margarita Montimore

3 votes, 8.8%

The Current

by Tim Johnston

2 votes, 5.9%

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

by Tahereh Mafi

1 vote, 2.9%

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

by Phaedra Patrick

0 votes, 0.0%

34 total votes

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