Fort Washington woman publishes book

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005

Click here to enlarge this photo Lawrence Jackson, Jr.⁄The Gazette Fort Washington resident Valecia Johnson, thumbs through her revelation inspired book, ‘‘By His Grace My Journey Was Revealed,” as she prepares to record a CD of her reading the book during a recording session at the Spirit 101 Communications offices in Oxon Hill.

Johnson had never thought about being a writer before, but the Fort Washington resident had been through hard times throughout her life and was ‘‘now in a place where I could let this stuff go.” For her, that release came via the written word.

The next morning, she read over what she had written and immediately began to scour the Internet for publishing companies. ‘‘I just knew this was very special because it wasn’t characteristic of me,” she said.

Four months later her book, ‘‘By His Grace My Journey Was Revealed: Affirmations of a Soul in Recovery” was born. Johnson’s book was self-published through Trafford Publishing, a company based in British Columbia. Johnson said she looked to self-publish her book from the start because she wanted her material to be out as fast as possible. ‘‘As quick as it came to me was as quick as I wanted it out of my hands,” she said.

Growing up as the oldest child in an abusive household, Johnson said she often had to take on a parental with her two younger sisters. ‘‘I lived with quite a bit of tension and fear,” she said.

Johnson had her own daughter, Brandi, when she was 18 and subsequently became involved in a custody battle with her aunt and grandmother, who she said tried to take Brandi away from her.

‘‘That experience stayed with me for years in terms of my lack of trust for people,” said Johnson. She persevered nonetheless. Johnson went to nursing school and rose to the top of her field. In many ways, however, Johnson said she still felt ‘‘left in the darkness.” About four years ago, she changed her path when she went to massage therapy school and opened up her own business, Tranquil Journey Spa, shortly afterwards. However, Johnson said she still did not feel completely centered. Writing her book has changed that.

Johnson describes it as something of a catharsis, a way for her to shake the pressure she’s felt to live up to other’s expectations and live her life in her own way.

Since publishing it, she has been busy attending readings and signings, and is also recording her book to CD. The best part, she said, is the ability to touch others through her story. Johnson said she has been approached by many that have been inspired by her book.

‘‘The message is ‘you’re okay just the way you are,’” Johnson said. ‘‘Invest in yourself because when you’re happy with yourself everything you do exudes that happiness.”

E-mail Erin Henk at ehenk@gazette.net