Maryanne Johnson (M.D. Johnson) was born in South Carolina to mother and father Ann and Horace Brown. She has a brother, Horace Brown III, who is a music genius. Her husband, Derrick Johnson, is a web developer/designer and she has a beautiful and artistically talented daughter, CC. She traveled extensively at an early age and lived in Germany and Guam. She toured Paris, France; Venice, Italy; London, England; Switzerland; Singapore; Phuket, Thailand; Dubai & the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain; and Cairns, Australia. She considers San Antonio, Texas home, but currently resides in Houston, TX. An African-American author, poet and playwright, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English with a minor in Communications from Prairie View A & M University and her Masters of Management degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix. In her works she’s honest, liberated, passionate and controversial. Poets who have inspired her include Amari Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Kahlil Gibran, Tupac Shakur, Saul Williams, Black Ice, Alice Walker and her former college instructor Ntozake Shange.
She has been writing poetry since the age of 11. She attributes the discovery of her talent to her 7th grade African-American English teacher of Coke R. Stevenson Middle School, Mr. Evans. Having grown up in the suburbs, upper-middle class, the percentage of African-Americans in her community was minimal. She believes her talents may have been easily disregarded and overlooked due to her minority status and cultural diversity, had it not been for her teacher taking notice and interest. Since, she has had her works published in several school and university based pamphlets and newspapers, including: Young Author’s Conference: “Raindrops”, 1990; Wellspring Literary Magazine: Honorable Mention, “Run Free, Child, Run,” 1993; 2nd Place: “Strong Shades of Soul,” 1994; Honorable Mention: “Ashes to Ashes,” 1995; Fields of Gold: The National Library of Poetry, “Daddy’s Little Girl,” 1996; The Panther: Prairie View A&M University Newspaper (2 Poems), “Souljah,” “In More Than Words,” 1998-1999; Evolution of the Butterfly: Four-Sep Publications/Lockout Press, 2002.
Her first book is entitled “Serpentine Tongue”, a book of 11 books of poetry, plays, collages and sketches. She is an ambassador and activist for the upliftment of African American women through literature and the African American community. Her works encompass the concepts of black history, the perils of love, spirituality, sexuality, and so much more. Her books Food for the Soul and Serpentine Tongue are available through: www.authorhouse.com, Barnes and Noble and www.Amazon.com.
Young Author’s Conference. “Raindrops.” (1990).
Wellspring Literary Magazine:
Honorable Mention. “Run Free, Child, Run.” (1993).
2nd Place. “Strong Shades of Soul.” (1994).
Honorable Mention. “Ashes to Ashes.”(1995).
The Panther. Prairie View A&M University Newspaper (2 Poems):
“Souljah.”
“In More Than Words.” (1998-1999).
Evolution of the Butterfly: Four-Sep Publications/Lockout Press, (2002).
Serpentine Tongue. (2005). (Available: Author House, Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
Food for the Soul. (2008). (Available: Author House, Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
She also has featured poems in the following books, as she has a tremendous love for animals and nature:
Lost Tower Publications:
Hope Springs a Turtle: Messages of Hope from Around the World!; “Turtle Haikus” page 13, (2013)
Purrfect Poetry; “Cat Haiku” page 19, (2014)
Between 2015 to 2023, she has since published over 100 books via Kindle Amazon; however after being cancelled on Amazon for reasons she is still unaware of, out of the blue, other than violating Amazon’s policies somehow, she is now publishing her works elsewhere to include: YouTube, Pay Hip, Barnes & Noble, Teespring & TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers).
Her best takeaways from the experience:
- The comeback is always greater then the setback.
- Never put all your eggs in one basket!
- Her favorite Mexican Proverb: “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”
She is looking forward to the next chapter of her life, where she can push her works further & excel on her own!
You can select the images above to view or purchase books. Please see STORE for all other publications available at this time. More to come in the future. All her children’s books are available and still in the process of being uploaded on YouTube: Maryanne’s Bookshelf
Also check out TPT – Maryanne’s Bookshelf for exclusive educational and entertainment freebies for your children!