was born in Charleston, South Carolina to mother and father Ann and Horace Brown Jr. She has a brother, Horace Brown III, who is a music genius, a husband, Derrick Johnson, a web developer/designer and a beautiful and artistically talented daughter, CC. She traveled extensively at an early age and lived in Germany, Guam, 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 San Diego, California. An aspiring 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 minute. 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 latest books are outlined below and are available exclusively through Amazon, with the exception of Food for the Soul and Serpentine Tongue, which 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)
(2008-2018):
Hub Pages
Black Women Connect
Black in America
Our Legaci
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)
From 2015 to Present, Maryanne Johnson continues to self-publish books on Amazon in both e-book and print, to include the following genres:
- Adult
- African-American
- Children’s Books
♦ Broom Hilda Series
♦ Educational
♦ Holidays
♦ Morals - Cook Books
- Craft Books
- Feminist
- Fiction
- Journals
- Non Fiction
- Poetry
- Self-Improvement