CTJ’s InTouch Series: “Wholly Scripture: Confessions of a Wayfaring Reader”
In 2015, I decided to read the Bible from cover to cover for the first time. I did so believing I’d probably read most of the text over the course of my life in piecemeal form via personal devotionals, sermons, and Sunday school lessons. To my surprise, I discovered quite a few things in scripture that...
Sanctuary of the Cinema 2016-2017 Syllabus
Sanctuary of the Cinema, 2016-2017 Course Syllabus Instructor: Chad T. Johnston chad1978@gmail.com Twitter: @Saint_Upid All features begin at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kansas. FBC is an American Baptist congregation, and is based at 1330 Kasold Dr. Film screenings followed by group discussion. Food and drink are permitted, and occasionally...
Read CTJ/Saint Upid’s Writings
My Honorable Mention Essay in Belle and Sebastian’s “Write about Love” Contest chadthomasjohnston.com, January 12, 2011 The Star-Lassoer: An Interview with V2/Bella Union Artist Stephanie Dosen chadthomasjohnston.com, February 13, 2011 Music Review: Rubblebucket “Omega La La” Somewhere Over the Audio Rainbow, Prime Parents Club, July 8, 2011 Music Review: SPIN Magazine’s “Newermind: A...
“To Build a Throne”: My Essay on James Hampton
Read my latest piece, “To Build a Throne” (In Touch Magazine), which reflects on the work of African-American janitor James Hampton, who secretly built a 177-piece collection of throne-room furnishings for the return of Christ before his death in 1964. Photos courtesy of the Smithsonian. Excerpt: “If God chose to enter the world in the...
Marcia Epstein Interviews CTJ on LawrenceHits.com
In 2014, I realized that if God found it necessary to rest on the seventh day of creation—literal, figurative, or otherwise—I might do well to take a few deep breaths, too. That being said, last year I resolved to slay fewer word dragons, eased up on my overeager social media output, read more (I even finished Dune,...
“Nightmarriage”: Information, Critical Acclaim, Published Excerpts, Free Audiobook MP3s & More
Buy CTJ’s”Nightmarriage” NOW! Buy the Print Edition Here for $14.99 Buy the E-book Edition Here for $4.99 Buy the Color Edition Here for $34.99 Chad Thomas Johnston’s Nightmarriage is a whimsical memoir that explores the terrors of marriage and the perils of parenthood. Adapted from Johnston’s blog series of the same name, Nightmarriage proves that, when two people marry, their...
Book Review: Elizabeth Esther’s “Girl at the End of the World”
I read this book in two days. I never read anything in two days—not ever. I am a tortoise of a reader, trudging along the highway with innumerable hares haranguing me as they hurry past me. Most books take me weeks or months to mull over. As a writer, I am also pretty pokey. But...
CTJ Designs Jennifer Luitwieler’s “Seven Days in May” Book Cover
In February, I designed the cover of Jennifer Luitwieler’s new book, a novel titled Seven Days in May. Unfortunately, I did not draw the marvelous map of Tulsa that adorns the cover. That’s an authentic work from 1918. My biased review of the book is up at Amazon here. Buy the book, and follow Jennifer...
Denison Witmer Sings Evie to Sleep
I have been listening to Denison Witmer since I discovered his Safe Away album in 2001, which was a very lonely year for me. I was in graduate school, girlfriendless, and vocationally clueless. I soothed myself by listening to Safe Away and a few other albums I mention here in my essay, “The Flowering Dark,“...
JWB Interviews CTJ + Blurbs to Make You Buy “Nightmarriage”
JWB vs. CTJ: An Acronym Battle for the Ages Read author, editor, and English teacher Jeri Walker-Bickett’s interview with me! In it, I discuss Nightmarriage, eLectio Publishing, Danny Joe Gibson, IMAGE Journal, Anne Lamott, and many more people, places, and things. http://jeriwb.com/author-interview-chad-thomas-johnston-6764/#more-6764 Do me a solid: If you like the interview, share it on Facebook,...
“Nightmarriage” Announced as Finalist for “Shirley You Jest! Book Award”
I just received email notification that Nightmarriage is officially a finalist for the Los Angeles, California-based “Shirley You Jest! Book Awards!” Hooray! The judges of the contest write, “From his explanation of the title (no, it’s not about getting married at night) to his explanation of his wife’s lost phone (she’s a black hole), Nightmarriage...
“Nightmarriage” Notables, Part Deux
THE BOOK THAT WRITES STORIES OF ITS OWN Nightmarriage continues to spin its own stories. Consider Jennifer Jacobson of Fairview, Texas, whom I met via the Interweb. She ordered four copies: one for each of her children, and one for her parents. I inscribed them with my silver Sharpie, mailed them in my sci-fi-friendly silver...