https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/about daily 0.75 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/415d7984-ab4e-4047-b639-2cabf1c0e588/Seated+on+Sofa_2.jpg About A getaway in the Cotswolds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg About https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/reviews daily 0.75 2025-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/03a6e156-a41f-4d2d-aca7-37146619b6bf/Seated+with+Book_3.jpg Reviews - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Reviews https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/on-writing-fiction daily 0.75 2025-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/5088510d-9cc5-491f-b4de-1d57996066b7/Seated+on+Sofa_2.jpg On Writing Fiction - On writing fiction—a personal note I’ve spent a career stringing words and sentences together and thinking about how to present ideas cogently. My professional public policy writing demanded clarity, fact-checking, and above all, even-handedness. I hope that work has been useful. You can find out more about it in the nonfiction section of this site. My first novel, The Queen’s Musician, will be published by SparkPress and distributed by Simon & Schuster in spring, 2025. It tells the story of Mark Smeaton, a young musician who was executed as a lover of Anne Boleyn. According to historical sources, he was popular and successful, prominent enough to receive gifts from Henry VIII. He confessed to adultery with the queen, a confession that was almost certainly coerced. He was beheaded on May 17, 1536 along with four other men facing similar charges. Beyond these few facts, little is known about Mark Smeaton’s life—what he thought, what he dreamed of, what he feared. My novel invents his story. I came to writing fiction late in the game. Compared to my nonfiction work, I find it a different, but seductive endeavor. It offers a chance to construct a world and live within it while you build it. You can create characters and come to know and love them. And compared to my professional work in public policy and public opinion, it offers one incomparable joy—you get to make stuff up. Stephen King advises authors to “write what they like,” an exhilarating departure from the shopworn “write what you know.” A music lover, I’ve centered much of my fiction on the world of classical music and filled my books with musicians and music teachers. The Queen’s Musician’s protagonist is “a player of instruments and composer of song” at a time of glorious musical invention in England and across the continent. I am now working on a second novel titled The Twisted Curtain. Its characters include a charismatic conductor, a teacher who counsels performers with stage fright, and a gifted cellist. Personally, I read all manner of books, but when I want to escape, I turn to mysteries or historical fiction. You’ll find elements of each genre in my novels. You can also read about some of my favorite books and authors in my blog, Historical Magic. My own addition to King’s advice would be to create at least a few characters you truly admire. For me, that means people who listen and learn and strive to build honorable lives. It means those who pick up the pieces while others complain and moan. You can read samples from my fiction here. And stay tuned. When the books are published, I hope you’ll let me know what you think about them. https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Contact https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/fiction daily 0.75 2025-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/3e671615-cb8d-4711-b446-90333493d0f3/THE+QUEEN%27S+MUSICIAN_Cover+with+Quote_FINAL.jpg Novels and Stories “Original and worthwhile . . . A thoughtful, dramatically gripping work of historical fiction.” — Kirkus Reviews "Superb writing and soulful characterization . . . The Queen’s Musician offers a gripping tale for Tudor fans and newcomers alike." — Open Letters Review “Little is known about Mark Smeaton beyond his tragic fate. Yet Johnson imbues him with depth and dignity, transforming a historical footnote into a fully realized character whose story lingers long after the final page.” — BookLIfe “The journey is hopeful, bittersweet, and utterly heartbreaking. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Tudor history or anyone who, like me, enjoys being completely destroyed by a story.” — Historical Novel Review ABOUT THE NOVEL A glamorous queen, a volatile king, a gifted musician concealing a forbidden romance. Everyone knows Anne Boleyn’s story. No one knows Mark Smeaton’s. On May 17, 1536, a young court musician was executed, accused of adultery and treason with the queen. Most historians believe both he and Anne Boleyn were innocent—victims of Henry VIII’s rage. Mark Smeaton was a talented performer who rose from poverty to become a royal favorite. He played for the king in private and entertained at sumptuous feasts. He witnessed Anne Boleyn’s astonishing rise and fall—her reign of a thousand days. History tells us little about him, other than noting his confession and execution. The Queen’s Musician imagines his story, as seen from his perspective and that of the young woman who loves him. It all takes place amid the spectacle and danger of the Tudor court. Published by SparkPress. Distributed to the trade by Simon & Schuster. Now available where books are sold. More Reviews and Comments “In the terrifying free fall of Queen Anne Boleyn . . . innocent men will be condemned. . . . Beautifully written and impossible to put down. I had tears in my eyes.” — Stephanie Cowell. American Book Award Winner, author of The Boy in the Rain and Claude & Camille “In one of the most savage moments in history . . . a heartfelt and thoughtful tale of the fragility of love. Very highly recommended.” — Readers’ Favorite, FIVE STARS "A captivating and deeply moving retelling of Anne Boleyn’s dramatic fall . . . This beautifully written novel brings history to life with such emotional depth that it brought me to tears." — Claire Ridgway, author of The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown “The background research necessary to weave together fact and fiction has been extremely well done . . . The scene-setting was excellent.” — Whispering Stories FIVE STARS “Usually, tales are told from Anne’s perspective, or even from Henry VIII[’s], but here we get a true view of the matters at court . . . The story soars in representing the emotions and foibles of the royals from the outside, building suspense towards the inevitable betrayal and fall.” — Readers Lane “In this compelling novel, Johnson has used Mark Smeaton, a musician in the court of Henry VIII, to show readers how difficult it was to keep one’s head attached to one’s shoulders in the Tudor era . . . She knows this period and makes it live.” — Albert A. Bell, Jr., author of the Cases from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger mysteries “With lyrical yet unadorned prose, Johnson interweaves the voices of Mark Smeaton and Madge Shelton, pulling you in till the final moment. A poignant read.” —Jude Berman, author of The Vow and The Die “Haven’t we heard enough about Henry and his wives? Not really! The Queen’s Musician gives us a fresh look . . . as two fascinating minor historical characters emerge onto center stage in a tragic love story. —John Immerwahr, author of After Monte Cristo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/1613563163582-3UMQQELW5FBKVZP1W901/Brilliance+and+Mediocrity_shutterstock_166836944+%284%29.jpg Novels and Stories - Flash Fiction— Brilliance & Mediocrity To most people, Jack is a brilliant composer and conductor, a winner of prestigious awards. But to his wife, he is a liar and a loser. Which of them will survive? https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/home daily 1.0 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/b66f77ed-aaf6-4f12-b656-8768e9fe13ac/kirkus_review+copy.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/the-queens-musician daily 0.75 2024-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/7af1c684-9f42-4b35-9c2d-95412d1928cc/Lute_441892717.jpg The Queen's Musician - The Queen’s Musician by Martha Jean Johnson Anne Boleyn’s story has intrigued readers, moviegoers, and theater audiences worldwide, but she didn’t rise and fall in isolation. On May 17, 1536—two days before her execution—five men were beheaded, all convicted of being her lovers. The Queen’s Musician tells the untold tale of one of these men, seen from his own perspective. Mark Smeaton is a brilliant young musician in Henry' VIII’s glittering Tudor court. Mark is gifted and hard-working but lowly-born. He scrambles to succeed in a world where birth and rank determine all. His musical talent brings him into the king’s service where he meets Madge Shelton, Anne Boleyn’s younger cousin. Both Mark and Madge are perceptive, kind-hearted, and passionately drawn to each other, but love between them is forbidden. One is the child of a carpenter; the other is a Boleyn. In the end, Anne Boleyn’s glamour, ambition, and sudden ruin entrap them both. In the novel, Mark and Madge speak to the reader. Each observes Anne Boleyn’s extraordinary ascent and precipitous fall from grace. They witness Henry VIII’s mounting rage and the charm and recklessness of the other men who will die with Mark. They seek beauty and meaning in life, perhaps with each other. As star-crossed lovers, they both face bewildering twists of fate. Novelists have chronicled the lives of many historical figures of this era: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, Sir Thomas Cromwell, and others. Although Mark Smeaton has been a minor character in some of these works, I do not know of any other novelist who has focused explicitly on his story. In my rendering, he is an individual with hopes and dreams of his own. He witnesses earth-shaking events from a never-before-told perspective. He faces impossible choices that few of us could ever comprehend. Madge Shelton adds another distinctive viewpoint—she is at her cousin’s side during Anne Boleyn’s most confounding private moments. You can read more about The Queen’s Musician in KIrkus Reviews and Readers’ Favorite. Please visit Simon & Schuster if you would like to pre-order for May 2025. https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/nonfiction daily 0.75 2025-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/1607452848176-65M046H591IH5GHFOJRW/nonfiction_books.jpg Nonfiction - Nonfiction Books For thirty years, starting in the early 1980s, I was a full-time staff member at Public Agenda, a nonprofit organization focusing on public opinion and public policy. During my time there, I learned something new every day—about major political and policy issues and about the values, hopes, and fears of the American people. I worked with a group of gifted researchers, writers, and organizers, all committed to enhancing democracy and the public’s role in shaping America’s future. Between 2005 and 2012, I co-authored three books with my witty and brilliant Public Agenda colleague, Scott Bittle. Each offered the typical voter a “guided tour” to a complex, controversial issue—the federal debt, energy, and jobs and joblessness. Most statistics and some facts in these books are out-of-date, but sadly, the gist of each remains the same. The U.S. still hasn’t addressed its potentially crushing debt, its over-reliance on fossil fuels, and the precarious economic existence of many workers. Most of the tough decisions outlined in this series from HarperCollins still lie before us. You Can’t Do It Alone, published in 2012, is my plea to public education leaders to involve teachers, parents, students, and communities in reshaping the nation’s schools. Again, while many specifics have changed since the book’s publication, the questions it raises are still unanswered. In far too many instances, teachers and parents are shunted to the sidelines while “experts” and politicians determine what happens in classrooms. The book includes an introduction by my mentor and boss, Daniel Yankelovich. Along with Lou Harris and George Gallup, Dan was a founder of opinion research in the U.S. and one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever known. https://www.marthajeanjohnson.com/brilliance-and-mediocrity daily 0.75 2025-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fb2ba3dc672cc3c6ce90234/1613562891796-2CAMN1FC15LH8GLFBJKJ/Brilliance+and+Mediocrity_shutterstock_166836944+%283%29.jpg Brilliance and Mediocrity - Brilliance and Mediocrity by Martha Jean Johnson The icy wind eats into his flesh as Jack searches for his keys. He glances at his hands, wondering where he left his gloves. If his fingers are raw tomorrow, he’ll feel it at the piano. It must be close to 3:00 a.m. If he could just find his keys and sneak inside, Carlotta might not hear. He wouldn’t have to go upstairs and listen to her whine about his drinking. He could stretch out on the sofa, close his eyes, and pretend he got home hours ago. He just happened to doze off there. But she sees right through his creeping and slinking around. Now she’s wise to his ploys. To everyone else, Jack Purcell is a brilliant conductor and aspiring composer, international prizes to his name. He has a fellowship at a famous university, enough to live on and time to work on his music. Other musicians envy him. But to his wife, he is a loser. They barely make ends meet. He’s dragged her down to this grubby, humdrum life. This is not what she expected. Their fights are worse now. Hostility is their daily bread. They snarl and snap and then swear and scream. The disgust in her eyes startles him. “Do you take this woman?” A country judge read the vows, and even then, Jack felt trapped. Summer at Tanglewood, a pretty music student flirting, seduction simple in the mellow evening air. But he had no thoughts of marriage then. Shostakovich and Brahms filled his head. After a brief enchantment, she got pregnant and berated him to marry her. Was it an accident like she said, or did she lie about being on the pill? He listened while she called her girlfriends, chirping: “He’s a conductor and composer. We met at Tanglewood. How romantic is that?” Sometimes, he summons up his first impression of her—radiant, dewy, so willing and eager for sex. But his love (if that’s what it was) shriveled before it took root. Hers for him evaporated not long after. Now they live on a lonely road off campus where the rent is cheap and neighbors park used cars and pick-ups on their lawns. She cares for the baby, and he flees to the university, coming home as late as feasible, the smell of Jameson’s on his breath. This morning was the same old same-old. ‘So when will you be home?” “Um . . . I’m not sure.” “It’s common courtesy to let me know . . . or maybe you think you don’t have to . . .” He quickly assembled a plan to be out for the day. “Sorry . . . You don’t need to cook. I’ll grab something on campus. I’ll probably have rehearsals pretty late.” As her fury filled the room, he reached for his coat and patted his pockets to be sure he had his keys and phone. “You’re not even a good liar,” she had sneered while he put on his hat and gloves. “And you’re pathetic as a father.” Encased like a mummy against the snow and wind, he was elated when he closed the door. Today’s dreary domestic spat was in the past. He could spend the rest of the day with his music. But now his breath mists the subzero darkness, and he can’t find his keys. He checks his pants pockets, back and front. He unzips various compartments in his parka, over and over again. Did he lose them in the Uber or leave them at the bar? He grabs at the door jamb. He’s a little dizzy, it’s true. Sometimes his brain seems to float upward, threatening to escape through the top of his skull. He should cut back on the booze . . . and look into the cost of divorcing her. But for now, he has no choice. He rings the doorbell and waits. He rings again—probably a half-a-dozen times. He leans into the buzzer, so it sounds for nearly a minute. As tears of anger collect in the corners of his eyes, he pounds the door with his fists. Why doesn’t she hear? He’ll call her, he thinks, reaching into his pocket. She keeps her phone on the bedside table. But where is his? Did he leave it wherever he left his keys? When did he see it last? The cold invades his muscles and organs. His strength oozes out of his arms and legs. He’ll rest and then try to get in through a window. Take a minute and sit on the steps. Let the blood flow into your head. Isn’t it strange how seductive sleep can be? As if his eyelids had a will of their own. He shakes his head back and forth and lifts and drops his shoulders: Keep your eyes open. Inhale and exhale. Try rubbing your hands together. He slips to the ground—the snow refreshing, not painful—and rests his head on his outstretched arm. Gazing up, he sees Carlotta watching from the second floor. She doesn’t seem angry, he’s relieved to find, but why doesn’t she come down and unlock the door? In his last moments, he grasps the truth, the entire span of it, opening up inside his mind. He is the brilliant musician, and she is a mediocrity. 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