HOME: Jeanne Burrows-Johnson
Author, Narrator, Motivational Speaker
Below you will find descriptions of the fiction and non-fiction I have authored and co-authored.
During most of my career, I have addressed the branding and marketing needs of individual entrepreneurs and executives serving profit and non-profit organizations. Today, most of my authorship embraces fiction and non-fiction projects centered on the Islands of Hawai`i where I lived for over two decades. Sometimes I also write informational and inspirational pieces which you'll find listed under the category of "Misc. Writings" on the drop down menu...
If you've came to this page from the ImaginingsWordpower.com website, you already know that I remain dedicated to helping entrepreneurs as well as authors and artists maximize their own abilities to communicate with the public. Regardless of the nature of your work or leisure time endeavors, I encourage you to drop in at that site to determine if there are ideas or tools that might enhance your professional or personal living. If you are looking for specific tips on authorship, I invite you to send me a message on the form at Contact Jeanne.
Yen for Murder
The 4th Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mystery
MEET NATALIE SEACHRIST
Natalie Seachrist is a semi-retired journalist living in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai`i. In this fourth story, she is expanding her writing career by reporting about the local food and entertainment scene. Living in the Lanikai cottage that was her Auntie's, she and her life partner, retired police detective Ke`oni Hewitt, are enjoying life near a beautiful white sands beach in windward O`ahu, until life intervenes in ways she could never have imagined...
Honolulu journalist Natalie Seachrist has had visions all of her life. Surprisingly, she experiences a vision of a Buddhist minister meditating at her altar. When a sharp sound crashes into her consciousness, Natalie watches as the serene woman falls to the floor suddenly. Later, while browsing through an antique auction brochure, Natalie and Keʻoni see a statue of the ancient Shākyamuni Buddha which Keʻoni realizes was stolen during the now cold case that haunted the end of his career with the Honolulu Police Department. Soon Keʻoni and Natalie find themselves diving into the realm of international auctions and estate sales. Aided by Miss Una, Natalie’s fleet-footed feline companion, surprising objects emerge from unexpected places. What prompted these crimes of murder and larceny? Was it the chance to acquire riches, or religious zeal at the thought of possessing such a rare religious artifact? Can the conjoined cases be solved, or will the scanty evidence simply be returned to HPD’s cold case files?
The First Three Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries
PROSPECT FOR MURDER [2016, 90,000 words]
2017 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards
Finalist, Mystery/Suspense; Winner, Cover Art
In exploring the vision of her grandniece’s death, semi-retired journalist Natalie Seachrist unveils the Shànghăi origins of the apartment complex owners and more than a little discord.
MURDER ON MOKULUA DRIVE [2018, 94,000 words]
2018 ARIZONA LITERARY EXCELLENCE CONTEST
2nd PLACE, Published Fiction
2018 NEW MEXICO/ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS
Winner, Cover Design-Fiction; Finalist, Mystery-Cozy
Natalie questions if the mystery of the garroting of a Jewish human rights activist lies in her transnational past...or among her seemingly innocuous companions.
MURDERS OF CONVEYANCE [2019, 99,000 words]
2019 NEW MEXICO/ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS
Winner, Fiction, Adventure-Drama; Finalist Cover Design-Fiction (6x9)
The First Annual New Year scavenger hunt during Honolulu's Chinese New Year celebrations leads to a clue to treasure as Natalie's visions solve two murders separated by sixty years.
A Future Project
Conversations with Auntie Carol
Auntie Caroline Kuliaikanuʻukapu Wilcox DeLima Farias was one of the first people to greet me when I moved to Honolulu, Hawai'i, in 1972. Alone, except for my cat, I had arrived to teach classes in the performing arts. Carol and her family welcomed me personally as well as professionally. You could not be in her presence without feeling inspired by the breath of Island living, for she was the embodiment of the Aloha Spirit.
I had no idea that two decades after our recorded conversations I would have the honor of helping to present her stories to the world. It has been an unexpected outgrowth of my graduate studies in history at the University of Hawaiʻi and my freelance work as a writer. Regardless of whether you will ever visit Hawaiʻi, you will feel you have taken an Island holiday when you read and/or listen to her stories of her childhood on Maui and growing into womanhood on the island of Oʻahu.
Oh, did I mention that she was dancing hula ʻawana in Waikiki on the night of Saturday December 6, 1941...Even if you have not loved history in the classroom, I believe you will enjoy hearing about a lifestyle that many people heartily embrace regardless of their own cultural heritage!
Earlier Published Work
The Joy of Collaborative Work
Under Sonoran Skies, Prose and Poetry from the High Desert is an anthology of fiction and non-fiction literature written and narrated by co-authors Bill Black, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson, Susan Cosby-Patton, Kay Lesh, the Reverend Patricia Noble (deceased), and Larry Sakin (deceased). Prior to launching the exciting Hawaiian mystery series, this anthology was recognized as one of the top 50 picks in 2012 by Southwest Books of the year. My contributions to this anthology included serving as co-art director, indexing the book's contents, contributing historical articles I had written on Tucson...and the original Prologue to Prospect for Murder.
Articles for Regional & International Publications
From healthcare issues to finance and non-profit organizational projects, I have authored and co-authored articles for publications such as The Rotarian; Broker World, and The Hawai'i Medical Journal [now the Hawaiʻi Journal of Medicine and Public Health.