Abigail Johnson – författare

'Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for . . . a delightfully uplifting story' – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely PeopleWhen an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other's only hope of getting their lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong?Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the straight and narrow.After Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore.Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn't want to throw any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company.What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships.An uplifting and warm story about friendship across generations, the power of community and finding hope where it had been lost. Perfect for fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories and Evie Woods's The Lost Bookshop.'A complete joy' – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up'Full of compassion, warmth and insight' – Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us***Readers LOVE The Secret Collector:'If there was a moral to this story I think it would be, "It only takes one person who believes in you to change your life"''The characters appear so real, and the story with its ups and downs kept me riveted. I couldn't put the book down until the very last page. A book of hope in difficult times''My favourite book of the last few years''Made me so emotional at times''A great book club book''I loved this book, it reminded me of Sally Page''Heartwarming''Cried nearly every chapter, so moving''Charming!'

'Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for . . . a delightfully uplifting story' – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely PeopleWhen an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other's only hope of getting their lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong?Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the straight and narrow.After Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore.Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn't want to throw any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company.What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships.An uplifting and warm story about friendship across generations, the power of community and finding hope where it had been lost. Perfect for fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories and Evie Woods's The Lost Bookshop.'A complete joy' – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up'Full of compassion, warmth and insight' – Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us***Readers LOVE The Secret Collector:'If there was a moral to this story I think it would be, "It only takes one person who believes in you to change your life"''The characters appear so real, and the story with its ups and downs kept me riveted. I couldn't put the book down until the very last page. A book of hope in difficult times''My favourite book of the last few years''Made me so emotional at times''A great book club book''I loved this book, it reminded me of Sally Page''Heartwarming''Cried nearly every chapter, so moving''Charming!'

Full of warmth and joyful community, this is the uplifting story of one woman’s journey towards letting go of the past and creating memories worth holding on to . . .‘I adored this heartwarming tale’ – Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library'Full of charm' - Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont'An uplifting read - heartwarming and full of hope' - Neil Alexander, author of The Lost Past of Billy McQueenIt's never too late to start a new chapter . . .Meet Gracie. At mid-life, she’s fed up with her unhappy marriage and humdrum career. So when a new housing estate threatens to sever her last connection to her late father – the oak tree he planted as a child – she decides to take a stand. Only Gracie has never stood up to anyone.When Gracie’s five-year-old neighbour, Tilly, unexpectedly bounds into her life, she shows Gracie that you shouldn’t always take no for an answer. Despite long-buried family secrets being revealed and conflicts taking root, Gracie begins to think that this could be the beginning of a new chapter – one in which she finally discovers her inner strength and realizes that even in the face of loss, there is hope.'Warm and tender . . . this book had me smiling, crying and cheering' - Jay McKenzie, author of How to Lose the Lottery ‘Very real and heartwarming . . . I loved it’ – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something‘Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for’ – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely PeopleReaders LOVE Abigail Johnson:‘It’s not often that a book can make me cry, but this one definitely did’‘Both heart-wrenching and happy, a rollercoaster of emotions’‘Very moving’‘Heartwarming with some genius touches of humour’‘Really made you feel like you knew the characters. Loved it’‘The best book I have read for ages’

Full of warmth and joyful community, this is the uplifting story of one woman’s journey towards letting go of the past and creating memories worth holding on to . . .‘I adored this heartwarming tale’ – Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library'Full of charm' - Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont'An uplifting read - heartwarming and full of hope' - Neil Alexander, author of The Lost Past of Billy McQueenIt's never too late to start a new chapter . . .Meet Gracie. At mid-life, she’s fed up with her unhappy marriage and humdrum career. So when a new housing estate threatens to sever her last connection to her late father – the oak tree he planted as a child – she decides to take a stand. Only Gracie has never stood up to anyone.When Gracie’s five-year-old neighbour, Tilly, unexpectedly bounds into her life, she shows Gracie that you shouldn’t always take no for an answer. Despite long-buried family secrets being revealed and conflicts taking root, Gracie begins to think that this could be the beginning of a new chapter – one in which she finally discovers her inner strength and realizes that even in the face of loss, there is hope.'Warm and tender . . . this book had me smiling, crying and cheering' - Jay McKenzie, author of How to Lose the Lottery ‘Very real and heartwarming . . . I loved it’ – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something‘Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for’ – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely PeopleReaders LOVE Abigail Johnson:‘It’s not often that a book can make me cry, but this one definitely did’‘Both heart-wrenching and happy, a rollercoaster of emotions’‘Very moving’‘Heartwarming with some genius touches of humour’‘Really made you feel like you knew the characters. Loved it’‘The best book I have read for ages’

A charming and emotional standalone grumpy/sunshine romance set during a Nantucket summer, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenna Evans Welch! Lili Gardner hasn’t been back to Nantucket, her dad’s favorite place, since her parents divorced six years ago. But Dad passed away recently, leaving her a house on the island and an unsolved mystery about a maligned Gardner ancestor. Lili is determined to finish his life’s work, and convinces her mom and sister to spend the summer in Nantucket with her while she looks for answers, and for a connection to her dad.Wren McCleave has a passion for history, but his father refuses to showcase anything real in their tourist trap of a “museum.” So when Lili asks Wren for help with her research, Wren can’t resist the opportunity to throw himself into something real, even if he dislikes tourists on principle.Lili and Wren only have a summer to find out the truth about Lili’s ancestor. But the most surprising truths they uncover aren’t about the distant past, but about themselves right here in the present, and about what they want out of the future."Summertime fun meets idyllic Nantucket meets a centuries-old mystery. Abigail Johnson skillfully crafts a fun, romantic story that gets at the tough and tender questions of life: how to honor our past, how to let go, how to apologize, and when to open your heart to love again."—Claire Forrest, award-winning author of Where You See Yourself"A perfect summer romance! A mystery, a grumpy but loveable hero, and some falling in love? What more could you want? As with everything Johnson writes, I adored this one."—Kasie West, author of Better Than Revenge"A summer vacation, a history lesson and above all an absolutely charming romance, If You Were Here had us savoring every page and never wanting to leave Lili and Wren’s Nantucket. With a warm, inimitable voice, Johnson weaves a little mystery and an abundance of heart into an original, perfectly joyful summer love story."—Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of The Roughest Draft and If I’m Being Honest"Part mystery, part love story, all heart—Abigail Johnson has mined an absolute gem of a book. If You Were Here reminded me why I fell in love with YA romance in the first place."— Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Abigail Johnson draws a searing and lyrical portrait of grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that blooms in the aftermath.Eight years ago, Ethan and Rebecca met, two troublemaking kids sharing secrets and first kisses in a tree house, until Ethan’s mom returned to take him away. Each and every visit, his only goodbye was a flower on Rebecca’s windowsill. Four years ago, Ethan left for the last time to take care of his mother, who has struggled with addiction his whole life.Two years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that killed her father. She’s been learning to navigate life as a wheelchair user ever since.Now, they discover if their hardships have torn them apart…or will bring them closer than ever.

Some things are easy to fix…but are some meant to stay broken? When sixteen-year-old Jill Whitaker's mom walks out—with a sticky note as a goodbye – only Jill knows the real reason she's gone. But how can she tell her father? Jill can hardly believe the truth herself. Suddenly, the girl who likes to fix things – cars, relationships, romances, people – is all broken up. It used to be that her best friend/secret crush, Sean Addison, could make her smile in seconds. But not anymore. They don't even talk.With nothing making sense, Jill tries to pick up the pieces of her life. When a new guy moves in next door – intense, seriously cute, but with scars that he thinks don't show – Jill finds herself trying to make things better for Daniel. But over one long, hot Arizona summer, she realises she can't fix anyone's life until she fixes her own. And she knows just where to start…

Don't miss the second gripping and heartfelt story from the author of If I Fix You! A girl's plan to find her father's birth family turns potentially devastating when the secret DNA test she has done reveals that she has a half brother her age she never knew about. Dana Fields's father never knew his parents. When Dana secretly does a DNA test for her dad, hoping to find him some distant relatives for his birthday, her entire world implodes. Instead of a few third cousins, Dana discovers a half brother her age whose very existence means her parents' happy marriage is a lie.Dana's desire to know her half brother, Brandon, and the extent of her dad's deception, clashes with her wish not to destroy her family. When she sees the opportunity to get to know Brandon through his cousin, the intense yet kind Chase, she takes it. But the more she finds out about Brandon, her father's past and the irresistible guy who'll never forgive her if he discovers the truth, the more she sees the inevitable fallout from her own lies. With her family crumbling around her, Dana must own up to her actions and find a way to heal the breach–for everyone–before they're torn apart for good.

"Two teenagers from broken families find solace in one another''s company" in this "heart-wrenching and hopeful" YA romance novel (Kirkus Reviews).When Adam Moynihan''s oldest brother died, his life fell apart around him. Now his mom cries constantly, he and his remaining brother can''t talk without fighting, and the father he always admired moved out when they needed him most.Jolene Timber is used to being a pawn in her divorced parents'' war. But when she develops an unlikely friendship with a boy who spends every other weekend in the same apartment building that she does, suddenly the future seems less bleak.Can the boy who thinks forgiveness makes him weak and the girl who thinks love is for fools find something real together? They''ll find out . . . every other weekend.

Untangling the day-to-day issues in our multifaceted lives can seem daunting. Time to sit quietly and reflect is rare. If we are fortunate, we have good friends or close family members with whom to talk things through and find clarity, but many times we feel isolated and lonely. As people of faith, we add another layer to our reflections when we wonder where God fits into our lives. In a broad sense, theological reflection happens any time that we wonder about God, our faith, our beliefs, and our values. In this book, however, Abigail Johnson offers a structured process for engaging in theological reflection by looking at a situation or event through a series of questions. These questions are designed to help individuals and small groups think through situations with the eyes of faith. Johnson provides detailed instructions for group facilitators, making this book a valuable resource for any theological reflection leader. She demonstrates how theological reflection will enrich the faith life of the individual and increase group members'' sense of belonging to God and to the whole people of God. She also shows how small groups engaging in theological reflection affects the ongoing life of a congregation-particularly in the community''s worship and the members'' practice of spiritual disciplines.

Supervision--the shaping of spiritual leaders--occurs formally and informally in many aspects of congregational life. Every year, thousands of pastors supervise field education students and interns; staff members and lay leaders often supervise committee members or other staff; clergy and lay leaders supervise each other as a way to offer support and establish accountability. While supervision enhances the work of all concerned, it is rarely explicitly addressed in congregations. For over fifteen years, Abigail Johnson has supervised and trained others to supervise candidates for ordination within the United Church of Canada. Recognizing that supervision is as important in the formation of lay leaders as in the life of candidates for ordination, she has developed this book to guide all who supervise others in a congregation. Johnson views supervision as a ministry and shows how leaders can use their own innate gifts to enhance their supervision skills. By shaping the supervision relationship based on the gifts of the people involved as well as the context in which the relationship occurs, supervision can become an opportunity for mutual growth and learning that strengthens all other areas of ministry. This book provides a hands-on approach to supervision, addressing key areas such as identifying a learning focus, covenanting, managing conflict, understanding and using power and authority, offering and receiving feedback and evaluation, and celebrating and ending the supervisory relationship. Supervisors who pay attention to these and other key areas will help those they supervise develop their gifts for ministry in all forms.

Freundschaft ist keine Option. Liebe erst recht nicht.»Dieser fesselnde, emotionale Roman spinnt ein faszinierendes Geflecht aus Geheimnissen und Lügen und zeigt, was mit einer Familie passiert, wenn das Undenkbare zur knallharten Realität wird. Ein echter Pageturner!« – BooklistVor einem Jahr brach die Welt von Brooke zusammen, als ihr geliebter älterer Bruder den Mord an seinem besten Freund Calvin gestand. Brooke und ihre Familie wurden zu Ausgestoßenen, von allen gemieden, und unfähig einander zu trösten. Brookes einziger Trost bleibt das Eiskunstlaufen. Doch als sie Calvins jüngerem Bruder Heath begegnet, ändert sich alles. Brooke braucht jemanden zum Reden … und Heath auch. Nur sie können nachvollziehen, wie es sich anfühlt. Ihr Bruder: lebendig, aber weggesperrt. Sein Bruder: tot, aber allgegenwärtig. Bald treffen sie sich heimlich und neben seiner Wut und ihrer Schuld beginnen sie Gefühle füreinander zu entwickeln, mit denen beide nicht gerechnet haben …- Hochwertig veredelt mit gestalteter umliegender Schmuckklappe- Enthaltene Tropes: Forbidden Romance, Slow Burn, Secret Love, Enemies to Lovers, Found Family, Healing