Allan Johnson will discuss his new novel, The First Thing and the Last (2010, Plain View Press), an inspiring story of healing and redemption in the aftermath of domestic violence.  Part of what makes this novel compelling is what it took to overcome the publishing industry's resistance to bringing it into print.  Please join this interesting discussion of one of the most important issues facing women and families today.

Author Allan G. Johnson (www.agjohnson.us) has focused on issues of social inequality since receiving his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan in 1972. He first became involved in the issue of men's violence against women in 1977 as a volunteer at the Rape Crisis Service in Hartford. His research on sexual violence has brought him to the attention of legislative committees as well as the National Center for the Prevention of Rape.  He served on the board of the Connecticut Coalition against Domestic Violence, and he has taught courses on gender, race, and social class at the college level for 30 years.

Johnson’s nonfiction books have been translated into several languages and excerpted in numerous anthologies. The First Thing and the Last is his first novel. 

 “I think Johnson’s writing is remarkable and the story he tells is compulsively readable. I loved both Katherine and Lucy, and felt they were both brought completely and convincingly to life. Everyone admired the quality of the writing, and everyone agreed this is a novel that deserves to be published. I genuinely hope you find someone who is brave enough to take it on.”     --Senior editor of publisher who did NOT publish the book   

Click here to read the first chapter