Housewife, Laura Wolfe, thinks she has the perfect marriage, until husband Spencer, gave her the silent treatment before leaving her for someone in NYC. This devastated her to the point of leaving her comfy home in Spook Hill Pennsylvania and taking train after train crisscrossing the countryside with her young daughter, Mia. The lonely sounds of train whistles and shaky rides woke her from many dreams, only to find a mysterious yellow rose in the seat next to her. Does she have to go through trials and tribulations to find something better and brighter around the bend? Did God's providence have someone waiting for her in the mountains? Will the Petals from the Past float into her future? Or does she find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the Blue Ridge Mountains?

Book 1 in the Cerulean Songs series. A fairytale for teens and adults. Time is all we have; it flows - it cannot stop. Following a diving accident, Jayne wakes up in hospital, paralysed. Depression sinks her as she battles to adjust mentally while her body fights to heal itself. One day a mysterious visitor gives Jayne a beautiful crystal with a shimmering blue mist at its heart, transporting her to an alternate world. With time ever evading her, Jayne must seek out creatures of legend and conquer a series of tasks in a bid to gain her heart's desire and find herself. Nickie Storey, author of the 'Grimsley Hollow' series: "A delicious brew of invention, enchantment and refreshing characters, Vickie Johnstone has a firm grasp on the fantasy genre. I can't wait to read more of her work " Greta Burroughs, author of the 'Wee People' series: "Strange worlds, interesting characters, suspense and a surprise ending - what more can you ask for? This book has it all and more." Jennifer Thomas: "A gripping and fascinating mythical adventure that is beautifully described. There is suspense, fear and emotion throughout the entire novel that makes you want to keep turning the page." A big thank you to Maja Drazic for the beautiful cover photograph.

This story is about a young man who, through no choice of his own, found himself hitchhiking. This is his story and the adventures he had along the way. It might not be quite what you expect

FAITH SPIRITUALITY RELIGION: INSPIRATIONAL Tension hovers between two siblings as they drive their Toyota Tundra toward Atlanta, to Calvary Chapel. Cassie feels great in her new lavender dress and Faith Hill Mist perfume, but her only passenger, Cody, makes the trip miserable. After speaking rudely earlier that morning to his sister, he can now no longer keep everything inside and breaks down. He explains his rudeness to her is due to loss of sleep because of his lack of assurance of being born again and that he was only playing the part of a hypocrite. Beautiful Cassie loves her brother and assures him to pray and everything will be fine. As they top a hill, helicopters circle the area below as smoke starts to fill the cab of the truck from a horrible multi-vehicle auto crash. As they drew near, help is only beginning to arrive and the two with other passersby go into action to help the victims. Working as a team, the siblings start to pull bodies out of a twenty-car pileup on the highway. The two fight soot tags from burning cars as they slide through puddles of blood, checking on men, women and children. Later that week the awful crash and bloodshed would have a lasting effect on the two children-what would it be?

A zombie novel set in London over six weeks in 2013, with a strong female lead character. It starts with a dream and then the nightmare takes over. It all begins on a summer's day with the media reporting with some hilarity that people are dreaming of the dead coming to life, but those who have dreamt them are convinced they are a warning of things to come. Marla takes it all with a pinch of salt until she experiences the nightmares herself. Cue paranoia and disbelief until reality shows its new face. All over London there are incidences of people becoming sick and aggressive. As the attacks mount, the media is forced to take the matter seriously, but what is causing it? Is it a virus, and is it natural or man-made, and is the government responsible? Marla, her sister, Ellen, and friend Tommy find themselves fighting for their survival as their sense of reality is smashed. Will the army and police maintain control or will the country find itself in lock down, isolated from the outside world? "Good character development, good descriptions...and friggin' scary... This book's strength lies in two areas: character development... and] the graphic descriptions of zombie attacks and their effects." - Stewart Bint. "I am pleased to say Vickie has written the novel I have been waiting for. I do not want to give the game away too much but will say there are no cop outs in this book which makes a change. Recommended." - AM Campbell Excerpt from the novel... the dream... "A sickening sense of dread ravages him as fear drifts over the surface of his skin like fingers, icy cold and unrelenting. He turns again and sprints towards the exit, his pace becoming increasingly slower as if something is pushing him back. Yet still he finds himself in the exact same position, his feet rooted to the spot, his arms sweeping, useless. His hair blows in the breath that the creature now turns on him, sickening in its putrid scent of death and putrefaction. There is not a word he can think of to describe this thing in front of him. Fear creeps, regardless. Twisting, crawling, the maggots swarm across its bloodied face as it opens its mouth wider. Something tears. The yawn seems to swallow him whole into this darkness of despair as a jagged, ripping pain overwhelms him; the sharp teeth chafing, gnawing at his neck, seeking to pierce the jugular vein within. From far off in the distance comes the ripple of laughter."

Ebook version published on July 28, 2012. Written for NaNoWriMo 2011 (writing a book in one month), this quirky comedy contains some romance, a touch of fantasy and a very opinionated dog. When nature lover Josie moves into a house share with two pals, dreamer Ben and model man David, she sees it as a short stop and doesn't bank on an attraction developing with one of them. Meanwhile, Ben's dog, Glen, has the hots for Miss Posh, the beautiful golden Labrador in the park. When dog meets dog it's puppy love, but a complication leads to Glen taking matters into his own paws. In this comedy of errors, romance and walkies, it's anyone's guess who is going to win the girl/dog and live happily ever after. Appropriate for readers over 16. This is not a children's book. "A humorous love story of a different kind, mostly seen through the eyes of Glen, the tail owner, and written with unusual wittiness and ability." (Annarita Guarnieri) "Oh my gosh this is a funny book. I hate to harp on the topic of how the dog made the story, but I think he did." (Ey Wade) "Laugh out loud funny." (Donna Brown) "Glen has now replaced Buck as my favorite doggie character in a novel. Ms. Johnstone's characters are all wonderfully developed and she does an amazing job giving doggie voice to Glen and Mimi." (PDX Author)

Ebook version published on March 19, 2011. A collection of 119 poems about people, life, philosophy, animals and nature. The poems are divided under eight theme chapters: figures; nature; abstracts; love; haiku; creatures; childhood and dark wave. "This poet loves playing with words and often the sound of the words seems more important than the meaning. Yet all the poems make perfect sense and are easy to understand. I liked the contrast between the light and dark poems and enjoyed reading about all the beauty we find in the world." (The Rebecca Review) "When a new poet gives evidence of a language as fresh as this then we can expect much more. And though the book is only poems long, it is gratefully full of imaginings and observings such as this, moments that make us pause long enough to look around and remember the magic. She seems to be less concerned with shocking her reader than with embracing - with all the talent she has to share. This is refreshingly talented writing." (Grady Harp) "Great poems, all beautifully and thoughtfully written." (AP) "This is a book of many poems, each broken up into 'chapters' or subjects, such as 'love' or 'nature' etc. Now, I will be honest & say I don't generally like poetry but I was given the opportunity to read this & as I enjoyed a previous book by this author I thought I would give them a chance. I went in with an open mind and I am so glad I did. Wow! This author writes beautiful words. I enjoyed each & every poem, I found myself turning page after page to read the next & the next. More of the same please! Such a talented writer." (Wistfulskimmie) "Thoughtful and evocative. Covers a wide range of topics and even makes the mundane daily commute interesting! Good to dip in and out of. I particularly like Pine Needles." (Carlyl)

An anthology of six stories, which will take you down a road of fear, excitement, confusion or suspense, each one ending with a twist. Will you guess the endings before you read them? One of my early readers kindly compared these stories to those of Edgar Allan Poe. As you can imagine, I was humbled by his words. The six stories: The House - newly weds take off on a trip, but stumble into an adventure of a different (or sexier) kind The Car Ride - a late-night drive in the rain turns to confusion and terror (or fear) for three friends The Camping Trip - a couple of hikers discover there's no smoke without fire in the forest The Night Out - Title - two lovers set on out a date, but fate takes an unexpected turn The Winery - a tour to take in the sights finds much more on the vine than grapes The Library - we enter the secret world of the avid reader

Ebook version published on June 4, 2012. Haiku with a modern twist. Old meets new in this collection of 316 haiku, composed in the traditional pattern of three lines with 5-7-5 syllables. Subjects include: nature, life, food, abstracts, animals, loss, love, hope, dreams and time.

Story originally published in The Gage Project book on April 19, 2012. Written for and dedicated to Gage Bailey. Detective Smarts of Crazy Name Town has a problem. Doctor Boring and his receptionist have been bumped off, and the only clues at the scene are some olives, tomatoes, mushrooms and sprinkles of oregano. With the townsfolk dropping like flies and strange figures stumbling down the streets, Officer Dewdrop has an idea. All royalties from this paperback will be donated to children's charities in the UK. If you enjoy this story, why not try The Gage Project collection of stories, jokes and verse for young readers. It is published by Inknbeans Press and is raising money for children's charities. It also contains more of my work too. Juvenile fiction aged 10+/YA/adult. "I really liked this story. It was funny and the author did a great job of making 'zombies' out of something most kids love: Pizza The names she used (Detective Smart) and the fact that a mystery was woven into a zombie book made it so much more fun. It will make you laugh, make you hungry, and make you want to read it again and again " (Gage Bailey, age 14) "Part zombie apocalypse and part young adult crime mystery and fully hysterical, this short work delivers many grins and chuckles as Detective Smart matches what passes for wits with a town of Pizza Zombies with limited vocabulary." (Ed Drury) "A really fun read for kids and kids at heart I really don't like zombies, but then who does? These were a taste (ok, pun intended) of zombies without the gore. Just right for tender hearts and chickens like me." (Linda Rae Blair) " The author has a wonderful sense of humour as shown by the character's names (Officer Dewdrop, Joe Mango, Bob Banana, Chief Egg), and the mystery involved (why are people turning into walking pizza zombies?). If you are in the mood for some silliness and need a good laugh, Day of the Living Pizza is the book for you." (Greta Burroughs) "I couldn't help it, I found myself laughing aloud many times as I read this story. The idea of someone running down the street screaming while a giant pizza man chased her was both funny and scary." (Ey Wade) " Vickie Johnstone will brighten your day with Day of the Living Pizza." (Gregory S Lamb)

Book six in the Kiwi Series, for kids aged 9 up, teens and adults. Do you believe in magic and things you cannot see? Fur, magic, thrills and comedy moments fill this fantasy adventure set over Christmas, involving a star, a fairy, a witch, a toad, some catizens and Santa himself. Amy, James and their magical cat, Kiwi, who can communicate with them, find a star. But this is not an ordinary star. He's living and breathing, and his name is Sharissimo. A year earlier, the star and a fairy called Lilabel were captured by an evil witch with a big wart on her nose. While Sharissimo managed to escape, Lilabel couldn't. Can Amy, James and Kiwi find the fairy before Christmas Eve and rescue her from the clutches of the witch? The witch herself is in for a shock when she finds herself in the furry land of Cat City. Set in the human world, Cat City and Santa's Grotto. This story can be read without having read the previous books in the series, because there are no plot strands. "Such a wonderfully vivid imagination Great Work " - Cynthia J Smith "Kiwi's Christmas Tail is a delightful book filled with magical adventures, and great teachable moments to entertain and delight your children. Great reading for the entire family. Again, the Kiwi series of adventures delivers magic and love. Very enjoyable." - Ed Drury "Vickie Johnstone has created a series that I really love. All of the Kiwi books are delightful to read. I purchased Kiwi's Christmas Tail as soon as it was released expecting another great story and I was not disappointed. Kids can learn through the experiences of the characters while enjoying a great story. My Christmas was made complete by reading this whimsical tale. It's a great story that kids from 9 to 99 will enjoy." - Lady Wings

Ebook version published on October 31, 2012. Book 2 in the Smarts & Dewdrop Series. After his previous oregano-sprinkled adventure, Detective Smarts is still finding it hard to look at a pizza, never mind eat one. But there is a new mind boggler to solve - who is the mysterious, dark figure causing the townsfolk's legs to go all wibbly wobbly? Smarts and sidekick Dewdrop are hot on the trail. Book 1 in the series is Day of the Living Pizza. For readers aged 10+. "Don't worry, Smarts & Dewdrop will persevere until they get to the bottom of the situation-and please readers with a happy ending (if those readers can stop laughing long enough, that is)." - Mallory Anne-Marie Haws "Humor and clever word play are the hilarious attributes Indie author Vickie Johnstone's readers will laugh out loud over when they read the novella Day of the Pesky Shadow. The setting for this story is Crazy Name Town, where every character has a name that made me chuckle while reading all about a shadow that didn't seem to be attached to a person. I simply couldn't stop reading until finding out how this story was going to end. There were pleasant surprises throughout, including the ending." - PDX Author "The names, places and plot are very silly, but then again, they are supposed to be. The book is written for young people with some good lessons on friendship intertwined throughout the story, but overall it is just a fun story for readers of any age. If you are in the mood for some silliness and need a good laugh, Day of the Pesky Shadow is the book for you." - Lady Wings

Ebook published on November 15, 2012. Book 5 in the Kiwi Series. Inspired by the film 'Back to the Future', Whiskers invents The Time-Squeaking Mouse. He plans to take his friends on a fantastic trip to celebrate Amy's thirteenth birthday. However, the time machine falls into the wrong hands and dastardly Dev travels back to Ancient Egypt when cats were sacred. With Dev having changed the path of history, it's up to Kiwi and the gang to travel back in time to find him. What will Kiwi, Amy, James, Whiskers, Hammy, Misty, Furrball and Siam think of this desert world of tombs, pyramids and sacred gods? "The characters in the story are so engaging that the reader can picture the action as he/she reads the story. If you haven't read the previous Kiwi books, you should. I recommend reading the series beginning with Kiwi in Cat City, so you get to know all the characters as they are introduced and the adventures they have together. I highly recommend this book for kids of all ages, 9 to 99." - Lady Wings "As a long time fan of the Kiwi series, I found this latest instalment to be perhaps the best so far. With each book, the adventures become more complex and imaginative as new characters are introduced, and old ones become integrated into the Kiwi world. The story is fast paced and entertaining as always. If you like the Kiwi series, this is a must have and if you haven't gotten hooked on the series as of yet, I highly recommend reading it in order. That said, this book reads well on its own and should provoke investigation into the previous works. It is, after all, a book about history." - Ed Drury

Ebook version published on August 31, 2012. In book four of the Kiwi Series, the wedding of Inspector Furrball and Madame Purrfect approaches. But, catastrophe, the ring is stolen from the Gem Shop A pawprint identifies Fyre Cracker as the thief, but he lives in the dark world of the UnderPaw beneath Cat City, which is inhabited by crimicats. It's up to the Kiwi Klub to find the ring. In the human world, the hamsters decide to stand up for their rights to better plastic wheels and an abundance of sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, the dastardly Dev shocks Kiwi with the news that he knows a big secret about her family - that her father, Delphinius, may still be alive The key is The Sculptor, who will lead Kiwi and friends on their biggest adventure yet - to the strange Isle of the Serpent where they will come face to face with their most dangerous adversary so far. "With this book, Kiwi takes a giant pounce forward as a literary treasure." - AE Drury Illustrations inside by Nikki McBroom. Furry fun for ages 9-99. "This is the fourth installment in the Kiwi series. For many reasons, I think it is the best one yet. First and foremost, it draws upon all the characters of the previous three books. In this respect it is a real treat for readers, like me, who have read the previous three books. All your favorite characters from the series are in this one. Including the enigmatic Dev, the lovable Inspector Furball, all the catizens from cat city and the fantastic characters from other realms. Rats, hamsters, squirrels oh my Secondly, we get to travel to yet another magical realm with many memorable characters and perhaps the most formidable and fearsome enemy the catizens have faced thus far in the series. Even though this makes for a epic ensemble of characters, for the readers of the series it is less about a huge cast and more about a rewarding continuation of what is turning into a saga of Kiwi's magical family, friends and enemies. Lots of action, mystery, and magic in this book. I sense a shift in the direction of this series. A shift from cute little standalone books to a fully coherent young adult epic. A saga with coherent underlying themes and meaningful character development complete with deeper back stories for the principal characters. I applaud the new direction. With this book, Kiwi takes a giant pounce forward as a literary treasure." - AE Drury "I am a big fan of all Vickie's books with the Kiwi series being my favorite. In book four, many of the characters from the other three Kiwi books take part in the new adventure. Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle is very well written and edited and is a delight to read." - Lady Wings "There is a small but hilarious diversion when Hammy and the other hamsters go out on a Freedom March, demanding better living conditions. I thought the reactions of people to talking animals was really appropriate, and seemed extremely real. As the name of the book suggests, the gang has to fight against a really powerful Serpent who of course, has extremely strong magic too. The gang is helped along the way by a number of small and large creatures. The big fight sequence in the end is a battle scene where all the creatures, big and small unite to fight against the powerful and tainted magic of the Serpent. I just have to say that I loved this adventure of Kiwi and the gang " - Ritesh Kala

Ebook version published on April 28, 2011. Book 4 was a finalist at the National Indie Excellence Awards 2013. Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? Kiwi in Cat City is the first book in a series, of which there are six fun adventures so far. Kiwi seems like a typical moggie, content to nap in the sun and chase shadows, but she has a secret. She is a magical cat from a place called Cat City. With her two humans, James and Amy, Kiwi finds mysteries and adventures, dealing with catnappings, jewel thieves, giant mice, time travel, haunted houses, Father Christmas, pyramids and more. The fun stories contain positive messages about loyalty, friendship, honesty, bullying and the power of standing together. Book 1 opens on one dark night. Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see her cat, Kiwi, transfixed by the moon, which is glowing brightly like a cat's claw. Waking her brother, James, Amy suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes... whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to magically change the children into kittens and lead them on the adventure of their lives to a land they never knew existed in their wildest dreams. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, the budding detectives help Inspector Furrball to investigate the mysterious catnapping of Mr Katz and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect. The books contain illustrations by Nikki McBroom. Furry fun for ages 9-99. "This book is beautifully written, with a great poetic prologue, and heaps of action, intrigue and fun. Ms Johnstone's vivid imagination does her a great deal of credit. This is a great book for all ages." - Amelia Curzon "Very well written fantasy about an alternate reality for cats... where a suspenseful mystery story unfolds. The details of this world are amazing, but equally impressive are the details of the characters which are brought to life vividly by the author. I found myself laughing aloud." - Ed Drury "I really liked that Kiwi was a cat-agent. Amy and James (people) follow their cat into a separate cat world. Inside that world, Amy and James - or Ames and Jimster as they are known in the cat world - find that their cat Kiwi is a cat-agent, and she's on a case where there are missing catizens (cat citizens - teehee) and Amy and James have to find the cat-napper. This book was very good. I would recommend this to kids ages nine and up or even adults to read to their kids at night. The ending was great! It's fun and always keeps you on the edge of your seat." - Alynn, age 12 "Johnstone is a wonderful writer, able to weave a magical tale. Her pace and timing is perfect." - Donna Brown "Yes, this is a children's book, but don't let that fool you into believing that it is any less entertaining for adults! I hung on every word of this fantastic little novel. Vickie has a terrific imagination and truly amazing talent in putting her vision into words." - Cassie/Gathering Leaves "This book is pure delight - the author has such a great imagination and her ability to captivate an audience is second to none." - Sue Palmer "All of the ingredients for involving youngsters in the love of reading are here." - Grady Harp "I love the way the author describes people getting used to the body of the cat and laughed hysterically even more during the whole adventure." - Lana Lee "This is such a cute, delightful story... The elaborate settings, exquisite details, and sophisticated characters are matched only by the wit and ingenuity of the author. The little miss Em just started reading it and, halfway in, she's just as engrossed as I was." - Megan Broutian "This first book of the Kiwi series is a jewel and a complement to the writing skills and imagination of a brilliant young author." - Paul M Schofield

Ebook version published on July 4, 2011. James and Amy embark on their second exciting adventure with their little black cat, Kiwi, which will take them to the Land of Giant Mice in search of the missing Magic. The trio return to Cat City to help their friends and meet some new characters along the way, including the Worry Bee, Whiskers and Moggie. Can James and Amy help Kiwi save the day? More importantly, will James' pet hamster, Hammy, find his true calling in life? Illustrations inside by Nikki McBroom. Furry fun for ages 9-99. "Kiwi is [as] fun to read as ever! If you are following Kiwi Series closely, you can certainly find the same funny and witty story here, with a bonus, of course. Vickie has included other animals and they account for the clever plot of this sequel. It's not complicated though, but sure you are going to be served with a few surprises. Eeek Fu! My mouth is sealed." - Helmy Kusuma "Vickie Johnstone is a born storyteller and has the talent to keep her series fresh with new adventures while maintaining the usual cast of characters - and adding new ones to bring on the magic. In her second book she introduces some well designed wisdom about traits all children should learn and this is a major plus to the further growth of the series." - Grady Harp "Cat City seems even more fun the second time they visit. Vickie Johnstone really has a great imagination, and creates a cozy world for cats and a underground kingdom of giant mice who plan on invading Cat City. Is there enough time to prevent the attack and what is Kiwi going to do about it? This book has lots of surprises, a unique plot and captivating characters." - Rebecca Johnson "The second book in Vickie Johnstone's 'Kiwi' series is just as engaging as the first. I truly enjoyed the way the author makes an imaginary tale come to life. Kiwi, the cat, the two children, James and Amy, along with a pet hamster and a mouse, [have to] prevent Cat City from being destroyed. The Kiwi series is intended for kids, but grown-ups such as myself will love the book as well. I highly recommend the whole series." - Lady Wings "Kiwi's gang is back in full force! Vickie has again created a huge fun filled adventure for us to follow, and I loved every bit of it. I hope that the series continues to produce such magical tales for a long, long time." - Ritesh Kala

Ebook version published on October 9, 2011. In book 3 of the Kiwi Series, Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet - on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some familiar characters and some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless ghost that will do anything to stop them leaving. Meanwhile, Inspector Furrball and Siam discover the human world, and some surprising news. Illustrations inside by Nikki McBroom. Furry fun for ages 9-99. "Kiwi and the kids have a dream of another cat crying out for help and discover that the haunted house where the stranded cat is at can only be entered on All Hallow's Eve. 'Living Nightmare' has just the right amount of scary bits along with humour to make it a very enjoyable read for kids of all ages." - Lady Wings "Johnstone has a way with the interaction of children and animals that provides a healthy partnership. She writes lyrically and keeps her stories moving along at a rapid pace... we can only hope for more." - Grady Harp "I really loved the scene where the catizens get to ride on the bus. These scenes had me laughing out loud. This may be a somewhat scary story, but the adventure and the fun does not diminish one bit. And fear not, as with all good stories, the 'good' side wins in the end (this is after all children's book and not high fantasy where authors relish in killing off one of their main characters). Finally, I have to say that parents now do not need to compromise and read the 'juvenile' books meant for kids as here is an option which would be interesting for the kids as well as their parents. I may be an adult, but I still read each of Vickie's stories with bated breath and expectation of new twists and newer characters in every book." - Ritesh Kala