We had the good fortune of connecting with Tenita Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tenita, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
After being unemployed from corporate America for three years, with only small contract jobs along the way, I realized I had to use what was in my hands. I had to use what I had in “my house” at the time. I had a Bachelor of Journalism and I’d picked up a keen eye for detail in the J-School. I loved both writing and editing almost equally. So I decided to solely start a business where I offered proofreading and editorial services for books for self-publishing authors.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets So It Is Written apart from other indie publishers is we have the wheelhouse to complete many collateral and complementary pieces an author will need to succeed in the industry, including, but not limited to: speaker one sheets, press releases, full author websites, professional author bios, synopses and more. Our purpose isn’t just to publish a book; it’s to publish a piece of excellence that one can use to open even greater doors of opportunity. It took me 12 years to hit six figures in my business, and it didn’t happen until I hired a million-dollar mastermind coach, Darnyelle Jervey Harmon. More than anything, I want the world to know that words have power. We can literally transform the very world we live in with our words. Be careful how you use them.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to The Riverwalk downtown Detroit and take a short shopping and casino trip to Canada just across the border. We would dine at both J Alexander’s and Sweet Potato Sensations, a black-owned staple in the heart of the city. We would drive around Belle Isle and through St. Clair Shores to see the beautiful mansions. We would see a show at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe downtown and shop at some custom boutiques on Broadway.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Having been in business for more than 13 years now, I’ve had many mentors over the years who have helped shape who I am in the industry and my literary success. Many of my early speaking engagements and clientele came from mentors such as Sylvia Hubbard, Venus Mason Thues and Pam Perry. The Motown Writers Network and the Aspiring Writers Association of America also played key roles in shaping who I am as an author and editor. As I expanded my service offerings of the company, both Valerie J. Lewis Coleman and Cynthia L. Hatcher trained me personally to professionally publish not just my own books, but quality books for others. No man is an island. I don’t believe we’re meant to do life alone, so I surely won’t try to do business alone.
Website: www.soitiswritten.net
Instagram: @TenitaBestseller
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tenitajohnson/
Twitter: @TenitaJEditor
Facebook: Tenita Bestseller Johnson or So It Is Written
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU2DWyWHo2Qcrv5aTwkl8Yw
Image Credits
Tyrone Holmes