Louise is a lifelong reader turned full-time writer.
Louise Claire Johnson is the bestselling author of
BEHIND THE RED DOOR, a biography-meets-memoir about Elizabeth Arden, the Canadian woman who pioneered the modern beauty industry. Her debut book was optioned by Lionsgate for development as a TV series.
She is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and completed her master’s degree at Harvard University. Louise studied and worked in Hong Kong, Switzerland, New York, and Boston before returning to Toronto.
Featured by Notable as a “WRITER TO WATCH,” her work has appeared in The Globe & Mail, Flare Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. She has garnered a loyal social media following of like-minded literati as creator and host of The Word Weaver Podcast, where she interviews authors and shares publishing tips and tricks of the trade. Louise has also been featured in bookish campaigns for brands such as Indigo, Kobo, Hoopla, and The Toronto Public Library.
Louise is a curious creature with an old soul who sends snail mail, collects typewriters, drinks too much coffee, and is (finally) fulfilling her dream of visiting every quirky bookshop and library on her literary bucket list.
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“The Art of Book Bathing”
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MY MISSION is to visit every quirky bookshop and library on my literary bucket list over the next 365 days. (As an author, the ‘ticking clock’ motif bodes well for me as I work best with a deadline).
MY GOAL is to inspire people to slow down, look around, and indulge in the art of “book bathing” (similar to the Japanese art of ‘forest bathing,’ it’s a term I’ve coined to describe the calming, almost therapeutic feeling of walking into a bookshop or library and getting lost amongst the stacks).
MY HOPE is to share the stories of authors, readers, librarians, and local independent booksellers who help keep the bibliophilic magic alive, while discovering the rich history, architecture, and aesthetic beauty of every hidden literary gem along the way.