Tenita Johnson of Rochester, MI on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tenita Johnson. Check out our conversation below.

Tenita, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m definitely walking a path God strategically designed just for me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Transforming pain into purpose is a gift that authorpreneur, speaker and book coach, Tenita “Bestseller” Johnson gives to everyone she encounters. She is a warrior of words with a fierce passion for guiding authors to expand their brand by showing them how to earn multiple streams of income from just ONE book. As the author of 25 books, seven of which have been Amazon bestsellers, she is living proof that sharing your story leads to your destiny.
Familiar with rising from numerous fires and coming out unscathed, Tenita has triumphed over suicidal thoughts, depression, low self-esteem, marital storms and blended family woes. She has also endured miscarriages and the still birth of twins just the day after she married her husband. Each of these tragedies has added indelible layers to her resilience. With more than 25 years in journalism, writing and editing, she has a knack for creating narratives that are authentic and raw, yet endearingly relatable. She is a vessel with the ability to change lives and impact the world, thus she is known as the proud “book bully,” who relentlessly urges others to, “Write the book and get paid for the pain!”
When Tenita speaks, people listen with their ears as well as their hearts and souls because her transparency transcends pretense. She is a bold beacon of hope who inspires others to seek their highest peak. One of her proudest and defining moments was her appearance on Kirk Franklin’s Praise Sirius XM channel for her book, HUSH.
As the founder and CEO of So It Is Written, she has helped hundreds of authors birth their books in record time. The company excels as a one-stop shop for the complete book process from conception to completion. The editorial guru successfully helps people to pen books that will boost their brand, accelerate their paydays and bust open doors of endless opportunities. So It Is Written received The Sunrise Pinnacle Award for Diversity Company of the Year from the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been nominated for several awards for the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond her books, her versatility shines in multiple areas, including her role as the executive producer of the hit stage play, When the Smoke Clears, which was based on her book, When the Smoke Clears: A Phoenix Rises. The play ran in 2017, 2018 and 2024 to sold-out audiences in downtown Detroit at the Boll YMCA Theatre. In addition, Tenita serves as a board member and ambassador for the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
Tenita’s passion for delivering bestselling books is matched only by her devotion to helping women and men heal from the trauma and baggage of sexual abuse. Her anthology, HUSH: Breaking the Cycle of Silence Around Sexual Abuse, features both men and women who lost their innocence and identity to sexual abuse. She is a huge advocate and mouthpiece for those who have been sexually abused as she empowers them to release their pain instead of suffering in silence.
Her future plans include producing her short film What Happens in This House and completing the script for her full feature film When the Smoke Clears. As a catalyst for positive change, she is a woman who has learned to live an intentional life of purpose while unapologetically fulfilling her God-driven assignments.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I was a mistake. An oops. That there was no room for me and that I had no purpose. Today I know I am chosen and divinely purposed by God.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that your parents may not have planned you, but God has a perfect plan for you. You are chosen. You are loved. You have great purpose and great gifts. Don’t ever dim your shine to please others! Shine brighter!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I fought long and hard to get here, so I value authenticity and truth. I try to be open, honest and authentic on all fronts, in all rooms, at all tables.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop wasting time on social media or things that won’t produce any fruit to prove to the world I’ve been here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tenitajohnson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenitabestseller/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tenitajohnson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenitaBestseller
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tenitajohnson8523