I’m thankful to the city of Glendale and the Glendale Public Library for programs that facilitated wonderful relationships with other authors and made it possible for me to grow as a writer.”

Breana Johnson

A Glendale author was honored by the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Association’s annual fiction contest for pre-published authors.

Longtime resident Breana Johnson took home the first-place award in the romantic suspense category for her novel “Deadly Superstitions.”

The novel, which is set in Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness, follows reality survival show contestants who have been abandoned in the desert to hunt for the legendary Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. They must find the treasure to make it out of the wilderness alive.

While participating in the Glendale Public Library’s writer in residence program for the past three years, Johnson received mentorship from local authors Tina Radcliffe and Amy Nichols. She was also a part of a critique group hosted by the library.

Johnson works as a blog writer for a nonprofit and is on the editorial team for Arizona-based digital women’s magazine “She Might.” She is a graduate of Glendale’s Arizona Christian University.

Previous Genesis winners include Arizona authors Sara Ella, Lindsay Harrel, and Tari Faris, all of whom went on to sign contracts with publishers, according to a news release.

“I’m thankful to the city of Glendale and the Glendale Public Library for programs that facilitated wonderful relationships with other authors and made it possible for me to grow as a writer,” Johnson stated. “These programs gave me the opportunity to hold on to my dream of becoming an author.”