The person behind the coaching — and the books
I'm Kevin T. Johns. Writing Coach, Author, Nuts-and-Bolts Guy.
Here's who I am, the books I've written using the same framework I teach, and the books my clients have written using it too.
Who I Am
My background, how I became a writing coach, and what The Machinery of Fiction actually is.
Books I’ve Written
Novels, craft books, and a couple of things that don’t fit either category. All built on the same framework I teach.
Books My Clients Have Written
Real books, published by real clients, using this coaching.
Who I Am
I’m a writing coach, editor, and author who helps genre fiction writers finish and market their novels. I’m not a mindset coach — I’m a nuts-and-bolts one. I teach the architecture behind commercial novels: what decisions to make, in what order, and why. I call it the Machinery of Fiction, and it’s the same framework behind everything on this page — my own books included.
I have a Master’s degree in English from Carleton University, but the honest version of my origin story isn’t the degree — it’s the years of writing my own books, coaching hundreds of other writers through theirs, and paying close attention to what actually gets a manuscript from “good idea” to “finished, published book.” That’s where the framework came from. Not a classroom.
I host The Writing Coach Podcast, founded The Writer’s Craft Summit, and live in Ottawa, Canada.
Books I've Written
Everything below was written using the same framework I coach. If you want proof the Machinery of Fiction actually produces finished books, this is it.
Fiction
BloodThe Page Turners, Book 1
Three misfits in a dying small town read a spell from an ancient book of magic — and drag a killer vampire straight out of the pages of fiction and into their lives. Dark YA fantasy for the kid who found more truth in genre fiction than in anything the real world had to offer.
Get it on Amazon ↗
Economy of FearThe Page Turners, Book 2
The Page Turners stopped one monster. They didn't know they'd opened a door. Darker, larger, and more dangerous than what came before.
Get it on Amazon ↗
Fantastic RealmsThe Page Turners, Book 3
The epic conclusion to The Page Turners trilogy — a dark, emotional fantasy about growing up, the magic that saves us, and the painful truth that some friends must be left behind.
Get it on Amazon ↗
M School
After her best friend is murdered, seventeen-year-old Lilith Delaney learns the killing wasn't random — and enrolls in M School, a secret underwater assassin academy where survival is graded and failure is punished. For the first time in her life, she fits in. But as her skills sharpen and the missions grow bloodier, she realizes the school isn't training heroes — it's manufacturing weapons.
"Take a big scoop of James Bond, add a dollop of Hunger Games and another of Ender's Game, toss in a dash of Buffy and a sprinkle of the Harry Potter universe. That's M School." — Amazon reader review
Get it on Amazon ↗Craft Library — The Writer's Foundation
Smash Fear and Write Like a Pro
The mindset prerequisite — how to push past the inner critic, the imposter, and the comparison trap so you can actually finish what you start.
Get it on Amazon ↗
The Novel Writer's BlueprintFive Steps to Writing Your First Books
The five-step framework that turns a vague idea into a planned, structured book — the conceptual ground floor of the Machinery of Fiction.
Get it on Amazon ↗
The Science (and Magic) of Writing Retreats
How to use focused retreat time — even at home — to break through plateaus and accomplish in two days what nibble-sized writing sessions can't.
Get the free ebook ↗
Novel AdviceMotivation, Inspiration, and Creative Writing Tips
Every tip, lesson, and reframe I've shared with hundreds of coaching clients, in one place.
Get it on Amazon ↗Want all four craft books in one bundle? Get the Writer's Foundation Library →
For Fun (Because Not Everything Has to Be a Thriller)
Rocket Princess vs. Snaggletooth the DragonPicture Book
A rebellious children's picture book about the Kingdom of Rocketdonia, its laws pertaining to jetpacks, and the princess who has to face down a dragon. Written to entertain Kevin's three daughters — and to prove that beginning/middle/end story structure works at every level, down to a picture book.
Get it on Amazon ↗
The Frustrated Writer's Colouring Book
A colouring book for every writer who's ever wanted to scream into a throw pillow over their draft. Equal parts self-care tool and inside joke for anyone who's lived the writing-frustration spiral.
Get the Colouring Book ↗
Rocket Princess and the Princess Rocket SquadPicture Book
The sequel to Rocket Princess vs. Snaggletooth the Dragon — when Rocket Princess is captured by Bug-a-Borg, a giant evil robot bug, a scrappy new squad of young heroes has to step up and save her. Written for anyone who's ever been the little sibling, or dreamed of being the hero.
Get it on Amazon ↗Books My Clients Have Written
Every one of these started the same way most manuscripts do — stalled, stuck, or not sure where to begin. Here's where they ended up.
Carl BlackburnThe Children of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Came in with a completed draft; left with a polished, published historical fiction novel. Proof this isn't only for beginners.
"Not everyone I work with comes to me at the beginning of the project."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Sandy DayOdd Mom Out & Where the Night Winds Wail
Odd Mom Out went on to 100+ Amazon reviews; Where the Night Winds Wail — her third published book — landed top 10 in psychological literary fiction alongside Margaret Atwood.
"I've never written a novel so fast or with so much support."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Sherilyn DecterThe Promise Trilogy
A debut historical fiction series built with the help of Kevin's beta-reader network and a Barbados writing retreat along the way.
"Powerful coaching that felt fresh and practical. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and plenty of practical takeaways."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Linda GarnettRed Falls
Hit #7 on Amazon in cult suspense at launch — her first finished manuscript after 12 years of unfinished NaNoWriMo attempts.
"I wasn't even going to publish it. I just wanted to say I could write a book."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Michael GinsbergDebt Bomb
A Stanford/Harvard-educated national security attorney's first thriller — endorsed by NYT bestselling author Chris DeRose.
"A deftly crafted thriller that kept me turning pages." — Chris DeRose
Get it on Amazon ↗
Lorraine JohnstonThe Call to Witchery
Started as a journal entry during a difficult time in 2016 — grew into a published witch-arc fantasy novel, with Kevin's coaching getting the manuscript all the way to the editing stage.
"I joined an online group, and eventually found my way to you — and you helped straighten me out when it came to the craft."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Anne KaneAce (Riptide MC 1): A Riptide MC Romance
The pantser-to-plotter conversion story — came to Story Plan Intensive a committed discovery writer who'd hit a wall she couldn't name, and turned that instinct into a published Riptide MC romance.
"I was a pantser. Now I am a plotter. This course changed my writing life."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Susan LeonIf They'd Only Known
A box of handwritten scenes, collected over decades, turned into a finished crime novel three years after taking Kevin's story-planning course.
"I did your First Draft and Final Draft programs, and I'm sure you would have liked me to do a little more editing. But you know what? At my age, I've got to get it out there."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Michael LeonardPilgrims
Zero fiction background, an MIT/business career, and a finished novel.
"You gave me, like, a PhD in writing."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Val RiesChief Inspiration Officer
150+ five-star Amazon reviews, after other programs left her with "a giant mess of brilliant ideas and no way to organize them."
"Val pulls from her own experiences to inspire us to become better leaders." — Charlene Li, NYT bestselling author
Get it on Amazon ↗
J.E. SheasbyShared Sentience
Spent nearly a decade building an ambitious seven-book sci-fi series — working one book at a time with Kevin to keep a sprawling, multi-POV saga on track.
"Actually, the hardest time is when I have a book in with you, because I can't move on to the next book in the series."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Margot StornelliThe Big Red Suitcase
Completed The Big Red Suitcase with individualized coaching support at every stage of the writing process.
"Kevin is an excellent coach and teacher responding to everyone's individual concerns at every stage of the writing process."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Jena WildeStorm Warning
Turned scattered writing time into consistent daily progress on Storm Warning.
"Kevin's guidance helped me find hours I didn't know I had — and reminded me that writing isn't about inspiration, it's about consistency. A must-read if you're serious about finishing your book."
Get it on Amazon ↗
Phil WrayThe Pontcourt Murders
A first-time novelist who pivoted from a cancelled business during Covid into a full mystery series.
"The materials, community, and accountability greatly accelerated my writing process."
Get it on Amazon ↗Ready to Write Your Own?
Whether you're starting from nothing or you've got a draft that isn't quite working, there's a program built for where you are.
© Copyright Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc. 2026
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