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Hello, I’m J. Ivanel Johnson, a Canadian author, poet, playwright and composer. I write cozy mystery fiction, stage comedy, and musical theatre, bringing humor, heart and a dash of mystery to every project. My recent works include the novels Just A STALE MATE (2023) and Just A STILL LIFE (2022) from Black Rose, and two one-act comedies The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room (2025). I led/co-created the musical Rough Notes, which was professionally workshoped with major support; I publish short fiction and articles in various journals and anthologies, and I contribute editorials to the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus newsletter.…Hello, I’m J. Ivanel Johnson, a Canadian author, poet, playwright and composer. I write cozy mystery fiction, stage comedy, and musical theatre, bringing humor, heart and a dash of mystery to every project. My recent works include the novels Just A STALE MATE (2023) and Just A STILL LIFE (2022) from Black Rose, and two one-act comedies The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room (2025). I led/co-created the musical Rough Notes, which was professionally workshoped with major support; I publish short fiction and articles in various journals and anthologies, and I contribute editorials to the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus newsletter.

J. Ivanel Johnson

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Hello, I’m J. Ivanel Johnson, a Canadian author, poet, playwright and composer. I write cozy mystery fiction, stage comedy, and musical theatre, bringing humor, heart and a dash of mystery to every project. My recent works include the novels Just A STALE MATE (2023) and Just A STILL LIFE (2022) from Black Rose, and two one-act comedies The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room (2025). I led/co-created the musical Rough Notes, which was professionally workshoped with major support; I publish short fiction and articles in various journals and anthologies, and I contribute editorials to the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus newsletter.…Hello, I’m J. Ivanel Johnson, a Canadian author, poet, playwright and composer. I write cozy mystery fiction, stage comedy, and musical theatre, bringing humor, heart and a dash of mystery to every project. My recent works include the novels Just A STALE MATE (2023) and Just A STILL LIFE (2022) from Black Rose, and two one-act comedies The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room (2025). I led/co-created the musical Rough Notes, which was professionally workshoped with major support; I publish short fiction and articles in various journals and anthologies, and I contribute editorials to the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus newsletter.

Available to hire

Hello, I’m J. Ivanel Johnson, a Canadian author, poet, playwright and composer. I write cozy mystery fiction, stage comedy, and musical theatre, bringing humor, heart and a dash of mystery to every project.

My recent works include the novels Just A STALE MATE (2023) and Just A STILL LIFE (2022) from Black Rose, and two one-act comedies The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room (2025). I led/co-created the musical Rough Notes, which was professionally workshoped with major support; I publish short fiction and articles in various journals and anthologies, and I contribute editorials to the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus newsletter.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Author/Playwright/Composer at Black Rose Publishers

June 1, 2023 - June 1, 2023

Publication of Just A STALE MATE (2023) by Black Rose; award recognition includes Mystery & Crime Maxy Award Runner-Up and a 5-Gold-Star Award (May 2023).

Author at Black Rose Publishers

September 1, 2022 - September 1, 2022

Publication of Just A STILL LIFE (2022) by Black Rose; featured on provincial Excellence NB website.

Composer/Playwright at Rough Notes (musical)

October 1, 2021 - October 1, 2022

Full-length two-act musical Rough Notes; Canada Council for the Arts grant of $20,000; workshop and presentation in Oct 2022; script/score available through PLEDGE and Pitch-it programs.

Playwright at The Pistol’s Report

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

One-act comedy The Pistol’s Report; included on Surefire List add'l; PLEDGE program access.

Playwright at A Tack Room

April 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025

One-act comedy-suspense A Tack Room; rehearsed readings in 2025 at Theatre Deli, London, UK; digital component via Passionworks Productions; festival exposure in Alabama International Fringe Festival.

Playwright at Unplanned Planet

June 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024

One-act eco-play Unplanned Planet; selected by KDC Theatre (London, UK) for New Works Festival.

Author at HowExpert Press

January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2020

Non-fiction How To Teach Drama To Kids (2013); hardcover release; re-released in hardcover 2020.

Poet/Writer at The Thema Literary Journal

June 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020

Poem 'Mr. McGarrity’s Hoe' published June 2020; nominated for PRIX AURORA Award (2020).

Author at Various Journals/Anthologies

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Short stories and flash fiction published in 2024 (e.g., 'The Hole of Horror' in 42 Stories Anthology) and other journals.

Composer / Lyricist for Rough Notes (Musical) at Second Wind Music Centre / Thornhill Theatre Space

October 1, 2022 - Present

Wrote the book, lyrics and music for Rough Notes; professionally workshopped in October 2022 with notable guests and politicians in the audience; project supported by a national grant.

Playwright, One-Act Dramas at Theatre Deli (London, UK)

April 1, 2025 - Present

The Pistol’s Report and A Tack Room selected for rehearsed readings (April 2025); filmed by Passionworks Productions; later featured at the Alabama International Fringe Festival (digital component) in September 2025.

Playwright, Eco-play at KDC Theatre, London, UK

June 1, 2024 - Present

Unplanned Planet selected for the New Works Festival (June 2024).

Editor (Guest Editor) at Playwrights Guild of Canada

October 1, 2025 - November 1, 2025

Guest editor – two editorials published in the Women’s Caucus newsletter (October and November 2025).