“Chad Thomas Johnston is a veritable wit storm of storytelling, self-effacing humor, pop-cultural literacy, and spiritual wisdom, all whipped up into a funnel cloud of brilliance that leaves my world spun happily upside-down.”
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—Tania Runyan, Pushcart-nominated author of poetry collections What Will Soon Take Place, Second Sky, A Thousand Vessels, and more, as well as How to Read a Poem and How to Write a Poem
"Chad is a jack-of-all-trades writer, hungry to learn, willing to adapt, and delivers quality in each piece he produces. I've been privileged to work with Chad close to 7 years as an agency creative in need of a variety of web pages, blog articles, and social posts. He is also a very skilled editor, and a creative author with his personal writing. He is thoughtful, kind, inquisitive, and has exceptional communication—everything you would want in reliable freelance talent! I would always recommend him to anyone looking for an all-around wonderful experience working with a skilled writer."​
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— Allison Barnhart, Art Director / Design Strategist & Content Specialist at OneTable Strategy and author of The Record Keeper: The Unfolding of a Family Secret in the Age of Genetic Genealogy
"'Nightmarriage,' 'Abra-Chad-Abra,' 'Honeymoonwalking' . . . If I had a dime for every winning pun on the trials and triumphs of early marriage and parenthood that Chad Thomas Johnston has to offer in his debut (Nightmarriage), I still might only come out with a dollar (now that I consider the actual math). But what a dollar it would be—rarer than a silver one, and in its own right a golden one. With it, I can go a long way toward paying off the renovations of the heart, ‘a home under construction,’ as Johnston describes it with his other recurring literary device—or rather, the lack of one: honest-to-goodness thanks for the persistence of grace."
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—Bradford Winters, Writer for HBO's Oz, FX’s The Americans, Netflix's The Sinner, Starz's Boss, and EPIX's Berlin Station
​"I enthusiastically recommend Chad as an outstanding writer who consistently exceeds expectations and proves to be an invaluable asset to our team. His commitment to delivering high-quality work on time, coupled with a keen attention to detail, sets him apart. Chad's proactive approach, deep understanding of the subject matter, and openness to feedback reflect his professionalism and commitment to continuous improvement. He not only embodies our agency's values but actively contributes to upholding them in his day-to-day work. Chad is an ideal team member, combining exceptional skills with a collaborative spirit."
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—Jessica Angeles, Managing Director at OneTable Strategy
“No one writing today can sling language around like Chad Thomas Johnston. Like the knives on the book's (Nightmarriage) cover, his words slice through common places, coming out clean and sharp. And always pointed: the brilliant wordplay serves the purpose of dazzling insight.”
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—Peggy Rosenthal, Author of Knit One, Purl a Prayer: A Spirituality of Knitting and co-author of Reclaiming Beauty for the Good of the World:Muslim & Christian Creativity as Moral Power
"Chad is a responsive, adaptable, reliable, and skilled content writer who can take on a wide variety of clients and assignments. He is an excellent communicator and a true treasure of a human being. I highly recommend him!"
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—Sarah M. Wells, Former Director of Content Marketing at OneTable Strategy, Freelancer, and Author of Ordinary Time: Meditations from the In-Between and American Honey: A Field Guide to Resisting Temptation
“The manner in which Johnston relates (his story) is winning: with a mischievous heart, as well as with a high regard for how the world-altering—such as the pending arrival of a child—sometimes can be discerned in the small, domestic detail.”
—Brian Burnes, Staff Writer, Review of Nightmarriage, Kansas City Star
***** (out of 5)
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“A fascinating, hilarious, and witty book . . . an excellent debut.”
—Joseph Kyle, Music Critic (The Big Takeover, Pitchfork, No Depression), Review of Nightmarriage
"From a theory of his wife as a 'black hole' through which objects time-travel to the future to the story of his wife's secret code for fleeting wishes ('Steak-N-Shake!'), Chad Thomas Johnston delivers a hilarious, yet tender, account of his marriage. More than once, I found myself reading passages out loud to my husband, though it wasn't always easy through my giggling. Don't let the humor—or the title—fool you, though. Nightmarriage is a love story at heart."​
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—Karrie Higgins, Pushcart Nominee, Schiff Award Recipient, and NEA/Iowa Arts Council 2021 Grantee
"Johnston revels in wordplay throughout (Nightmarriage), using alliteration, assonance, and a pinch of puns to leaven the often serious issues of marriage and parenthood with his charming lunacy. He skewers his wife and he skewers himself again and again, and the repeated banana-peel slips become a kind of healing mantra."​
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—Tyler McCabe, Image Journal Update