A Proof of Love by Merida Johns | Spotlight & Guest Post
Spotlight
"Some people enter our lives quietly… and change everything."
There is something timeless about stories set in small towns where everyone seems to know everyone else's business - and where the biggest truths are often hidden beneath ordinary moments. A Proof of Love by Merida Johns blends nostalgia, grief, friendship, and quiet emotional insight into a reflective story about the people who shape our lives in ways we may not fully understand until years later.
With a curious young narrator, an eccentric newcomer, long-buried secrets, and a heartfelt memoir framework, this novel explores remembrance, human connection, and the lasting impact of compassion. Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction filled with warmth, emotional depth, and small-town dynamics may find themselves settling comfortably onto this Victorian porch and staying awhile.
Let's take a closer look at A Proof of Love.
About A Proof of Love by Merida Johns
A Proof of Love By Merida Johns
Published by Coffee Cup Press on March 2026
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 330
It's Memorial Day weekend, 2009, and nine-year-old Katie Blake's dislike of her grumpy neighbor, Ned Boomer, is overshadowed by worries about a mysterious newcomer in town who wears tie-dye, colorful headbands, and clunky necklaces and installed a ceiling fan on her Victorian front porch. "Who does that?" Ned Boomer and the town gossips whisper. "She's a hippie, witch, or maybe worse . . . a socialist."
Determined to prevent a full-blown neighborhood war, Katie launches a reconnaissance mission to find the truth about the enigmatic Rose. Her search, however, takes a surprising turn, when Katie uncovers a secret that binds her, Rose, and her cantankerous neighbor—teaching Katie that the real challenge isn't about gossip, politics, or war but whether three grief-stricken souls can find friendship and comfort in one another.
Reader Resources
Curious to learn more or see what other readers think? Explore below:
View A Proof of Love on Goodreads
View A Proof of Love on StoryGraph
Reader Snapshot
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Small-Town Fiction
Tone: Reflective, heartfelt, nostalgic, emotionally layered
Setting: Small-town America, primarily during Memorial Day weekend with a memoir-style retrospective structure
Themes: Friendship, grief, remembrance, community, compassion, personal growth, family secrets
Perfect For: Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction, emotional small-town stories, intergenerational relationships, and thoughtful novels centered on human connection
Content Considerations
Themes of grief, loss, aging, anxiety, community prejudice, emotional loneliness, and references to death and remembrance. Overall, the story appears gentle in tone while exploring meaningful emotional topics with warmth and compassion.
Why This Book Stands Out
A Proof of Love stands out through its blend of nostalgic small-town storytelling, memoir-style reflection, and emotionally observant character work. Rather than relying on dramatic twists alone, the novel appears to focus on the quieter ways people shape one another's lives through kindness, understanding, and shared grief. The framing device of an older Katie looking back on one transformative summer adds an additional layer of warmth and reflection that fits beautifully with the story's themes of memory and legacy.
Excerpt
Here's a short snippet to give you a feel for the author's tone.
She gazes at that old maple tree and makes us a promise. "One day . . . I'll write about the special people in my life so you will know them, and they will never be forgotten."
But Gram went to heaven before her one day came, and her stories, told in her own words, are lost forever.
Fifteen years later, I've learned that one day's promise is not assured. Before it's lost . . . So, I'm seizing that one day to write about the special people in my life, so that you will know them, and they will never be forgotten. This is A Proof of Love.
Kathleen Claire Blake, Memorial Day, 2024
Guest Post by Merida Johns
One of my favorite parts of hosting author features is getting a glimpse behind the scenes of the creative process. In today's guest post, Merida Johns shares how revision became an essential part of shaping A Proof of Love - from developmental edits and beta readers to refining emotional depth and character journeys.
If you enjoy learning how stories evolve from early drafts into polished novels, this thoughtful look at the revision process offers plenty of insight for both readers and aspiring writers alike.
The Art of Revision
by Merida Johns
What path does an author take when reaching the revision crossroads? Follow Stephen King, J.R. Rowling, Joan Didion, or someone else entirely?
I view revision as art - as personal as the author's creativity, emotion, and writing style. In deciding which approach to take at the crossroads, authors must find the path that best suits them and their art. Let's step behind the scenes for a peek at the revision path I took with A Proof of Love.
Mini-Second Draft
Before handing off my first draft to a developmental editor, I review it at a macro level to ensure each character's starting and ending points are met. At this point, I'm discovering the protagonist's path through the puzzle maze - the character's journey. If the path is blocked, I find a way for the character to circumvent the blockage. I don't pay much attention to style, grammar, or errors at this stage.
For example, while revising A Proof of Love, I asked questions such as:
- Are Katie's greatest wants communicated to the reader?
- Are her strengths and weaknesses clearly shown?
- Are her emotional needs explored throughout the story?
- Do the secondary characters move the story forward?
- Do the subplots support Katie's journey?
If the answers are not strong enough, I perform a mini-edit before moving forward.
Working with a Developmental Editor
Once satisfied with the manuscript's structure, I hand it off to a trusted developmental editor who focuses on the larger elements of plot, theme, organization, and characterization.
Some comments are small, while others require deeper emotional exploration. One piece of feedback for Rose LeMay - a major character in the novel - encouraged me to further examine what she had truly lost and how those losses shaped her life.
Pruning, Repairing, Filling, and Edging
After developmental edits, I think of revision as smoothing the reader's pathway through the story. This includes:
- Eliminating repetitive "this happened, then this happened" narration
- Replacing passive phrasing with direct action
- Removing unnecessary filter words
- Strengthening chapter openings and endings
- Deepening sensory details and emotional interiority
- Refining sentence structure and pacing
My goal is always to create a story readers can emotionally invest in while walking beside the characters on their journeys.
The Importance of Beta Readers
Once revisions are complete, I send the manuscript to a group of beta readers who provide feedback using a guided set of questions. Their responses help identify places where the pacing slows, confusion arises, or emotional impact can be strengthened.
If multiple readers point out the same issue, I know it deserves attention before the manuscript moves forward.
Final Polishing
After addressing beta feedback, the manuscript moves to copyediting for grammar, punctuation, style consistency, and factual review.
Revision takes time, but it is one of the most rewarding parts of writing. It allows me to dig deeper into characters' emotions, challenges, hopes, and hidden truths.
My goal at the end is to share a story in which characters discover a vision for their future and take steps toward it - cultivating meaning, connection, resilience, and hope along the way.
A bow of gratitude to all who are accompanying me on this journey.
Meet the Author
About Merida Johns
Merida Johns writes emotionally layered fiction that explores courage, discovery, resilience, and the quiet moments that shape our lives. Her character-driven stories focus on ordinary people facing difficult choices, personal loss, uncertainty, and the search for connection and meaning.
Inspired by both her leadership background and her fascination with the human experience, Merida’s novels examine how compassion, hope, and personal growth emerge even during life’s most challenging seasons. Her interest in the transformative power of storytelling began during a 2017 conversation with fellow life coaches when she asked: “What would it be like to help people pursue flourishing lives through fiction?”
That question ultimately led to her debut novel, Blackhorse Road (2020), followed by Flower Girl (2022), Flawless Witness (2023), and now A Proof of Love (2026).
Before turning to fiction, Merida Johns authored textbooks on health informatics and leadership. She later worked as a leadership coach, helping others develop their personal and professional potential — experiences that continue to influence the emotional insight and reflective themes woven throughout her fiction.
Longtime readers may recognize Merida Johns from my earlier feature for Flower Girl and my review of Flawless Witness. Both novels showcase her thoughtful, emotionally grounded storytelling style.
Explore more from the author:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads
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Thanks for reading. If this sounds like your kind of story, you can explore purchase options below.
View A Proof of Love on Amazon
Available in Kindle and Paperback formats.
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for supporting my blog and helping me continue to champion indie authors and stories worth discovering.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I hope you'll come back soon.
Tour dates: April 14 - July 30, 2026. View the tour page.
Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card from Merida Johns.
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