Scott Johnson, a voice-over actor with an earlier history in broadcast journalism, has covered historic events ranging from the Butler-Robideau Trial following the FBI’s shootout with AIM at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, to documenting the environmental tragedy of the Love Canal. He has been in on gritty stakeouts and overnight-hour drug busts; and slipped into tornado alleys, reporting back from devastated towns that all was not well.

His plan was to learn about what goes on in the world to build a solid foundation for writing novels. The plan seemed to be working. However, as he soon found out, there was more to learn about life than what the cesspools of crime and politics could teach him. Like how to raise his two children as a single dad. Their surviving Dad’s flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants parenting has been, he says, his biggest accomplishment.

Aside from a lifelong interest in news of the world, Scott has always played around with different voices and vocal sound effects. As a kid, he marveled at Mel Blanc’s versatility and took to mimicking cartoon characters and comics of the day. So when as a young man he found his way into broadcasting, the real fun began with successive news gigs at AM rock-and-roll radio stations. That led to TV anchoring, then documentary filmmaking.

Scott also cut commercial voiceovers for fun. In 2014, he was nominated as a Finalist for “Outstanding Commercial Demo Reel, Best Male Voice” by the Society of Voice Arts & Sciences (SOVAS). The NYC Voice Arts Awards gala was a night for him to remember. As Scott likes to point out, he shared billing with James Earl Jones, the evening’s Lifetime Achievement honoree. Scott adds that his own nomination was as good as a win.

Flash forward to the publication of Scott’s first novel, Heartstrings in B-flat Minor, a cautionary tale inspired by actual events. Scott invites you to give “Heartstrings” a read. He says, “As a former journalist, I’ve been exposed to many dark and unusual corners of life. I wrote of these corners and delivered their stories on-air. In time, I came to find out that such corners existed within the parameters of my own world, as well.

“This book is meant to deliver an entertaining, albeit dark story while delving deeply into a troubled soul’s suicidal contemplations after falling prey to a con. Lesson being: “Beware, the Big Bad Wolf does exist, dangerous as ever, with an eye especially for unwary ladies.”

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications, Radio/TV/Film from Northern Illinois University. He has anchored and reported for affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS.