(Spoiler Alert. If you have only read books 1-6 in the Haunting Danielle Series you may want to skip this interview.)
Interviewer: Welcome to our second interview in the Marlow House Interview Series. Today we are in the library of Marlow House with Chris Johnson. Welcome Chris, and thank you for meeting with us today.
Chris: Thank you for having me.
Interviewer: I’m a little surprised you agreed to talk with us today. I know you tend to avoid publicity.
Chris: Danielle asked me if I would participate in the interview. How could I say no?
Interviewer: You and Danielle are pretty close, aren’t you?
Chris: I consider her one of my best friends. I’d trust her with my life.
Interviewer: I get the impression you would like something more than just friendship with Danielle.
Chris: We don’t always get what we want, do we?
Interviewer: Does this mean you’ve given up the idea of you and Danielle as a couple?
Chris: I’d rather not discuss that.
Interviewer: Okay…can we talk about your family?
Chris: Certainly.
Interviewer: I know you’ve lost your parents, but do you have any extended family you keep in touch with?
Chris: I have two uncles. But, I cut all ties with them after they sued me over my parent’s estate.
Interviewer: I understand you’re adopted. Do you ever think about finding your birth parents?
Chris: Maybe I would consider looking if I had been adopted as an infant. But even then, I would only do it after my parents were both gone. My parents were wonderful to me and I would never do anything to hurt them, especially my mother.
Interviewer: Does that mean you’re looking for your birth parents now—now that your parents are gone?
Chris: I said I might look had I been adopted as an infant. I was in the foster care system for the first six years of my life. I have no memory of my birth parents, but I know they’re one reason I was in the system for so long.
Interviewer: I’m not sure I understand.
Chris: It’s my understanding my birth mother did not want me to be adopted. Of course, she didn’t want me either. If she really loved me, she would have signed those adoption papers when I was an infant instead of letting me bounce around in the system for six years.
Interviewer: You sound bitter.
Chris: No. I’m not bitter. How can I be? When I was adopted I hit the jackpot. And I’m not talking about my parent’s money. I’m talking about the type of people they were. They were loving parents. I was very lucky.
Interviewer: That brings us to one of our questions. A reader asks, if you had to give up something—what would it be, your wealth or your gift?
Chris: When you say gift, I assume you’re talking about my ability to see spirits.
Interviewer: Yes.
Chris: That’s a good question. It’s also one I’ve given a great deal of thought to. There was a time I really hated this gift. But, I’ve come to realize it’s a part of me. It’s who I am, and it’s shaped my character.
Interviewer: And the money?
Chris: Ironically, there was a time I resented the money as much as the ability to see and communicate with spirits. When you have as much money as I do, you don’t always know who your real friends are. I suppose that’s one reason I was so attracted to Danielle. She didn’t just share my gift, she really doesn’t care about money.
Interviewer: You two do have a lot in common.
Chris: Maybe we have too much in common.
Interviewer: Does this mean you would give up the money first?
Chris: No. You see, after my parents died I tried living incognito—tried to be an average person. It didn’t take long for me to realized I would never be an average person. I wasn’t worrying about paying an electric bill or putting food on the table or worrying that I couldn’t afford going to the doctor or hospital if I needed to. Complaining about having too much money sounded so petty and ridiculously whiny. Like the stereotypical poor little rich kid. But then I realized, with my parent’s money I could make a difference in other people’s lives. I wanted to make the world a better place. My inheritance allows me to do that.
Interviewer: So—would you give up your money or your gift?
Chris: Honestly? The ability to see spirits is part of me—it’s who I am. It’s what makes me me. The money. It is just money. So my answer, if I am being totally selfish and only thinking of myself, I would give up the money. But if I want to be selfless and think of others, I would give up the gift, and keep the money. Because with that money I’m helping a hell of a lot of people. Sure there are times I can help people by seeing spirits, but not to the extent of what my money can do.
Interviewer: If your money suddenly vanished, what would you do?
Chris: You mean to make a living?
Interviewer: Yes.
Chris: I suppose I would get a job like anyone else. I do have a college degree and after the last year managing my foundation, I think I have some valuable experience. I would probably get a job working in another non-profit foundation. Of course, if my money suddenly vanished, it would mean I lost it somehow, and I imagine no one would want to hire me then. Who could trust anyone that lost that much money?
Interviewer: You don’t sound too concerned?
Chris: No. Not really.
Interviewer: One final question. What are your plans for the future?
Chris: I moved to Frederickport less than a year and a half ago. A lot has happened in that time. I bought a house, opened the Glandon Foundation Headquarters, made some good friends. It’s been a busy time. I’m not so concerned about the future right now, I’m just trying to take care of the present.
Interviewer: Well our time is up. I want to thank you again Chris, for talking to me today. And I hope everyone comes back tomorrow when I talk to Lily Bartley.
