Hello everyone,

I hope all is well! Happy Canada Day!

I am actually off my regular job today, waiting on some ribs, and a nice drink as I work away on the financials of my business plan to prepare for a couple appointments to re-assess my plan, so I want to make sure I have done the adjustments that were suggested.

They say a business plan is a living, breathing, document that requires updating all the time. It is your road map that helps you achieve goals and let’s you know if you are on track to accomplishing your vision & mission.

Reading my plan gives me a lot of inspiration because I get to celebrate what God has helped me to accomplish, since 2005 (the launch of my first book). It also gets me to focus on what tasks, steps, and goals I still need to accomplish with God’s help to prosper as a successful artist with a mission/vision & a social entrepreneur trying to establish my brand.

I started doing intense research for my business plan in 2007. It took me 2 1/2 years to put together my detailed plan and the past year I have been adjusting it as I learn more, make more connections, and invest more funds.

It’s good to have a plan for anything you do. It keeps you focused on the bigger picture and doing what you need to do to succeed. I am learning that as I check my plan often to see what I need to do to get to where I want to be in my mission & vision. It’s also good to remind yourself that you are not a failure when you have moments when you feel like your dream will never come true. Moments when you feel like you have taken too much of a risk.

Anyways, I am off to a movie now “Grown Ups”.
Stay tuned for more info on upcoming shows ETC … also feel free to hit me up if you want to book me for speaking engagements. Please spread the word.

Take care & God bless!

Ingrid D. Johnson
In The Closet Productions
“A Voice for The Voiceless”

” Man sentenced to 109 years for child sex abuse”
Associated Press
Last update: June 4, 2010 - 7:58 AM

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - A former St. Cloud man already serving a 30-year federal sentence for making child pornography has been sentenced to 109 years in prison for sexually abusing children.

Forty-four-year-old Dennis Lemke earlier pleaded guilty to nine counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Lemke admitted inappropriately touching eight girls at his former home, where his ex-wife used to run a day care. In the ninth case, Lemke admitted forcing a 4-year-old to touch herself as he took pictures.

Stearns County District Judge Vicki Landwehr sentenced Lemke Thursday and ordered that the sentence run at the same time as Lemke’s federal sentence.

Some of Lemke’s victims were as young as 1 or 2 years old. Not all of them attended Lemke’s wife’s day care.

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http://www.startribune.com/local/95568179.html

Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com/

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MY THOUGHTS:

I read this article and thought … WOW. WOW because my first offender got nothing and the second only got 6 months for all the pain he brought into my life … so it is good to see Justice served to all those children who were hurt by one man’s blatant abuse of authority.

Although, I have to wonder if this man ever felt any remorse for the harm he caused those children and their families. Did he ever feel repentance or cry to God for mercy? I wonder if He truly understands what He has done to the bodies, minds, emotions, and spiritual lives of those children. Does He know the damage he caused to all their future relationships and the way they would view themselves in the world? Does he get that they will never be the same, ever again?

I am so sick of seeing childhood sexual abuse everywhere … especially in The Catholic Church. There will be Hell to pay for that … for whomever does not confront it in God’s house. God holds all leaders responsible for their actions whether they believe it or not. He is just patient when it comes to judgement. I believe He loves us so much and He would rather we admit our own sins and correct ourselves before HE has to. I believe there will be a day of reckoning for those who turn a blind eye or deaf ear to any form of abuse, especially those who claim to represent & make a mockery of his name. Because God doesn’t ignore any kind of abuse. He works through people to deal with this and many issues.

So … when will it all stop? When will there be no more sexual abuse. No more abuse of power? No more politics? No more ignorance to pain? When will the innocent be left in peace. When will the world really pay attention to the voiceless women, men, and children who have lost so much and who are trying to heal? When will SEX not be a weapon of WAR? When will predators stop preying upon little children and people who don’t understand start understanding the impact of childhood sexual abuse? When will music & entertainment think about their contribution to sexual abuse? When will the world and all its people be peaceful? Only God knows the minute and the hour evil will be sentenced for preying upon what’s truly good … instead of getting a spotlight and many props for every round it succeeds at hiding and ignoring the truth.

Because there is a time for everything under the sun.

Ingrid D. Johnson
In The Closet Productions
“A Voice for The Voiceless”
www.intheclosetproductions.com

APRIL.29th, 2010

The Laurel Centre is still selling tickets to its 25th Anniversary.

PRICE: $125.00 (includes dinner and entertainment)

The money helps the Laurel Center so please be kind and lend your support.

The Event will be held at the Fort Garry Place, Grand Ballroom

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010  at 6:00 p.m.

FEATURING: Guest Speaker: Jessica Holmes Comedic Entertainer & Improviser

a popular member of the long running hit, CBC’s Royal Canadian Air Farce.

AND

CELEBRATING the healing journey of our clients will be presented through

songs and poem by Ingrid D. Johnson of In The Closet Productions “A Voice for The Voiceless”.

http://thelaurelcentre.com/events/ DON’T DELAY Get your tickets TODAY and please SPREAD THE WORD!!!

THANKS.

“It took me a little while to discover wolves in sheep’s clothes PRETEND to be lovers. Men/women who lack conscience will even lie to themselves. They say all the right things to gain their position - use your kindness to shoot you down in the name of AMBITION (Why for YOU to INCREASE must I decrease?) If I treat you kindly, doesn’t mean that I’m weak.” I, (like Lauryn Hill) am understanding what JESUS went through.

Ingrid D. Johnson

UNIQUE MUSIC FOR A UNIVERSAL ISSUE

In The Closet Productions makes music that entertains, inspires, transforms, and empowers our audience to change themselves and the world around them.

We create music that helps to spread awareness about overcoming the trauma of childhood sexual abuse that wounds the spirit in childhood, confuses in the soul in the teenage years, wreaks havoc in relationships, and ripples through the survivor’s life in the adult years.

In addition to exploring and shedding light on other important social issues. We create songs that tells stories filled with wisdom - submerge in waves of intriguing beats. This is how we believe great music is truly made - timeless music that survives, decade after decade.

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“THE INDUSTRY FILLED WITH DARKNESS  & IN NEED OF MUCH MORE LIGHT ! “

I have found over the past 2-3 years that the Music  &  Entertainment industry is riddled with many snakes, wolves, frogs, lions, tigers, and bears. The “devil” is in the details and 90% percent of music is all about money, selling sex, pride, power, and boastfulness. Marketing is in control, not the message, and everything is soooooo “clicky”.  I guess that is why I never quite fit in. I am different in the way I act  in the industry … so I stand out like an outsider. I believe that’s why my album was mostly ignored by most of the music industry here in Winnipeg, except for a select few at the top of the industry. All the other people, just didn’t get me. They didn’t speak my language and I didn’t speak theirs. They didn’t understand  why I would rather sound like myself, be like myself, and listen to God more than their advice telling me to promote myself only and hide my cause because they couldn’t  see or understand my mission or vision for helping others to overcome childhood sexual abuse.

This did not surprise me. After all,  The Music industry ( much like the fashion industry ) doesn’t care about the sexually abused.  It is a business based on abusing sex, crushing the weak, fooling the ignorant, taking advantage of the naive, and exploiting the innocent. It is an industry with a prideful lust for drugs, alcohol, boastfulness, perversion, degrading women, artist slavery, sex, money, and power. I experienced this first hand struggling to complete this album, among several money hungry, egotistical, self-serving, prideful, and very selfish wolves in the industry that conspired against me, out of resentment, fear, and deep seeded jealousy.

These wolves did not understand or believe in respect, honor, love, kindness, compassion, mercy, serving others more than serving themselves, honesty, or doing things the right way. That is why they thought I was there to bully them, hinder them, deceive them,  and rob them even though, through God’s grace,  I paid them whatever I owed them for their services. Therefore,  whether they felt I should be a singer of my own songs … or not … that gave them no right to make my journey so much hell! That gave them no right to disrespect me, pretend I didn’t have a powerful voice, pretend I didn’t accomplish something useful, pretend I didn’t write meaningful songs, or co-produce my tracks, and pay for the entire double album through God’s help and many night shifts. That gave them no right to hinder me from discovering my gifts. That gave them no right to treat me like I didn’t deserve to be heard and like I have no right to sing my own songs with my own unique, voice to share my mission and vision!

However, this did not stop them from making me look bad in the industry here … so that many would shun me by ignoring my project and pretending that my project and my gifts were not good enough. This was evil because this current project is greater than me or any solo career in the industry . It is greater because it serves others and not just me but I have learned to accept their side stepping and through my faith in JESUS CHRIST ( who strengthens me) I am  blazing my own unique, powerful, and legendary trail!  And through God, I am now the spokeswoman for the clients of “The Laurel Centre” that helps women overcome childhood sexual abuse! What a HUGE blessing!

It is also a GREAT blessing that God has flattened “the playing field” in the music industry. He did this so the “under dogs” like me can rise and small companies like mine can get their voices heard. Thank God!  Now with the help of internet social networks, online distributors, online sales, live shows, merchandising, and grass root movements I can make a difference and God willing, get a co-publishing deal and many other opportunities to SHINE a light on my message.

So, finally, the choice to support this project - this music is back in your hands. You now have the “POWER” to choose what you want to hear and be influenced by  … instead of being “brain washed” by greedy people who care more about “Hits” than improving other people’s lives. That is why I ( Ingrid D. Johnson) decided to enter the industry in 2006. I wanted to make music that mattered and could carry a powerful message about overcoming trauma with God’s love. I wanted to use my experiences written into songs to share my journey as an overcomer of childhood sexual abuse who learned to let go of dysfunctional relationships, set healthy boundaries, reclaim self-respect, trust GOD, and walk in peace and love. I wanted to create music that would inspire others to do the same and attract a fan base as loyal as SADE’s ever growing fan base. I wanted a career based on love, respect, trust , wisdom, and truth that increases GOD’s Kingdom of love, helps my community, and heals broken people all over the world.

“Wounded Soul” Vol 1 & 2 is my first attempt at that vision, dream, and mission in the superficial music industry. God willing, many more musical projects will follow that will express growth, more love, peace, God’s truth, wisdom, and inspiration as my voice develops, partnerships are formed, fan base increases, the brand grows, and my life story continues.

With that said … I hope you will lend your support NOW by exercising your Freedom to choose good music that makes a difference in other people’s lives by BUYING a CD (LISTED BELOW), a book,  and /or by BOOKING  Ingrid D. Johnson to speak and sing songs off the album about overcoming the trauma of childhood sexual abuse … with her band  ”The Funky Fresh Crew”.

THEN … PLEASE, SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHERS  AROUND YOU. THANKS.

• A portion of the proceeds from this album goes back to The Laurel Centre ( helps women who struggle with the impact of childhood sexual abuse and addictions) and I.N. Network ( A Christian organization that helps to free women in international countries from sexual slavery) Thanks!!!

Hello Everyone,

Happy Monday.

I learned this weekend … when you say I AM, you are really saying that you are BEING your name’s meaning ( ie: I AM INGRID ( a princess & fertile meadow). God gave me this understanding in his Bible.

Anyways, I hope you all had a great weekend and an awesome week.

Man … was last week ever busy! I started off the week rejoicing over my black planet spotlight, prepping for a tuesday showcase and public speaking engagement, prepping for another live show, a studio recording session, my usual voice lessons, band practice, and two therapy groups I am currently participating in. See what I mean when I say I was busy?

However, the of end the week was a little bit better. I spent my weekend lounging with my soul mate, eating good food, watching 4 movies, reading the bible, praying, going to church, meditating on all the wonderful people I met during the week, how I can help others more, and being thankful for God’s blessings in my life. It was a great week and weekend even with all of its craziness. However, I have to say I enjoyed just “BEING” … and not doing … on the weekend more. I am so happy this week is back to being calm. I will have time to practice my songs, work on piano, write a song, work out my business budget for this year, and contact some people I need to speak to about my business plans. However, I am looking forward to a time when things will speed up again. I know … I am weird that way. what can I say … I love life, adventure, and the JOY of being an artist.

Anyways, I hope your week is not to crazy and when you get a chance I hope you will help someone around you (a stranger or a friend) who really could use your help. Whether it be a kind word, a financial gift, a free meal, a favor, ETC … It will make your week that much more of a blessing. DO IT!  I DARE YA and then keep it between you and GOD or you can share it with me on my wall or or by e mailing me back on here.

Then, if you aren’t too overloaded … please BUY my new book and my new compilation CD and help The Laurel Centre and In The Closet Productions mission and vision. You can buy both it online or at McNally Robinson bookstore in Winnipeg. Please spread the word about my mission to everyone you know. Your support is a great blessing to me!!!

Peace & Blessings Always!

Ingrid D. Johnson

In The Closet Productions

“A Voice for The Voiceless”

www.intheclosetproductions.com

MY JOURNEY TO UNLEASHING & LEARNING

TO POSITIVELY USE THE POWER OF SPOKEN WORD.

Visit the full website     http://ingriddjohnsonmusic.com

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(BASED ON A TRUE STORY by Ingrid D. Johnson)

My heart was broken …  another relationship had ended. I was destroyed emotionally and spiritually.

I had so much to say to him but he couldn’t hear me, he refused to listen.

The rage was bubbling like a volcano inside my soul . The glass of cherry up against my lips with its offering sliding over my tongue, pouring down my throat,  was my substitute for courage … since I was too upset with God and myself to ask for some.

I had recorded spoken word only one other time. It was in year 2000. It was a free verse poem, much worse than this one, although “Succubus” was pretty erotic and open.

I needed no formal training …  just my broken soul and my wild emotions. The catalyst was my  … well, let’s just call him my “ex-lover”, although LOVE had nothing to do with what we shared for a short spin. He was apart of a long list of sad moments in my life but the real source of my pain was years of verbal, emotional, physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse. The impact of all this abuse was many years of broken relationships. Years of  disrespect, disbelief, lack of love, having no voice, no justice or mercy, and my hunger and thirst for true love. I was breaking down and the mic was ready to take in and record all my painful sounds … just before biting back.

Quietly, he showcased his rythmic babies, his exotic mistress, his “banging” ladies and I chose the hottest one for my piece. She was mysterious and mystical making “Succubus” sexy and her story intoxicating … but I was annoyed by the girl he had moaning in the background. I told him to erase her, since he was so skilled at erasing me! He complied out of polite kindness but he had no passion for my art and no love or respect for me. I accepted that and tried to make peace with it in my body but my words wouldn’t let him get away.

On a high stool behind him, I sit and let the sounds created their seductive shape . Then, I let out a long demonic scream to fill in my hidden thoughts that wanted no expression, except sound. I was lost without my lord Jesus and I had so much to say. He was growing very restless but I made him finish my spoken word masterpiece by gently stroking his ego. The task disgust me and so I swore to never do it again. I promised to never be a “flatterer” to get anything from anyone again. I would pay cash instead!

He was sick of me expressing myself and he was done using my body months ago too. In fact, he only let me  bare my soul and record it  in his basement to remove the guilt of using me for sex and not a relationship with his soul. It was a guilt offering and I took it. Thus clearing his conscience of sin because I saw things differently than he did. The gift he was giving, baring my soul in that basement was my new beginning. It  was a way for me to gain more power than him in the music and entertainment world. I was a sex slave  on my way out of EYGPT like the Israelites carrying their wealth.

That was how my spoken word album began … in the basement of my ex-lover. The same type of place my innocence was stolen, when I was so young and just like then, I didn’t know that I would come out of that basement forever changed. However, this time … I came out with new power, a new purpose, and a new way of seeing and understanding myself. I came out of that basement saying no to giving him “one last moment” of pleasure because I heard my own voice screaming back over his speakers, “You are not just hips, thighs, and lips. You are a princess with the power to become a Queen, so rise up, take your new gift and begin your journey”.

I listened and left with the first half of my spoken word CD.