In life, nothing is certain… or so the saying goes. And while this may seem somewhat defeatist, many have realized the wisdom in these words and have dedicated their lives to help others achieve a more assured present and future, volunteering their time and efforts to build better lives. C. Bruce Johnson, veteran journalist and news anchor, has done just that with his tireless advocacy of heart-healthy lifestyles and was honored in October with the Doctor’s National Award from the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC).

C. Bruce Johnson’s moment of reckoning came suddenly and without warning, in the middle of an assignment inside one of Washington’s roughest neighborhoods. For a brief moment, he faced the abyss when he suffered a heart attack. But he did not fall; he came away a stronger man, with renewed vigor and passion for life.

While it is common to experience fear, anxiety and depression after a heart attack, Bruce turned his brief brush with death into a source of support and inspiration for other heart-attack survivors.

Heartfelt gratitude. C. Bruce Johnson accepts the “surprise” Doctor’s National Award from the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) on October 29, 2011, in Washington D. C., for his tireless advocacy of heart-healthy lifestyles.

 The central piece of this support came in the form of his book, Heart to Heart, a collection of moving stories told by heart attack survivors, including his own. Heart to Heart hopes to encourage victims and survivors that while nothing in life may be certain, they can always count on someone to be there with them through their pain and road to recovery. 

Bruce hopes that by sharing his story, his personal life, and the lives of fellow survivors, readers of the book may not have to go through the pain and suffering alone and be inspired to make a sincere and positive commitment to changing their lifestyles and embracing life to the full after their heart attack.

A friend’s husband had died from a heart attack. Over dinner she suggested that I put off a book assignment that I had been working on and instead write about my heart attack and recovery. I thought about it for one day and concluded that she was right. I could do a lot of good with a heart book, maybe even save some lives. But I didn’t want to just tell my story; being a reporter, I wanted to find other people with compelling accounts of their heart attacks and recoveries. Heart to Heart is the result. 12 stories in all. It’s not a medical book, but a series of personal stories from men and women of different ages, socio-economic backgrounds.

What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers? 

Heart to Heart is written like a novel. It will make you laugh, cry and applaud the people who share their stories in hopes of saving some lives.

Did you have ambitions of becoming a published author before you had the heart attack? 

Oh yes. I have several magazine articles to my credit and a couple more full-length books and ebooks still on my computer, waiting for me to get back to them.

How different was writing as a journalist from writing as an author? How did your experience as a professional help in writing your book?

I’m a TV reporter and anchor. My writing for air is brief, with but a few words to help describe a scene, mood etc. Writing for print is entirely different. I can take my time to paint the reader a picture, a mood, a sense

What were your feelings when your Association of Black Cardiologists “Doctor’s National Award” was announced?

Total surprise.

What is the most successful thing you’ve done to market and sell your book?

My book is being translated and published in China by one of the largest publishing houses. There are more than one point three billion people in China. People everywhere are interested in what goes on in the U.S. How we’re combating cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death here, and there, has generated a lot of interest. What people here do to improve their quality of life is of interest the world over. The eleven other people profiled in Heart to Heart will become role models in China and the world over.

How did you learn about iUniverse and why did you choose to publish with the company? 

The web and word of mouth.