I Think I'll Prune the Lemon Tree

by Mark Johnson

If you are captivated by creative storytelling—brimming with vivid imagery and emotional honesty—you will love Mark Johnson’s fourth book, I Think I’ll Prune the Lemon Tree.

Set against the warm and rugged landscape of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, it features thirty-nine serendipitous, provocative, and humorous essays. Mark’s true stories and desert fantasies chronicle his triumphs as a gay man and journey with husband Tom to build a healthy, open, and literary life in Arizona, while revisiting indelible memories from his Illinois, Missouri, and North Carolina past.

Throughout his anthology of often-tender-yet-bold essays, Mark weaves universal themes: the beauty of nature; the importance of community; the need for authenticity; the realities of aging; the anxiety of uncertainty; the upheaval of a global pandemic; and the gratitude that comes from examining all of it with an open heart.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2021

About the author

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Now, in my sixties, I live happily in Scottsdale, Arizona, among the saguaros and palm trees.

Since retiring in 2014 from corporate life, I've authored six books to pay tribute to vivid people and memories from my experiences in North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and Arizona.

From Fertile Ground, my first book, is a three-generation memoir and writer's mosaic that explores the importance of family and desire we each have to create our own path.
My second book, Tales of a Rollercoaster Operator, features up-and-down stories from my Missouri childhood. The St. Louis History Museum selected both books (published in 2016 and 2017) for its collection devoted to LGBTQ history in the Midwest.

In 2018, I published An Unobstructed View. It chronicles a year of surprise, perseverance, and transformation following a personal detour during my move from Illinois to Arizona.

Published in 2021, my fourth book--I Think I'll Prune the Lemon Tree--is an anthology of thirty-nine serendipitous and humorous essays set against the warm and rugged landscape of Arizona's Sonoran Desert.

A Path I Might Have Missed, published in 2023, is poetry I wrote over thirty years, exploring love, loss, pain, discovery, truth, and transformation—spun through the wonder of words and influences of nature.

My sixth book, Sixty-Something Days, is a memoir tapestry of essays, poems, and flashes of fiction, which I published in November 2025. It is a call-to-action to stay creative and relevant in our later years, while contributing our hard-earned wisdom.

To learn more about my books, and follow my blog, go to www.markjohnsonstories.com.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Mark Johnson offers a collection of warm, funny, thought-provoking essays on life, family, friendships, and the unique challenges and pleasures of living.
Focusing on stories about becoming a new, full-time Arizona resident, Mark looks back over the years for insights into his new life, reflects deeper into the after-effects of surviving a health crisis, relates amusing and poignant anecdotes about the people in his life both past and present, appreciates the mountainous desert environment he now calls home, and introduces poetry and works of short fiction to enrich his themes.
A great new collection from a distinctive contemporary voice!

[Sylvia Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really refreshingly friendly read. Something to lift the spirits and give hope in a dull time, in spite of covid and deaths to cope with. I read a lot of heavier material so it is always a joy to read something that i can settle into and relax with. There was one chapter that left me seriously confused though, based in Vienna, but I wont say more than that here. ore than anything this book is about ordinary people, living their lives in extraordinary times, and how important authenticity and love are to us all

[Garry Pregler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This warm, engaging,collection of poignant, heartwarming and comical tales of navigating life through a global pandemic was an integral part of my morning read for most of May. I anticipated what adventures the author would unveil each morning..... the book ended with me hoping for me. Please read and enjoy this gem

[Todd McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the leaves of a tree so are the stories of Mark Johnson. With each memoir I read, I learn something new about Mark’s rich journey. A refreshing read!

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark is an excellent writer , in his latest book he shares in vivid detail his journey to Arizona. A great book for all types of readers. I Strongly endorse this book. Well done Mark!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Cathy Merra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Enjoyed this memoir. I loved hearing about the trials and tribulations of the author. I was so happy the he found love and health and shared how he got there.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable reminiscing memories of Mark Johnson’s life from divorce because he faces and embraces that he is a gay man.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the descriptive writing and memorialization of family and friends, and I enjoyed the reflections and what the author was trying to instill. However, this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It didn’t really hold my attention, as it was a little too tame for me. “Tender-yet-bold” was more tender, less bold. There wasn’t a lot for me to connect with being a young person in my 20s outside of the traveling, but I’d been to or lived in most of the places written about so even that wasn’t super captivating for me. I suppose it was too soft, not relatable enough, didn’t have enough controversy to keep me immersed. I liked the uplifting words of wisdom though, it was very positive. Overall, probably 3.5 stars from me. I’m sure a lot of other people would enjoy this more than I did.
I won this in a goodreads giveaway.