The Publisher’s Perspective

PHOTO BY JODIE BRIM CREATIVE

“Someday is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” – Tim Ferris

Hello! I’m Keela Johnson and I’m beyond excited that my “someday” is today. Launching LKN Magazine has been a dream of mine for many years and seeing it come to life has been challenging, beautiful, exciting… and lots of emotions in-between.

Seventeen years ago, I started a magazine in my hometown, Winston-Salem, NC. After hundreds of issues and thousands of articles – Forsyth Woman is a known and respected source of information in Forsyth County. Throughout the years, we’ve launched sister-publications, including Forsyth Family and Forsyth Community, and now LKN Magazine.

While the thought of starting a magazine in Lake Norman has been in the back of my mind for many years (my husband and I moved to the lake nearly 5 years ago), life kept getting in the way. After my second round of breast cancer in 2018, I thought that was my sign it was time to slow down and live life to its fullest. Everyone dreams of retiring someday, right? So I did! I handed over the Forsyth Woman publisher role to my daughter, Brooke, and got busy learning how to be retired. I took up paddle boarding and gardening and started spending lots of quality time with my (also retired) husband – life was great! However… I don’t rest well.

I love living at Lake Norman and everywhere I turned I saw incredible possibilities to share the compelling stories of local people and local businesses. Forsyth Magazines was more than a career for me, it was my passion… and my calling! Bringing that passion to the greater LKN area is a privilege I do not take lightly!

The LKN Magazine team can’t wait to get to know you and your business, and build a partnership of mutual trust, as we work together to strengthen and build ties throughout our community. We are a team that believes collaboration is the best way to help everyone rise to the top. Meet and learn more about our team on page 44.

Our magazines are positive-focused and community-driven. We aren’t journalists, but we are citizens sharing content that is relevant to our readers! Just as we’ve done month after month for 70K+ readers in Forsyth County, we are excited to do the same here in Lake Norman. THANK YOU for picking up this magazine – it means the world to my team and me. While we’ll have a new issue each month, you can follow along with us on social media in the meantime! You can find us at @lknmagazine on Instagram and Facebook. I can’t wait to get to know you and your business!

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Keela Johnson

Hello! I’m Keela Johnson, the founder and publisher of Forsyth Magazines, a family of three publications that began in 2005 in Forsyth County, NC. After living in Clemmons for 30 years, I "retired" to Lake Norman and discovered a vibrant, active community filled with friendly people and new hobbies like paddle boarding, walking, and gardening. But with publishing in my blood, I quickly recognized an exciting opportunity to engage further with the wonderful Lake Norman community. Now, as the publisher of LKN Magazine, I’m thrilled to be part of a growing platform that celebrates the Lake Norman area. My daughter, Brooke Eagle, now co-owner and publisher, has been instrumental in helping take our family of magazines to new heights, and together, we’re continuing to share stories and promote local businesses in meaningful ways. At the heart of everything we do is the belief in the power of community. We’re passionate about creating a platform where local businesses can grow organically and meaningfully, and we’re excited to bring that same vision to the Lake Norman market. LKN Magazine proudly serves Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties, from Statesville to North Charlotte. In addition to print and online advertising, LKN Magazine offers a comprehensive range of services to help tell your story—including editorial features, social media promotion, and a monthly newsletter. You can subscribe to our newsletter at lkn-magazine.com to stay connected with all that’s happening around the Lake Norman community. We’re so grateful to be part of such dynamic communities in Forsyth and Lake Norman, and I’m honored to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep sharing stories, supporting local businesses, and building something meaningful together. Here’s to many more years of growth, connection, and celebration!

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