AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Elana Johnson

Elana Johnson is the debut author of the novel POSSESSION. It comes out in book stores everywhere June 7th! And Elana was so kind to do an author interview for me. I hope you enjoy this and be sure to visit her website: www.elanajohnson.com/

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
I think the best advice for aspiring authors is to write a really good book you’d want to read. Don’t write to a trend, or what you think someone else would like to read. Write a book you’d want to read, that you enjoy writing, and make sure you do it well.

What's your favorite thing/least favorite thing about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is the freedom of emotion I experience while drafting. I’m able to pour all my feelings—both positive and negative—into my words, and that leaves me free to sleep at night. (Ha!)

My least favorite thing about writing is how much work it takes. (Yeah, I am just that lazy.) A reader can sit down and read your book in a few hours. It takes an author a heckuva lot longer than that to write the book. It really is a LOT of work.

Now that you're published, how has that changed you as a writer?
Well, for one thing I don’t get to write whatever I want anymore. Writing for publication is different than just writing. Now I have to write books that will possibly (hopefully) sell.

I also put too much pressure on myself to write a perfect first draft now that I’m published. It’s hard to remember that POSSESSION didn’t come out perfect the first time I wrote it, and that I spent many, many months working to improve it.

What books inspired you/helped you most along the way?
I don’t read a lot of trade books, but I do love SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder and STEIN ON WRITING by Sol Stein. Both those books helped me in different ways. Save the Cat helped me with structure, and Stein on Writing opened my eyes about pacing.

Otherwise, I read as many novels in the genre I write as I possibly can. I want to see what’s out there, what’s getting published, so I can make sure I’m doing new and exciting things, as well as discovering what I love about the stories and writing I read.

Can you describe your writing process?
It’s very, very messy. I draft quickly, so I can usually write an entire book in less than a month. After that, it’s layer upon layer of problems. I have to do individual passes for setting, character, emotion, plot, use of senses, style, voice, more character, more plot, and consistency.

I print the entire MS and work with pen and paper. I send to betas and get their feedback. I am ruthless with my own words. In the end, I hope I have a product I can show my agent with pride.

JUNE's Featured Debut Novel: POSSESSION

The debut novel I've picked to feature for the month of JUNE is...

POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

Release Date: 06/07/2011

Number of Pages: 416

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Best Described As: Dystopian

Why I've picked this novel to feature:  Because Elana Johnson wrote it.  I've been following her blog ever since I started blogging myself.  She's a great inspiration of all the wannabe writers out there and her advice has been invaluable to me personally!  And secondly, because I'm obsessed with love triangles and this one doesn't just promise, it delivers.

 

Here's what it's all about: 

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn. 

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Here's my challenge to you:

As part of The Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge, this month I will be reading POSSESSION.  I encourage you to read along with me.  :)

You can check out my review here and see what I thought.  And if you review POSSESSION on your own blog this month be sure leave your link in the comments section of this post.  I always look forward to reading other people's thoughts. 

Arc Review: POSSESSION

Title: POSSESSION
Author: Elana Johnson
Upcoming Release Date: June 7, 2011
My Rating: 4/5--I mostly enjoyed it.
One Word Plot: Dystopian
Good if..you're looking for something sweet/action packed

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.  But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.  This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

My Thoughts...  Hold on to your hair-gel we have another Dystopian on our hands.

Let me start by saying that...I don't really like dystopian novels.  I can thank 1984, BRAVE NEW WORLD, and THE GIVER for all jading me in the past.  And yet, Sarah, why is it you always end up reading more dystopian types?  I guess because every now and then you run into a good one.  And--when they're good, they're usually really good.  I loved HUNGER GAMES and the UGLIES series.  I'm happy to say that this one can added to the goodies list.  :)  So on to my review already--

The central theme to this novel is control or be controlled.  No surprise there; aren't all dystopians that central theme?  Where this one exceeded my expectations is Vi.  She's the strong, kick-butt female we all want in a novel, especially a novel where the main character has to take down 'the man'.  Right away she teams up with Jag--the badboy also in prison for breaking the rules--and the whole novel is kind of their escape/self-discovery kind of a thing along the way.  Then there's also Zenn--the goodboy--and Vi's 'match' she left at home.  It makes for an excellent plot.  And I thoroughly enjoyed it (and Vi's sarcastic personality) the whole way through; it didn't disappoint.  My favorite favorite part was the ending.  It was intense and I loved it.  A cliffhanger all the way, but such a perfectly fitting ending.  I can't wait to read book 2 (is there a book2?).

If anything was lacking it was that the romance wasn't 'knock-your-socks-off'.  More like sweet and tender.  It was good--don't get me wrong--but it didn't blow me away.

In My Mailbox #26

This is In my mailbox a meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren. Here's what I go this week...

POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

POSSESSION is the debut novel by author and blogger Elana Johnson.  I actually first discovered Elana when I started my own novel and was always desperately searching the Internet for writing advice.  Her blog contains lots of invaluable advise for writers so I highly recommend checking it out.  Now on to her book.  Her debut novel--due out 06/07/11--is a YA dystopian.  Here's what it's all about: 
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.  But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.  This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.
That's what I got in my mailbox this week.  What did you get in yours?