Ask the Author: Laura Susan Johnson
Answered Questions (9)
Laura Susan Johnson
Kim Davis becomes President of the USA. Donald Trump has had the 4 year law abolished and becomes Vice President.
Laura Susan Johnson
Honestly, there are mysteries buried deep within my subconscious that I'm afraid to unearth. As a child, I was at the mercy of evil adults while my mother was at work, and so the memories are muddled and I feel that the fact that I can't remember clearly might be something to be thankful for. In the meantime, I'm exploring the worst of my relationship with my father in my WIP Armour. There's a seldom explored kind of child abuse that I want people to be more aware of that happens in Armour, and that is parental terrorism: the torture and terrorism of your child as a means to get that child to behave a certain way or perform certain tasks. This happened to me, and I want other people this might have happened to who are still angry and traumatised to know they're not alone.
Laura Susan Johnson
My favourite fictional couple is the same one that has inspired me since I was 14 years old, back in 1984: Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese. As a person who is gender nonconforming, I find them both nurturing and vulnerable, as well as determined to fight and protect the helpless. I see femininity and masculinity in both of them, or I see gender nonconformity in both of them, and I find that important when relating to main characters and/or couples.
Laura Susan Johnson
My cousin, who was one of the beta readers for the original manuscript of Crush, pointed out to me that one of the minor characters in Crush, Natalie Mattheis, who is Tammy Mattheis' cousin, really touched her, and that she would love to read a story about Natalie's life. That story is now called Bright, which has recently been published to eBook and hardcover.
Laura Susan Johnson
I am currently writing and planning a series that begins with my first novel Crush. Crush was inspired by the gay couples I took care of when I was a hospice case manager in Idaho. I had recently had to give up nursing because of illness and several spinal injuries I suffered from a bad fall in 2009. I had been very depressed, feeling worthless, and no longer financially independent, so in August 2010, I began randomly scribbling a story in a notebook. Later I incorporated lots of elements from a novel that I'd lost when my old Apple computer crashed in 2003. I had no plans to publish this story. It was simply therapy. But as the story grew and the characters became more and more alive, I said to myself, "This needs to be published." So many things can inspire me to write: severe weather, terrible headlines about crimes against children and women, animal cruelty, and so much more.
Laura Susan Johnson
I am still going through and editing my second novel Bright, and I'm lazily beginning to outline and scribble notes about my third novel right now. It's sort of a sabbatical with a bit of work here and there.
Laura Susan Johnson
If you have a story inside of you, and you know others would love to experience it, write it. In this internet age, it is very easy to self publish your work. There are several sites that will let you upload your story as soon as you've typed the very last word! Also, use social media to promote your work, especially if you are tight on the money like I am. Give your book a "tagline" or use hashtags for what your book is about or what genre you are writing in. Of course, tell all your friends and family who would support you that you've written a book and need help getting the word out! Never give up!
Laura Susan Johnson
You are creating something special all by yourself, and if you are really fortunate, people will respond to your creation. You're working for yourself and you call all the shots. If you're working with indie publishing companies, most of the time, you welcome their feedback and suggestions, but ultimately, you are still the one with the last word. Being a writer is therapeutic, creative and fun. I'd love to do it full time :)
Laura Susan Johnson
When I experience seasonal depression, the writer's block is very bad. I usually have to ride it out, but sometimes a very fun way to loosen the block is to watch a movie that is inspiring or listen to music that provokes moods like sadness or joy.
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