Women Who Rock Wednesday: Elana Johnson!

Welcome back to Women Who Rock Wednesday! See, I'm doing more of them as promised and bringing you some super cool ladies with amazing books out!.

First off, we have a prize to announce. The winner of Jessica Brody's MY LIFE UNDECIDED is Mitzy from blogger! I will be emailing you today, Mitzy, to get your mailing address.

Now let's meet Elana Johnson and learn about her book POSSESSION, which, yes indeed, you will get the chance to win!

Q: Please tell us what your new book is about and what inspired you to write it.

Elana: POSSESSION is about an angry teenage girl who lives in a futuristic society where she can’t make her own choices. Well, that doesn’t really work for her, so she breaks the rules. Chaos ensues.

I wanted to write a dystopian novel, and I love exploring things that cause a strong human emotion—and free will (or the absence thereof) definitely does that.

Q: If there was a soundtrack for your book what are five songs that would be on it and how do they relate the story?

Elana: 1. If You’re Not the One by Daniel Beddingfield (this is Zenn’s song. He’s just so in love with Vi, and can’t understand why he feels that way, and she doesn’t.)

2. Perfect by P!nk (This is Vi’s song. She has so much pressure to conform, to be perfect, and she’s not sure she can shoulder it.)

3. She Will be Loved by Maroon 5 (This is Jag’s song. He’d pretty much do anything to let Vi know how valuable she is.)

4. Waiting for the End by Linkin Park (This is just a great song about the ending of a relationship, of which there are many endings in POSSESSION.)

5. Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones (Just because I like the idea of painting over everything in black to block it out or whatever.)

Q: Who were some of your inspirations to become a writer or the inspirations that keep you writing? Feel free to include other authors, teachers, parents, or people in other creative fields, whoever is an inspiration to you!

Elana: I have two author friends who email with me regularly. Their work ethic constantly inspires me to work harder: Christine Fonseca and Ali Cross.

I also think of Lisa & Laura Roecker and Beth Revis as two inspirations to keep my chin up and keep forging ahead.

Q: Even though music plays in so heavily into my storytelling, I rarely can actually listen to it while I'm writing. Can you? How does music fit into your writing process?

Elana: Oh, yeah. Music is the only thing I have found that drowns out the kids! I love listening to music, especially during the editing stage. It really helps me tune everything else out and focus on what needs to be done.

Q: What is next for you? What are you working on now?

Elana: Up next are edits on the companion novel to POSSESSION. It’s tentatively titled FUGITIVE, and will release in June 2012.

Q: I have two questions that I always ask my Women Who Rock, the first is a two-parter. What was the first album you bought and the first concert you attended? Be honest, we don't judge, we like to see the roots of our women who rock!

Elana: I am lame, but I was an adult before I attended a concert, and it was The Dixie Chicks. *hangs head in shame* I can’t remember the first album I bought…

Q: Tell us about your biggest rock star moment, perhaps it's a moment of real success in your career, a time when you met someone super cool and had that Wayne's World "I'm not worthy" moment, or just a time where you felt like you got the rock star treatment. I get a huge variety of answers for the questions, so it's pretty much whatever "rock star moment" means to you!

Elana: My first rock star moment was when I met LaVell Edwards, the head coach of the Brigham Young University football team. He was buying oranges at the grocery store (who knew celebrities do that??). It was pretty awesome to see someone in real life that you see on TV.

Today's Contest:

After hearing more about it, I'm guessing you want POSSESSION and you are in luck! Elana is offering up a copy!

This contest is open to international entries!

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment. However you can gain additional entries:

+1 for tweeting or posting on facebook about this interview
+1 for tweeting or posting about POSSESSION
+5 for blogging about POSSESSION

Note your additional entries in your comment as well as giving me an email address or some way to contact you if you win. I will be drawing the winner next week on June 29th when I bring you another lovely gal who rocks, Stacey Jay!