Today's Savvy Sensation is, wait for it, Elana Johnson, author of Possession!! I know can you believe it? Sqwee!! If you don't know anything about Elana then I have to first say, where the heck have you been?? And follow that with: go and read every blog she's ever written plus her books (especially From the Query to the Call if you are or ever will be querying) because she knows her stuff. Oh, and here's some random trivia for ya: I went to school with her husband (who I considered a very good friend) and her older sister (yes, that means I'm older than Elana Johnson) so I kinda feel cool to be only 2 degrees away from her on the whole separation stuff.
LB: Who are you?
My name
is Elana Johnson. I write angsty teen girl novels, mostly. My debut, published
by Simon & Schuster in June 2011, is called POSSESSION. I blog at http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com and http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com. I also co-organize WriteOnCon
(http://writeoncon.com), teach elementary school, and enjoy bacon.
LB: Um, like all of those things are SUPER AWESOME. Who missed WriteOnCon? Cuz you shouldn't of. I digress...Where can we find you online (blog, twitter,
facebook, etc.)?
Oh, I
put that up there! Ha! Okay, here’s the rest of my online endeavors:
LB:When did you begin your online platform building?
I
started blogging for the QueryTracker blog in January 2009. That’s a full 2 ½
years before my book came out, 11 months before I had an agent, and 14 months
before I sold my first book.
LB: What is your message, if any?
Hmm,
I’m not sure I have a message. I just like to interact with people online. My
blog motto is “Navigating the publishing world with splashes of real life.”
That’s basically what you’ll get on my blog.
LB: How
have you built your followers -
What have you done that has
been the most successful?
Comment
on and follow other blogs. This is almost always reciprocal. You want more
people to comment on your blog? Comment on theirs. I’ve also found that giving
away free stuff brings people to your blog, as well as participating in promotions
with other authors that reach outside your network.
LB: What have you done that has
failed?
Organize
very complicated giveaways. They’re a headache for me, and everyone else.
LB: What else should we know about you?
I enjoy
reality TV, sleeping in, and laughing.
LB: Any additional advice for our readers?
Write
the best book you can, and then be brave and submit it!
LB: What makes you unique?
I’m
double jointed in my hands, which means I can bend the first knuckle on all my
fingers without bending any of the others. It’s quite freaky.
No,Elana, freaky is that you are on my blog because I think I'm a super fan (is that a little weird? ok, pretend I didn't say it). And everyone else, I have to say from what I have seen Elana is one of the hardest working, most genuine, and generous authors out there. There is much to learn and admire from her. Not that you need an award, but here it is, Elana. Feel free to share it if you like and thanks so much for being here today!! :)
