Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. You can’t just an author by their book covers!
My name is C. S. Johnson, and I am an author with a new book out, “The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering.” I had entered it into the 2012 Munce Writing Contest in March last year, and it won 2nd place out of over 250 applicants. It was published as part of the prize. It is a series, so I am currently working on book 2, as well as some other projects. While I am glad to have won the competition, I am still waiting for that elusive publisher to come knocking down my door with a 2.4 million dollar book deal. In the meantime, I am working on completing my master’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and I have just started a family with my husband of 3.5ish years. Our son, Leo, was born in January, just 10 days after the book. I tell him he has a book brother.
A large vision I have for myself is giving back. I’m working on several charity projects at the moment, including working on getting my own set up for helping make the world a better place. It’s going to take awhile with all the work involved, but I’m really happy about it. One of the other projects I am working on in the meantime is for Sandy Hook. A couple friends of mine from SNHU have gotten together to write an anthology of short stories we are going to market and donate the proceeds to Sandy Hook. The project was spear-headed by Patrick Donovan, an author at Fable Press, and he has promised us a release date soon! We are all very excited to give back.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering,” which is book 1 of the Starlight series.
A lot of things had come together to inspire it, and it really does reach into a lot of life issues, literature, and myths. But the idea first came to me as my 9th grade math teacher, Mr. Shoemaker, began giving out creative nicknames, one of which was “Wingdinger.” That sparked a superhero inside my mind, and he has never left since. The series focuses on a teenager, Hamilton Dinger, who has a seemingly perfect life, as he comes in contact with the supernatural, a concept he has never wanted to explore, let alone believe in. In book 1, he desperately tries to scramble away from the reality of his supernatural self, even as he is forced to acknowledge it. Some other supernatural superhero beings, such as a changeling dragon, Elysian, and Starry Knight, an archer with arrows of light, help and hinder him along the way.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I do. I talk out loud to myself while I’m writing; this is hard to do at a coffee shop, but it is secretly awesome to freak people out. I also like to write at night, but I don’t think this is so unusual for writers. Most of the writers I know will ONLY write at night. I can’t blame them, either. The darkness has a seductive side to it, while the starkness of day is sharp and pointed.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a state-certified teacher (and I want an online teaching job, if any schools are out there reading this) in English, so I have had the chance to read and share a number of books. With that kind of background, I have been able to appropriate a number of things into the novel – the unreliable narrator, different figurative language, epic qualities, and especially strong character development.
I am what my mother terms a ‘failed idealist,’ meaning that I want the world to be an idyllic place, but it is not, so I will be disappointed a lot. I think because of that I like to write about worlds which are not perfect, either, but more understandably so. I also think I was meant to write. There is nothing that gives me such joy as writing does.
Some of my favorite books include bunch by C. S. Lewis (one of the reasons for my pen name), “Firebird” by Kathy Tyers, Harry Potter, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Star Wars (yes, I have all of the novels as well as the movies), Amy Tan’s books, and myths.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on book 2 in the Starlight series, tentatively named “Calling.” I am also working on making my adult fiction debut, which I think will help get me noticed more. Adult fiction practically comes with a stamp on it that says: WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS ONLY, and as sad as it is, I’ve decided to tackle some pretty big controversies. I’ll leave you in suspense there, pun intended.
In addition to that, just some smaller projects and writing papers for my master’s degree. Honestly, I have 2 huge papers due in the next week I haven’t really started.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been enjoying Goodreads a lot, as well as the groups on Facebook.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Blackmail someone famous if you can.
Just kidding….
My advice to new authors is to just be prepared for a lot of work. I had a bit of a lag in promotion because my book and my baby came out at the same time, so when I was ready to go and I realized how much I had to do, it wasn’t the remaining excessive hormones which made me break down and cry. It still isn’t.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Mark Carver, who is a fellow author from my bachelor’s degree alumni, told me to sign up on Goodreads. That’s probably the best advice I’ve gotten. So many authors and people who work with authors are on it! It really has been a great resource for promotion and meeting new and interesting people.
What are you reading now?
I am working my way through “Love in the Time of Cholera” again. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is another favorite author mine. His writing is very thought-provoking and poignant, not all rosy but still longing for beauty.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing – novels, short stories (which I actually hate), comic strips, and twitter feeds. I had this great idea of trying to write a novel with just twitter feeds. I’m sure someone else will do it before I get around to it, but I thought it would be hilarious.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Really? That’s like asking a mother which child is her favorite. I can’t do it.
Author Websites and Profiles
C S Johnson Website
C S Johnson Amazon Profile
C S Johnson Author Profile on Smashwords
C S Johnson ‘s Social Media Links
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