Interview with Kris Johnston

Author of Sideshow: A Love Story

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I am originally from the Los Angeles area of Southern California and I currently reside just north of there, in the Antelope Valley area.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I was a child when my family moved us to the Antelope Valley in the 1980s. The housing market was good at that time and my grandparents lived in the area, so my parents moved us to be closer. I was 9 when the move happened and the A.V. has been my home ever since.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have always been a writer of prose and stories. From a very young age I was always able to connect emotionally and spiritually to the written word. It’s something I believe I was born to do. Actually publishing, however, was an intimidating idea to me. It was only after I divorced that I knew I needed to stop being afraid and take the leap. So I did. My first published book was one written entirely in rhyme, sort of like a Dr. Suess meets Edgar Allan Poe type of tale. I wrote it as someone looking for revenge from a jilted lover, and the response I received from it was outstanding. It remains my most-reviewed work to this day. From there, I expanded my writing to novels.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are always filled with an element of romance as well as paranormal or fantasy, and they always have what I call, a “clever-ever after.” Meaning the ending you see coming is not always the ending you’re going to get!

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I believe the people most likely to connect with my books are those who have ever been in need of hope or inspiration. My books may sound dark according to the blurbs, but they always contain light.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

What has surprised me most about my writing and publishing journey has been the feedback from my readers. Whenever someone contacts me about one of my books, I am always stunned. For a person to take the time to not only read my work, but to also reach out because it touched them or provided them with something they needed, well, that’s worth everything to me.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Just keep writing! No matter what distractions may come up, always take the time to write something each day no matter how long or short it is.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I would love to see my books reach every single person who needs hope in their lives. If that means five people, great. If it means five million, awesome. The number doesn’t matter. The reader is what matters.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

My biggest challenge is self-marketing. I’m not the type of person who is comfortable selling themselves, and that’s exactly what you have to do to get your books seen.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest strength with writing is my ability to develop fully-realized characters. A lot of my work is character-driven, and my readers have come to expect that from me. My biggest strength with publishing and marketing has been learning the ability to ask for help. When I first started out, I had no idea how to go about all the steps required to publish and then market, but asking for help from others who knew the trade was probably the best decision I made.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest weakness with my writing is that I’m a pantser. I never really know exactly what I’m going to do when I begin a book. I’ve tried being a plotter before and the story that came from it felt stiff, fake, and inorganic. I really love writing a story that even I don’t know where it’s headed until the characters show me. My biggest weakness with publishing and marketing is that I’m not someone who typically asks for help, nor am I someone who enjoys self-promotion, which is something of a requirement in the industry.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m working on my next book right now. It is the 4th book of my Young Adult Paranormal Romance series, The R.I.P. Series. My readers have been waiting a long time for this one and it will definitely be worth the wait!

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am self published. I like having control over my work that you don’t typically get with traditional publishers.