Interview: Elana Johnson, Author Of POSSESSION And SURRENDER!

*originally posted on September 29, 2011 @ Reel YA*

I'd like to welcome YA author/blogger extraordinaire Elana Johnson to Reel YA! Elana's the author of the YA dystopian, POSSESSION, which is in stores now. The companion novel, SURRENDER, was released this past June by Simon and Schuster. 

Without further ado, here's Elana's quick interview:

Favorite movie genre

I can only have one?! I love movies. Probably romantic comedies the best.

Favorite teen movie

I'm not sure what a teen movie is... Movies with teenagers? How about 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU? I like that one. Oh, and A CINDERELLA STORY with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. Especially Chad Michael Murray... 

(Oh, Chad Michael Murray... *stares*)

If Violet Schoenfeld could direct her own movie, which genre would she choose and why?

Vi would want to go as radical as possible. Maybe like a steampunk/western/fantasy? Ha! She's all about doing whatever she wants, no matter what. 

(and that's why I love her!)

What's one thing you've learned as a writer from watching teen movies?

Relationships are messy. They're messy in movies, they're messy in real life, they should be messy in books, too. 

(word)

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. 

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Huge thank you to Elana for taking time out of her schedule to answer some Qs! Make sure you pick up your copies of POSSESSION and SURRENDER, which are available now!