Interview with author Mariah Johnson

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you

Hi! I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where I grew up with two older brothers who definitely gave me the full “little sister” experience. From a young age I let my creativity grow through writing and reading and I even tried to write a book in elementary school titled “Pepsi Can” that was lost with time (probably for the best haha). Writing was not my only outlet; I also picked up singing, violin and piano in elementary school and still enjoy playing for fun in my free time. However, being an author is second to my primary goal of being a physician as I am currently a first year student in medical school. With a great interest in Psychiatry and Pediatrics, I learned that I could combine both my passion for medicine with my love for writing and aspire to continue writing while being a doctor.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Surviving You”?

The hardest part of writing “Surviving You” was accurately portraying the mental illnesses possessed by Mama, as well as predicting how those disorders would affect her daughter, Sophía. I bought books written by authors with Ph.Ds, researched scholarly articles, and tapped into my own knowledge from my studies and working in a research lab for Eating Disorders in Adolescents. At the same time, I was applying for medical school and experienced much self-doubt. What if this makes people with this given disorder feel worse about themselves? What if it’s not interesting enough to readers? Grief and mental illness are such important but difficult topics to illustrate because they are subjective and yet still so universal. I believe we can all take something away from this story.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

There’s this trail on part of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania. The further you walk from the highway, the quieter it gets and, eventually, you only hear the nature around you. Bright green sprouts of grass and colorful short wildflowers line the trail with tall, lively trees standing plentiful around with birds and squirrels moving swiftly through. It’s so peaceful I can actually be present.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

YES! Before I can start anything at all, I need to know the theme. What is this book going to be about at its core, its central message? From there, I create characters and the relationships between them. Next is conflict, then we can begin outlining the plot. All of this happens before I can write a single sentence. The only exception is when I feel a bout of inspiration and write down an excerpt that I will incorporate later into the story.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Surviving You’?

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Surviving You’?

I came up with a few different titles, but I like this one because it is a play on words. Surviving You as in literally surviving her father, and figuratively surviving her difficult childhood.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

When I plan out the plot I only include major plot points and just begin writing so that scenes and character development occurs as I feel the characters’ decisions are naturally putting them on that path. This really connects me with the characters so it’s like I feel what they feel and I do my best to capture that.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Mama has a backstory that wasn’t explicitly stated in the book, but is hinted at. I would consider writing a prequel of her story if readers would want it.