Guest Post by Elana Johnson + Giveaway: Signed Finished Copy of Possession!

Today, a famous debut author is visiting Fragments of Life and honoring us with a brief post about her debut, Possession. Ladies and gents, please welcome…Elana Johnson!

Examining Dystopian Lit to Examine Ourselves

POSSESSION is what I’m calling “an angry girl novel set in a futuristic society.” You’d probably call it a dystopian novel. *wink*

The novel—and all dystopian literature—means something to me, but I’m not sure it does to everyone. I didn’t write POSSESSION with a specific agenda, or as a commentary, of any kind. I wrote it because it’s the kind of book I like to read. I think that’s something all authors should strive to do—just write a book they’d like to read.

That said, I do think there are some messages inside the story. My inspiration for the novel was the question: “What if people had completely lost their free will?” and that easily translated into a young adult novel, because most teens (the ones I polled today, anyway) believe they’re living that kind of life. They’ve always got someone in their face, telling them what to do.

So POSSESSION does have some interesting themes there: Who’s telling you what to do/believe? Are you listening?

I also think POSSESSION twists good and bad in interesting ways. I enjoy thinking about what is good and what is bad, and who gets to decide those things. So, of course, that way of looking at things made it into the novel. I do think that this classic examination of one’s thoughts/beliefs is present in most dystopian novels. They are “thinking” novels, and I like that about the genre.

I’m hoping readers will crack open POSSESSION with an open mind, and close it having thought a little bit about what *they* believe. And why. And who’s telling them that. If they don’t, that’s okay too.

What dystopian novels have you read? Did they make you think about yourself? Your life? What you believe?

Elana's debut novel, POSSESSION, will be published by Simon & Schuster on June 7, 2011.

She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query.

She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, and is a member of SCBWI.

Giveaway: Signed Finished Copy of Possession

*CLOSED*

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about 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.

Elana is awesome! Why? She’s offering a signed finished copy of her debut, Possession, to one lucky reader!

Rules:

Be a follower.

Answer Elana’s question: What dystopian novels have you read? Did they make you think about yourself? Your life? What you believe?

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Open internationally!

Ends June 13, 2011!

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