Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Uznis Johnson
Hi Beth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my journey as a creative writer more than twenty years ago and worked as hard as I could to publish my first novel in January 2024. So, what’s next? Having accomplished my goal to be a published author doesn’t mean I’ll have the chance to publish another. The work continues. I now need to take a deep breath, utilize everything I learned along the way, keep writing, and keep submitting my work.
It’s strange sometimes to accomplish a goal, only to feel back to square one. There’s often a bit of a letdown, like you expect the whole world will change. But. I need to remember that I have tools to do the work and the next book awaits. For writers, it’s getting back to it that matters most.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not kidding when I said I tried as hard as I could. I went back to school for creative writing and attended dozens of writing conferences and workshops. I made connections with other writers and made some great friends along the way. I submitted hundreds of short stories, essays, and query letters for novels. I always referred back to that saying: ‘every no is one no closer to a yes.’
I also tried to remember that working to become a better writer was the only way to improve my work enough to find a publisher. It wasn’t always easy to admit my novel manuscript needed another revision. I had to take a deep breath…and get back to work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My first novel, Coming Clean, was released by Regal House Publishing in January 2024. It’s the story of a cleaning lady named Dawn who agrees to pose for her friend’s provocative photography project…in the houses she cleans. But leading up to that, I’m most proud of the work I did a long the way. When I decided I wanted to pursue creative writing, I had zero experience and no publications. It may have taken me two decades to hold that novel in my hand, but I also have other credentials now on my resume.
I’ve published short stories and personal essays in literary journals I dreamed about. The only way was to keep writing, revising, and submitting. I have a LOT of rejection letters, but it makes the handful of acceptances that much sweeter. I’m most proud that my personal essay, “Your Friend/My Friend, Ted,” was selected for inclusion in Best American Essays 2018. It’s an essay about my friend’s suicide, and the last thing he said to me was: “Beth, good luck with your writing.” It’s an honor to have written about him and to have received recognition.
For writers, who receive a lot of rejection and who require the patience to persevere, what sets any successful writer apart is never giving up.
Any big plans?
I’m realizing that being a published author doesn’t change much, though it is very exciting to see my book online and in stores. If I want to publish a second novel–which I do–it’s back to the same routine of writing, learning to be a better writer, and submitting my work. I have two novel projects I’m very excited about for the future.
One is complete. It’s called The Morning People and tells the story of a frazzled wife and mother of little kids who finds herself on a dreaded theme park vacation. Marcia invents lives for the people she sees as a way to stay sane during the mayhem. She has to come to terms with the needs of her family along the way as she recognizes her own needs. Part of the fun was inventing an imaginary theme park called Parklando, which is a budget version of Disney.
The other novel is in progress and I’m making yet another revision. It’s called Step Back Joanna and is about a 25-year-old aspiring social worker who was punished for her obsessive-compulsive tendencies as a child, and who is now trying to start an adult life in Chicago. Her younger brother suddenly shows up at her door with similar OCD symptoms. Joanna has to help Nathan in order to help herself through the OCD diagnosis. What’s fun about this project is that the siblings embark on a project to cover mirrors around Chicago and Detroit as a way to keep their symptoms at bay.
I hope to publish both these books someday. Fingers crossed.
Pricing:
- Coming Clean is available for $19 from Regal House Publishing and wherever books are sold.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bethujohnson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buzjohn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buzjohn1
- Twitter: https://x.com/buzjohn
