Today we’re excited to be connecting with Justin Johnson again. We’re excited to feature one of their products in our gift guide – learn more below and we encourage you to use your gift budget to support small businesses & creatives whenever possible.

Justin, we loved learning your story, but I think our audience is going to appreciate learning about the product side of your story as well. So, maybe you can help bring everyone up to speed?
Scattered is a collection of poems between the time periods of 2012-2019 from my humorous and eclectic mind. While some pieces are contrived from complete fantasy others tap into my mental and personal history. Whether it’s dealing with my own self-doubts and depression, reminiscing over past relationships or presenting interesting stance towards social and political issues, my erratic writing style is here to remind people that they aren’t in this alone and a good laugh can help battle any personal conflicts they are facing.

What’s been the most exciting part of the journey of taking this product from idea to real life?
Seeing something that came from my brain become tangible in the real world to be available for purchase is something childhood me who wrote stories in math class would be so ecstatic about. For people to reference my book to me randomly on a Tuesday morning when I “forget” that I even have a book and talked about the thing they are referencing in it. People how book makes them laugh, cry or teach them something they didn’t know.

How do most people hear about your product?
I’ve been doing open mic shows, panels and readings to promote my book. I’ve also posted videos of me performing the poetry from the book on Instagram and YouTube. Word of mouth is the oldest form of marketing as well. I try to tell people about the book as much as I can.

What’s next on the product or brand roadmap?
I’m currently working on getting SCATTERED in more Barnes and Noble and independent bookstores. Even looking to sell the book in places a person wouldn’t stereotypically think to find it. I’m also in the process of turning the book into an album so people who aren’t readers can experience the book in a different media.

Image Credits
Elmer Quintero @thirty1eighty8 on Instagram @baba.selah on Instagram