Meet Lena M. Johnson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lena M. Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lena M., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I actually started my career as a scientist, not a writer. I grew up wanting to be a paleontologist, so I studied biology in college. That career didn’t pan out due to some hard conversations and a couple choices (although I did get to volunteer as a fossil preparator for a while!). Maybe if I’d taken a risk on a poorly paying career with few job openings, I would be answering this question differently. But I didn’t. I have some regrets because of course I do, but I don’t regret my life. The scariest thing about risk is regret, and I don’t want to regret. I choose to look to the future, not the past.

With that said, I would love to be a full-time writer. I came about writing as a hobby that’s in a position to grow. But a lot of the author industry is built around things I can’t control. I can control the quality of my book, the cover, the blurb. I can’t control when the algorithm changes and my marketing fails to reach my readers. I can be a writer and have a full-time job. Also it’s nice not to put too much pressure on my writing to put food on the table. That can easily take all the fun out of it.

I’m privileged to have a job that provides a good salary and time available to write. Maybe I’d be in a different position if I’d taken more risks, but I’m content and I have the resources to write the stories I want to tell. There’s definitely something to be said for the risky choices–greater the risk, higher the rewards maybe, but there’s nothing wrong with taking the safer path. Life isn’t filled with as many absolutes as we’re led to believe.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I write science fiction with female main characters and strong friendships, often including animal companions. I share a house with four cats, and I can’t imagine going through life without a companion.

I’ve loved science fiction and fantasy for as long as I can remember. Star Trek/Stargate/Star Wars was always playing in my house, and my bookshelves were filled with Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein. I was reading the Wheel of Time series in like sixth or seventh grade. My ideas mostly come from taking these stories and asking “what if”?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love nature and roadtrips, so I’d take my friend around through some of my favorite places:
– Walk through Garden of the Gods
– Sit by the water at Fountain Creek
– Visit the top of Pikes Peak (I always love taking the train)
– Visit Painted Mines

I’m not up on the best places to eat, but I do enjoy Rasta Pasta, Gunther Toodys, Quijotes (they have the biggest chile relleno burrito I’ve ever had), and Wade’s Cafe.

If we have time, I would head up to Denver for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Morrison Museum to check out amazing fossils.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize my friend and unofficial mentor, E.J. Dawson. She saw my potential and bent over backwards to help me. She’s an incredible person, and a fantastic writer.

Website: https://lenamjohnson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlenamjohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlenamjohnson/

Other: https://linktr.ee/lenamjohnson

Image Credits
Lena Johnson