Boundary author Mary Victoria Johnson talks to us about her vintage 1920s typewriter, the need for perseverance and prioritising writing over homework.

 Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm currently finishing up my last year of high school in Chilliwack, British Columbia. I was born in Cambridgeshire, though, so I consider myself equal parts Canadian and British. I started writing seriously when I was around 12 or 13, and completed Boundary when I was 14. In the autumn I'll be attending the University of Victoria to work towards a degree in Literature and Creative Writing.

Tell us about your latest book.

The second novel in my Other Horizons trilogy, Barrier, should be published by Lodestone Books late this year. It's young adult fantasy, with definite historical elements to it, continuing where Boundary left off. After struggling to escape the world they've been trapped in for their entire lives, the teens who succeeded have to try to find a way to save those still trapped inside, but confronted with manipulative villains and a strange new society, this task is made all the more difficult. It's hard to say much else without giving anything away!

Do you have any advice for budding authors? 

I know it's cliched, but the best advice I can think of is simply not to give up. The statistics of the publishing world are so stacked against you, and suffering through rejections can be daunting to say the least. Writing, rewriting, plotting, editing... it's all tough stuff, but if you can persevere, the end result is very much worth it! Especially for other teen writers, I know it can be difficult to be taken seriously, but don't let that stop you either. There is no age limit for becoming an author.

Where do you write?

On my laptop in our living room, usually. We have a massive armchair that works perfectly, and it's now known in our family as 'Mary's Writing Chair'! I also have a vintage 1920s typewriter on a desk in my bedroom, so I do quite a bit of plot and character outlining on there. Really anywhere will work; I've written on beaches, trains, planes, you name it!

How do you find the time to write?

By prioritising it above my homework (don't tell my teachers!). Really, I just schedule writing time in as you would a workout regime and make sure to stick to it. Usually I make sure to get everything that needs doing done by evening time, then I can sit back and write without niggling distractions.

What do you think makes a great character?

Flaws! It sounds odd, but I find the most boring type of characters to read about are those which are absolutely perfect. Nobody is perfect in reality, and it's impossible to connect with those, in fiction, who are. Another must-have is motivation, especially for villains. What fun is a bad guy who acts evil simply for the sake of it?

Read the paperback of the first book in the Other Horizons trilogy – AMAZON US AMAZON UK INDIEBOUND

Read the ebook of the first book in the Other Horizons trilogy – AMAZON US AMAZON UK INDIEBOUND

 

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