Lana Wood Johnson
Agent
Lana Wood Johnson was born and raised in Iowa in the time before the internet but has spent the rest of her life making up for that. After years working in wireless communication for companies of all sizes, she now works doing the same for a local youth shelter. Lana lives in Minnesota with her husband and their English bulldog. TECHNICALLY, YOU STARTED IT is her debut novel.
Find Lana on her website, or follow her on Twitter @muliebris.
Bibliography
- StandaloneSpeak For YourselfLana Wood Johnson
- StandaloneTechnically, You Started ItLana Wood Johnson
Reviews
Standalone
Speak For Yourself
"A clever cyber-age novel[...] Johnson successfully conveys the pitfalls of following too narrow a path in a novel whose wit and relatable crises keep pages turning."
"Group chats, goal lists, press releases, and emails replete with coding and app-creating language give this charming romance a modern feel. Readers will enjoy the authenticity of the friendships and the crush drama as they read between the lines."
"[A] gripping novel that combines academic competition, app creation, and a hint of romance to create a story that will have readers cheering on Skylar page after page."
"Skylar is the perfect storm – ambitious (overly), caring (to her own detriment), and smart as can be"
"Brimming with sharp banter and heartfelt confession in equal measure, Speak for Yourself is a love letter to everyone who's ever held their goals so tight, they nearly missed what life had to offer. Skylar Collins is a delight, and Lana Wood Johnson is a modern Jane Austen for the iPhone crowd."Adib Khorram, author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay and Darius the Great Deserves Better
"A love story like no other, filled with teen angst, drama, academic decathlons, high school crushes, and characters you'll love."Mason Deaver, author of The Ghosts We Keep
"Speak for Yourself is relatable, witty, and delivers the perfect twist on a classic romance trope. Johnson captures the messy awkwardness of teen life with refreshing honesty. This geektastic book had me grinning until the very last page!"Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running with Lions
"One part an homage to nerdiness, one part love story with a dash of rom-com goodness, Speak for Yourself will appeal to anyone who's a go-getter, a ride-or-die friend, or most importantly, a dreamer."Kosoko Jackson, author of Yesterday Is History
"Speak for Yourself perfectly interweaves crucial facets of the high school experience into a nerd-perfect soufflé of banter, chat threads, and lunchroom dynamics."Sarah Henning, author of Throw Like a Girl
"A warm and witty rom-com about coding, missed connections, and letting yourself want more than you think you deserve.Amanda Sellet, By the Book
Technically, You Started It
“This quick and compulsive read relies on an elaborate case of mistaken identity and a phone-based relationship that affords Martin and Haley the chance to get to know each other outside of the strictures of high school hierarchies and teenage insecurities. The story unfolds entirely in text messages, which run the gamut of goofy inside jokes, self-aware angst and a slow burn of building feelings.”
"Johnson’s clever debut speaks to Generation Z’s cyberculture by validating online friendships."
"Hand this to readers who like different formats and their romances more on the cerebral side. Good fun.”
"Debut author Lana Wood Johnson serves up a summer sweet, emotionally fraught-slash-hilarious teen romcom plot line perfect for fans of Netflix movies like To All the Boys I've Loved Before."
"Told entirely through texts between the two main characters, Johnson takes a risk with her unconventional format-and it more than pays off.
"Inventive.... The all-text format could be a gimmick in less talented hands, but here the dialogue sparkles as it lets readers inside these teens' heads. It's a surprisingly powerful way to illustrate the true value of connection."The Austin American-Statesman
"If you are a fan of teen/young adult rom-coms, don’t miss this one!"
"Poignant and hilarious, nerdy and joyful, Technically, You Started It reminds us that true connection transcends any medium, evenin-especially in-the digital age."Adib Khorram, author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay and Darius the Great Deserves Better