We chat with author Briana Johnson about If I Could Go Back, which is an achingly compassionate and beautifully empathetic novel exploring the intersections of race, mental health, and the meaning of family—perfect for fans of Robin Benway’s Far from the Tree and Jas Hammonds’ We Deserve Monuments.
Hi, Briana! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a Chicago native that’s recently returned to the city within the last 5 years or so. Currently, I’m working in IT as a Systems Analyst and travel for work so I’m always on the move. Especially, since I also enjoy traveling for leisure. I’m a big fan of movies and you can often find me watching movies with the most ridiculous premise’s. I often like watching movies where people get stuck somewhere—stuck on a ski lift, stuck in an ATM building, stuck in a sauna, etc.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I absolutely loved reading as a kid/teenager, but it wasn’t until I started writing a full length novel back around 2016 that I realized how much I truly enjoy writing. A lot of that came from the characters I created in that first book, but even as I shelved that project and moved on to other things, I found myself falling in love with the art of writing and creating stories.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Green Eggs & Ham.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Sunrise on the Reaping has been on my mind ever since I read it.
Your debut novel, If I Could Go Back, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Compassionate, empathetic, funny, complex, powerful.
What can readers expect?
Expect to read about a complicated family that’s trying their best to protect my main character, Aaliyah, from the harsh reality of life when it comes to her parents. If I Could Go Back is complex in the way that people are in real life. Things are messy and don’t always fit into this perfect plan, but that’s what makes the story and our lives exciting.
Where did the inspiration for If I Could Go Back come from?
During the time when I was figuring out what story I wanted to tell, I was dealing with a situation where I was re-meeting members of my own family after having minimal contact for many years. I began thinking about how a teenager would handle a situation like this, how they would feel, what their thoughts would be and from there, the story started forming.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing the complex relationship between Aaliyah and her cousin Ivy. That idea of wanting to protect someone you love from themselves and a person or persons that you know will hurt them so much that it angers you was fascinating to me. It’s easy to say that Ivy is annoying and to quickly move on, but she truly cared for her cousin and wanted the best for her and honestly couldn’t understand Aaliyah’s desire to have her parents in her life. By the end, I think she gets it and that’s special to me.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Trying to find the balance with Ivy’s anger and her reactions was probably the toughest thing for me to deal with. It helped that my amazing editor Ashley guided me toward the proper path with that.
What do you hope readers take away from If I Could Go Back?
That it’s okay to want answers and to take the time to figure things out for yourself rather than letting others make those decisions for you.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I spent a few years learning the craft and finding my voice. Once that was where I wanted it to be, I was selected for Pitch Wars and was paired with my lovely mentor Laurie who helped me take my novel to the next level. Because of Laurie and her edits, I was able to get on the radar of the person who would become my agent, Sam. Together Sam and I went on sub and within a few years, we got the yes from my editor Ashley. It’s been a super positive experience and I’m so lucky to have worked with Laurie, Sam, and Ashley. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a second secret book! Unrelated to If I Could Go Back, but still a YA. Hopefully, I get to announce that soon and talk more about the plot. (It’s really good).
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
The new Adam Silvera book, The Survivor Wants to Die at the End is at the top of my list. He’s one of my favorite authors and I’ve loved everything I’ve read by him, so I’m really excited to read that one. A friend of mine, Gigi Griffis, has a book coming out called And the Trees Stare Back that I’m really excited about, especially after reading her last book The Wicked Unseen. I absolutely loved that one!
