Slinger, Wi – Kara Johnson lives with her large family of eight in Slinger, WI. Johnson can often be found with an iced coffee in hand and her precious fat cat, Meiko, by her side. When she’s not buried in a book, crafting a story, or brainstorming her next big idea, you can find her on the volleyball court—playing or coaching.
Johnson is a setter for the Hartford Volleyball Club on the 17’s Black Team. Her passion for the game fuels her drive to keep pushing toward her goals, both on and off the court.
Known for her curiosity and creative imagination, Johnson’s dedicated to uncovering unique stories that bring out the fantastical and innovative elements of her mind.
In this article, Johnson invites readers to join her on a journey—not only into the heart of the story – but into the process that brought it to life.
Johnson said, “Since I can remember, I’ve always dreamed of becoming an author. My journey began as I attended Allenton Elementary School. My first and second grade years opened my eyes to creative writing. Time and again, my teachers told me, ‘You’ve got such a creative mind’—a compliment that’s stuck with me through the years. I remember taking a notebook out to recess instead of running and frolicking on the playground. I would sit under the slide and lose myself in my own complex stories. Reading them back, they’re not quite as captivating as I remember them, but we all have to start somewhere, right?
“Among all of my teachers, Ms. German from fifth grade, stands out as one of the most
influential. Her passion for learning and her way of connecting with me, left a lasting impact that shaped my love for reading and writing. She would ask a student to stand at the front of the classroom and share a short story they’ve written. Naturally, I would raise my hand, and start to read my 10-page, double-sided start to yet another book.
After a minute or two, Ms. German would gently pause me to allow other students to share, but she always made a point to read everything I wrote and give me thoughtful feedback after class.”
In 2020 Johnson dove headfirst into reading, discovering fantasy worlds that ignited her imagination and set her on a journey to create her own. Inspired by The Lunar Chronicles series and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, she began crafting a story that combined
fantasy, romance, and adventure—a tale she’d always wanted to read but had never quite found.
With the help of her close friends, Chloe and Tianna Loether, Johnson sketched the first elements of what would become Unveiled. Together, they brainstormed characters, settings, and scenes, transforming her initial spark of an idea into the foundation of an entire world.
“At first, it was all excitement,” Johnson said. “We came up with Briar (who eventually became Verena), Jetson, and the world of Astrius. I wanted a story with excitement, love, loss, heartbreak, and adventure—a book that readers of all ages could get lost in. So, I wrote the book I’d been searching for.
“Over the course of a year, I had the entire plot mapped out. After lists of sassy comebacks, charts and maps of Astruis, drawings of keys, and little sketches of Briar, Jetson, and Amara, I started down the rocky path of writing Draft One. The story started with Vouchon (Atticus’s original character name) capturing Briar at a ball, and off they went to find the rest of the keys. It was thrilling, I’m sure.
“Looking back, I cringe at each sentence. Spending hours upon hours watching authors on YouTube teach of character creation, internal conflict, how to fix plot driven stories, etc. led me to the realization that I would have to rewrite this entire book. Four times. Briar’s name was changed to Claire, then finally to Verena. Vouchon switched to Atticus, and Laurence was added into the third draft of Unveiled.
But writing this book wasn’t without its struggles. Johnson admitted to facing the daunting challenge of writer’s block, which held her back for nearly seven months.
“After finishing my fourth draft, I was stuck. I had to walk away for a while, but the dream of seeing my book on a Barnes & Noble shelf kept me going,” she said. “I remember finally picking it up after avoiding it for so long and soon found myself completely immersed in its world.
“That’s when I realized if I wanted to make my dream a reality, I couldn’t let writer’s block stand in the way of this story being told.”
The result was worth the effort. With the support of her Alpha Reader, Liljana Bokan, Kara
refined her story through multiple drafts, giving each character depth, tension, and complexity. Now, Unveiled is a world of unforgettable characters, an intense (but clean) romance, and fast-paced adventure, created with care for every detail.
“The love and support I’ve received throughout this process has been so motivating and
comforting. I can’t express how much every text of feedback, each word of encouragement, and review (good or constructive) means to me.”
Johnson said, referring to her family, friends, church community, teachers, and school mates. “I hope Unveiled brings readers the same heart-pounding joy that The Lunar
Chronicles and Pirates of the Caribbean brought me—a sense of adventure, wonder, and belonging. My dream is for readers to escape into this world, connect with these characters, and find a piece of home within the pages. If even one person reads Unveiled and feels inspired to create a story of their own, then I’ll know I’ve achieved my goal. In the span of four years, I not only completed Unveiled, but the next two books in the trilogy as well. The adventures of Verena, Jetson, Amara, and Laurence kept unfolding, each moment sparking new ideas and taking the story in unexpected directions. I realized their journey couldn’t be contained in a single book—they had so much more left to tell.”
Johnson’s journey to becoming a published author is one of persistence, imagination, and heart—a testament to the power of following your passion, no matter the obstacles. With Unveiled now available on Amazon, readers can dive into the magical world she’s crafted, a world Johnson hopes will inspire and captivate you just as deeply as the stories that first inspired her.
A book signing will be at Subway, 1450 W. Washington St, West Bend, WI 53095 on
Friday, December 6 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Meet author, Kara Johnson, and get your book signed.
The owners of Subway are offering a free footlong churro to anyone who buys a copy of Unveiled during the book signing.
