Active in the writing community, teaching classes and workshops, J. R. Johansson makes her novel debut with Insomnia, a dark and twisted dreamscape of a story.
Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.
Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.
Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?
Site: jrjohansson.com // Blog: jennjohansson.blogspot.com // Twitter // Goodreads
YOUNG ADULT: What made you decide to start writing?
J. R. Johansson: I was going through a difficult time in my personal life and writing became an outlet for me to let everything go and not worry about life anymore. It was the perfect escape and it just turned into a passion for writing that I never expected.
YA: Tell us a little bit about your latest work. What is different about Insomnia?
JRJ: Insomnia is very different from a lot of books out there right now. It’s a male main character, it’s high tension and fast paced, and Parker’s situation makes him one of the most unreliable narrators I’ve ever seen. The reader has to question everything, whether Parker believes it to be true or not.
YA: How did the idea for this book arise? What are your major inspirations (TV, film, other literature/stories)?
JRJ: I have weird dreams and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to see someone else’s dreams. Or if they saw mine, what they would think. It evolved from there. I find inspiration literally everywhere, from a book, TV show or movie, to a particular song or even a story in the news. It’s everywhere if you’re just watching for it.
YA: What is the scariest part of publishing your debut novel? What is most thrilling?
JRJ: The scariest part is probably also the most thrilling. There are real readers out there that are getting their hands on my book, my work. It’s incredible and also a little terrifying. I can’t hide it anymore, whether I want to or not. It adds both a freedom and a new kind of fear when I’ve had a bad day.
YA: Take us through a typical writing day for you.
JRJ: Right now, less than 2 months from release, a typical writing day involves a lot of interviewing and launch prep as well as some work on the sequel. Normally everything is a little more relaxed and I do some drafting, editing and marketing a little more in moderation.
YA: What’s next for you?
JRJ: The next few years will be both busy and exciting for me. I have the sequel to Insomnia coming out in 2014, following by the currently untitled urban thriller I just sold at auction to FSG/Macmillan. That book will release in early 2015 and I have another thriller with them set for 2016.