Ask the Author: Chris Johnson
Answered Questions (12)
Chris Johnson
Good question, Keli.
Yes—I do, actually. I’ve got another collection on the burner. Most of it was outlined a few months ago, and I’m hoping to have it out later this year or sometime next.
Bit of a teaser: it’s set in Australia, and the structure’s going to be… kind of Inception-ish. A reader’s review of Twelve Strokes of Midnight inspired the concept, and it stuck with me.
That said, I’m also flat out working on the Craig Ramsey series and more in the ChronoSpace world, so it’s a bit of a juggling act. But the anthology is definitely coming.
Yes—I do, actually. I’ve got another collection on the burner. Most of it was outlined a few months ago, and I’m hoping to have it out later this year or sometime next.
Bit of a teaser: it’s set in Australia, and the structure’s going to be… kind of Inception-ish. A reader’s review of Twelve Strokes of Midnight inspired the concept, and it stuck with me.
That said, I’m also flat out working on the Craig Ramsey series and more in the ChronoSpace world, so it’s a bit of a juggling act. But the anthology is definitely coming.
Chris Johnson
I use my iPhone to record my snoring. Last night, it recorded heavy footsteps, and I live alone.
Chris Johnson
That's an interesting question. There are so many mysteries in my life I find difficult to explain.
1. How did I come to be so lucky to have won my wife's heart? That could create so many novels, just by changing the setting. It could work as a paranormal romance, a science fiction, or even a fantasy.
2. Why does the buttered side of toast always land first when dropped? What if I strapped some to my cat's back? Cats always land feet-first. If I strapped the toast to it's back, would it even land or would it spin in the air and levitate a few inches above the ground in a spin cycle?
3. Family secrets. Yes, that would work. I could write about the worst day of my life - the day I discovered I wasn't really adopted!.. and what came next.
1. How did I come to be so lucky to have won my wife's heart? That could create so many novels, just by changing the setting. It could work as a paranormal romance, a science fiction, or even a fantasy.
2. Why does the buttered side of toast always land first when dropped? What if I strapped some to my cat's back? Cats always land feet-first. If I strapped the toast to it's back, would it even land or would it spin in the air and levitate a few inches above the ground in a spin cycle?
3. Family secrets. Yes, that would work. I could write about the worst day of my life - the day I discovered I wasn't really adopted!.. and what came next.
Chris Johnson
This is an unexpected question.
I don't know many couples in fiction, at least not many spring to mind, but I do like Claire and Jamie from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Before that, I hasten to add I liked the concept of the Phantom (Kit Walker) and Diana Palmer from the comic books. Another fictional couple are Tori Alexander and Maelgwyn from Traci Harding's numerous books.
They all share common characteristics: a strong male, and a strong female. The women are strong in temperament, do whatever it takes, and keep their femininity without appearing as "the damsel in distress". The woman is just as likely to come to the rescue of the man, in these cases, so both characters shine.
I don't know many couples in fiction, at least not many spring to mind, but I do like Claire and Jamie from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Before that, I hasten to add I liked the concept of the Phantom (Kit Walker) and Diana Palmer from the comic books. Another fictional couple are Tori Alexander and Maelgwyn from Traci Harding's numerous books.
They all share common characteristics: a strong male, and a strong female. The women are strong in temperament, do whatever it takes, and keep their femininity without appearing as "the damsel in distress". The woman is just as likely to come to the rescue of the man, in these cases, so both characters shine.
Chris Johnson
Hi Kate, and thank you for stopping by.
It's hard to pick one favourite aspect of writing "Twelve Strokes of Midnight" as it is a collection of short stories.
I think the idea of creating a book of short stories, using each of them to represent the striking of a clock at midnight, is what I liked the most about it. That was my original intention in 1996 when I first thought of the title. As I wrote them, I used to laugh to myself at what would happen when people picked up that I added a few "Easter Eggs" to the book. One of them is very obvious, but only if the reader continues to the very end.
I also like that people who have read it are responding well to it overall, especially to a few of my favourite stories.
It's hard to pick one favourite aspect of writing "Twelve Strokes of Midnight" as it is a collection of short stories.
I think the idea of creating a book of short stories, using each of them to represent the striking of a clock at midnight, is what I liked the most about it. That was my original intention in 1996 when I first thought of the title. As I wrote them, I used to laugh to myself at what would happen when people picked up that I added a few "Easter Eggs" to the book. One of them is very obvious, but only if the reader continues to the very end.
I also like that people who have read it are responding well to it overall, especially to a few of my favourite stories.
Chris Johnson
That's a good question, Phillip.
I think the best way to answer that is I ask myself the question, "What if", and create a situation. "What if I had a family secret? What could it be?" That question resulted in the story of Eva as can be read in my "Twelves Strokes of Midnight".
Or, "What if that toy I had as a kid had some special powers?" - That resulted in "The Magic Carousel".
The tricky part comes down that sometimes the tales do not end the way I originally expect. "The Lady In White" was my attempt to do what I failed to do with "No More Goodbyes". Both of those stories took different twists to what I planned.
I think the best way to answer that is I ask myself the question, "What if", and create a situation. "What if I had a family secret? What could it be?" That question resulted in the story of Eva as can be read in my "Twelves Strokes of Midnight".
Or, "What if that toy I had as a kid had some special powers?" - That resulted in "The Magic Carousel".
The tricky part comes down that sometimes the tales do not end the way I originally expect. "The Lady In White" was my attempt to do what I failed to do with "No More Goodbyes". Both of those stories took different twists to what I planned.
Chris Johnson
One word at a time. (I had writer's block answering this question)
Seriously, just write. Sometimes writing a story can actually bring out twists and turns that you don't expect. The characters may dictate how something happens or something else in that universe happens out of their control as well. That is when the story takes a whole different track (similar to how "One Man's Wife" changed on me while I wrote it).
"No More Goodbyes" was another one that took a different twist. I was thinking of making it a phantom hitch-hiker story but it became something else altogether.
Just do it (writing). If you type one sentence about how you feel, you have come close to breaking it than someone who looks at a blank page or screen and wallows in it.
Seriously, just write. Sometimes writing a story can actually bring out twists and turns that you don't expect. The characters may dictate how something happens or something else in that universe happens out of their control as well. That is when the story takes a whole different track (similar to how "One Man's Wife" changed on me while I wrote it).
"No More Goodbyes" was another one that took a different twist. I was thinking of making it a phantom hitch-hiker story but it became something else altogether.
Just do it (writing). If you type one sentence about how you feel, you have come close to breaking it than someone who looks at a blank page or screen and wallows in it.
Chris Johnson
My most recent book, Twelve Strokes of Midnight, is a collection of stories. Each of them started with me asking myself, "What if?"
Originally I wanted a whole series of short stories with ghost themes. That started to fall down the drain when I wrote "Eva" which is about a vampiress and (spoilers removed). One could think of the Undead as "ghostly" but it didn't fit the profile. Then came "Bag of Life" and a few others and, before long, it became more a selection of paranormal thrillers that a lot of people have told me they enjoy for one reason or another.
Originally I wanted a whole series of short stories with ghost themes. That started to fall down the drain when I wrote "Eva" which is about a vampiress and (spoilers removed). One could think of the Undead as "ghostly" but it didn't fit the profile. Then came "Bag of Life" and a few others and, before long, it became more a selection of paranormal thrillers that a lot of people have told me they enjoy for one reason or another.
Chris Johnson
That's a good question! I'm lucky that I have a lot of ideas come to me. The tricky part is turning those great ideas into a minimum of 40,000 to aim for a novel. Otherwise I can belt out a short story from them.
The best way to find inspiration is to look at people and places around you. Take a walk through the mall or in the park. Become a people watcher.
As a mentalist, I am a natural people watcher and I find myself creating character sketches from the people I see. Sometimes I create secret identities for them, similar to Indiana Jones, Miss Marple, etc. When I have a character in mind, I ask myself, "What would happen if this person were to ......." and that's when the story comes.
Other times, I may be watching the news and think, "What would happen if...." and that is how I started my current work in progress.
The best way to find inspiration is to look at people and places around you. Take a walk through the mall or in the park. Become a people watcher.
As a mentalist, I am a natural people watcher and I find myself creating character sketches from the people I see. Sometimes I create secret identities for them, similar to Indiana Jones, Miss Marple, etc. When I have a character in mind, I ask myself, "What would happen if this person were to ......." and that's when the story comes.
Other times, I may be watching the news and think, "What would happen if...." and that is how I started my current work in progress.
Chris Johnson
Currently I am working on a few different things.
One is a non-fiction book, related to my work as a stage mentalist. It could possibly turn into two books but baby steps for now.
I also have a few other stories/novels kicking about in my head. At least one of them is a spin-off from one of the stories in Twelve Strokes of Midnight. Although there are fresh new characters, one particular character will make a brief but important cameo.
One is a non-fiction book, related to my work as a stage mentalist. It could possibly turn into two books but baby steps for now.
I also have a few other stories/novels kicking about in my head. At least one of them is a spin-off from one of the stories in Twelve Strokes of Midnight. Although there are fresh new characters, one particular character will make a brief but important cameo.
Chris Johnson
To quote one company.... Just do it. It doesn't matter how many words you write. Make sure to write every single day. You could write about how you feel, what has happened on that day. Eventually you will develop a flow and a sense of how to write entertainingly. The rest comes from there.
Chris Johnson
I enjoy writing because I get the chance to create new worlds, and tell the stories of different characters. Sometimes it can be quite therapeutic as well.
For example, one story I wrote in Twelve Strokes of Midnight was pure escapism for me. One day I asked myself, how do we know that we don't go to other worlds when we dream? That led me to asking myself, how do we know this is not a dream right now? Then I started down the track of thinking that perhaps this particular world/reality now is truly a lucid dream with some strict rules created (eg: gravity). So I started writing about a guy who had a really poor life and that in another world he was a man of great influence. Unfortunately the story did not go quite the way I wanted but I managed to work some emotions out by the end of it.
But there is one thing much better again. Writing is a form of entertainment and, being a stage entertainer myself, I enjoy the chance to entertain people with my stories.
For example, one story I wrote in Twelve Strokes of Midnight was pure escapism for me. One day I asked myself, how do we know that we don't go to other worlds when we dream? That led me to asking myself, how do we know this is not a dream right now? Then I started down the track of thinking that perhaps this particular world/reality now is truly a lucid dream with some strict rules created (eg: gravity). So I started writing about a guy who had a really poor life and that in another world he was a man of great influence. Unfortunately the story did not go quite the way I wanted but I managed to work some emotions out by the end of it.
But there is one thing much better again. Writing is a form of entertainment and, being a stage entertainer myself, I enjoy the chance to entertain people with my stories.
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