Goodreads asked J.M. Lanham:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

J.M. Lanham I first got the idea for The R.E.M. Effect about five years ago. The original conception wasn't a singular event, but more like a series of events built on top of one another. For example, I had never heard of antisense gene therapy until I stumbled upon the technology while looking for promising biotech companies to invest in. The idea of taking a pill that could change our genetic flaws fascinated me. On top of that, antisense wasn't just science fiction: this technology is still being explored today. When it comes to antisense, researchers have only hit the tip of the iceberg.

I also wanted to touch on the dangers surrounding our culture of pills and prescriptions. We're in such a rush to get a quick fix, sometimes we find ourselves taking medications for conditions we didn't even know we had until a three-minute-long pharmaceutical commercial told us so.

Overall, I wanted to put a sci-fi twist on a plausible concept. I've always enjoyed reading science fiction thrillers that are grounded in reality—at least to some extent. And while this book covers some pretty incredible concepts, I hope readers find it fun and intriguing enough to make it to the last page.

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