Chat With J. R. Johansson

[Colleen]

Welcome to the group! J. R. will be answering questions in May in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

[Colleen]

So my first question is...have you been to jail? Did you go for research? I've been inside a prison before, not for myself. (quick disclaimer) I was hired to interpret. I can tell you it was a frightening experience having all those doors close behind you.

[Colleen]

I am anti cop show. I just don't like them. The exception being Law and Order SVU. For some reason I enjoy that show. I like the cops. Don't really know why. Anyway, because of this I didn't think I was going to enjoy reading The Row but I'm like addicted to it. I pick it up to read one chapter and end up reading four. I loved your other books too but this one is fantastic!

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "So my first question is...have you been to jail? Did you go for research? I've been inside a prison before, not for myself. (quick disclaimer) I was hired to interpret. I can tell you it was a frig..."

Hi Colleen! Thanks for hosting me and for featuring THE ROW for your book club! No, I have not been to jail, but I did a ton of online research specifically about the Polunsky Unit and I watched several documentaries. I totally agree. It's freaky.

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "I am anti cop show. I just don't like them. The exception being Law and Order SVU. For some reason I enjoy that show. I like the cops. Don't really know why. Anyway, because of this I didn't think ..."

Thank you! I watched a few different cop shows for awhile, Law and Order SVU being one of them. It was important to me to come at this from a different perspective to what we always see on those shows. We never see what happens to the family of the person who gets convicted of a crime. There is tragedy on all sides here, but we usually only see one. I wanted to approach this differently. I'm so happy you're enjoying it!

[Ink_spill_archivist]

Colleen wrote: "So my first question is...have you been to jail? Did you go for research? I've been inside a prison before, not for myself. (quick disclaimer) I was hired to interpret. I can tell you it was a frig..."

Interpret?
Do you speak more than one language?

[Colleen]

Kelsey wrote: "Colleen wrote: "So my first question is...have you been to jail? Did you go for research? I've been inside a prison before, not for myself. (quick disclaimer) I was hired to interpret. I can tell y..."

Yep. Before I was a writer, I was an American Sign Language interpreter. Still do that on occasion for friends or the hubby but not for a career.

[Ashley]

What is your favorite genre of book to read?

[Lanchon]

Paranormal and shape shifter romance and medieval romance aswell

[J.R.]

Ashley wrote: "What is your favorite genre of book to read?"

Hi Ashley,

It sort of depends on my mood, to be honest. But I read thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi, romantic comedies, kind of a bit of everything.

[Ashley]

Those are all great ones. Do you have a favorite music group?

[Colleen]

Ashley wrote: "Those are all great ones. Do you have a favorite music group?"

I am a total 80's girl, so mine is probably Bon Jovi. He's still hot by the way. Also I like boy bands. J.R.? You're younger so 90's?

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Those are all great ones. Do you have a favorite music group?"

I am a total 80's girl, so mine is probably Bon Jovi. He's still hot by the way. Also I like boy bands. J.R.? You're y..."

I'm kind of a music freak. I love 80's hair bands, the Beatles, Bon Jovi (you're right, he's cute), Twenty One Pilots, One Republic, Avicii, Fall Out Boy, Meghan Trainor, Imagine Dragons, tons of others--and I have a serious musical crush on Ed Sheeran. So...I cover all the bases. :)

[Ashley]

Bon Jovi is a heartthrob! Speaking of which do you have any favorite book boyfriends? Mine is Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy and of course any guy Colleen writes :D. I still need to get my hands on one of your books.

[J.R.]

Ashley wrote: "Bon Jovi is a heartthrob! Speaking of which do you have any favorite book boyfriends? Mine is Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy and of course any guy Colleen writes :D. I still need to get my ha..."

Hmm...yes, I love Colleen's guys too. Also, Kasie West writes some dreamy guys. So does Sara Raasch. I love book boyfriends!

[Ashley]

What is your favorite book that at first you had low expectations for but it ended up surprising you and being extremely good?

[Lanchon]

Among wolves by Nancy Wallace

[J.R.]

Ashley wrote: "What is your favorite book that at first you had low expectations for but it ended up surprising you and being extremely good?"

I read The Martian when it first came out and before I'd heard any buzz about it. I wasn't sure what to expect and it was FANTASTIC! I absolutely loved it!

[Colleen]

So I'm reading your nightmare series, the last one Mania and I'm wondering how you even slept while writing these. I lie awake thinking about them. =)

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "So I'm reading your nightmare series, the last one Mania and I'm wondering how you even slept while writing these. I lie awake thinking about them. =)"

Haha, thanks! Yeah, honestly, it was strange. Writing about someone that was suffering such intense exhaustion made me VERY tired. I slept very well while writing that series, oddly enough.

[Kylie]

Do you have any tips for emerging authors? I am trying to finish a collection of Haiku but I also write short stories, full novels, and other poetry in my free time. Have you ever written poetry before?

[J.R.]

Hi Kylie,

I've never been much of a poet, but I know a lot of authors that are. I think I'd like to try my hand at it some day, but haven't had a chance to sit down and focus on that yet. I think my tip for emerging authors would be to celebrate every little victory, because sometimes they can feel few and far between, and to just keep writing. The measure of success shouldn't be about how big of an advance you get or whether you hit a list or anything like that. It should be something you can control. You can control whether or not you consistently pursue the art you love. Keep at it!

Best of luck!

[Colleen]

How do you wind down at the end of a long writing day?

[Colleen]

What were you like in high school?

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "How do you wind down at the end of a long writing day?"

Movies and TV shows are my way of connecting to my creativity while still relaxing. That's a great choice for me.

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "What were you like in high school?"

Haha...um, I would say that I was outgoing and flirty. Very involved in choir and musicals. I dated a lot (both friends and actual romantic interests) and had a lot of relatively innocent fun.

[Cheikh]

no sorry I have never been with you in this wonderful books club but I like it and I have to be with you for every time

[J.R.]

Cheikh wrote: "no sorry I have never been with you in this wonderful books club but I like it and I have to be with you for every time"

Welcome! :) Thanks for coming by!

[Mary]

Is writing a psychological thriller draining for you? When I create dark characters, I find that it is more difficult to develop them because I can not relate to their sinister nature. I have to really get in touch with hard times I have been through, and it is difficult. What is your experience of writing in this genre?

Mary Clare Emerine
The Stone Keeper's Realm

[J.R.]

Mary wrote: "Is writing a psychological thriller draining for you? When I create dark characters, I find that it is more difficult to develop them because I can not relate to their sinister nature. I have to re..."

Hi Mary,
Yes, it can be very draining. It's important to tap into the raw emotion for characters, but also important to be able to step away from them for a while. Never forget to do that. You have to come back fresh occasionally to really get the characters right.

Good luck!

[Colleen]

Chocolate or caramel?
Coke or Pepsi?
Beach or Mountain?
Thriller or Romance?
Star Trek or Star Wars?

[Lanchon]

Caramel,Star Trek

[Lanchon]

And mountain

[Shara]

Where do you like the write the best? Can you write on vacation?

[Shara]

How do you research your characters, locations, and tidbits of history and things like that?

[Tonnie]

Who is your favorite character? Is it one of yours?

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Coke or Pepsi?
Beach or Mountain?
Thriller or Romance?
Star Trek or Star Wars?"

Let's see,
Caramel
Coke
Beach (but in the shade)
Thriller
Star Wars

[J.R.]

Shara wrote: "Where do you like the write the best? Can you write on vacation?"

I can write on vacation, but I often choose not to. I like writing anywhere that I can avoid distractions for awhile and be comfortable. At home, I write in my office, at my kitchen table or on my couch.

[J.R.]

Tonnie wrote: "Who is your favorite character? Is it one of yours?"

Hmm...It changes often, but I would say my current favorite is Hermione Granger. She's awesome.

[Colleen]

I've never heard of guiding your dreams. Is that a real thing or did you make it up? If its real, have you tried it?

[J.R.]

Colleen wrote: "I've never heard of guiding your dreams. Is that a real thing or did you make it up? If its real, have you tried it?"

It is something that I've read about and tried, but I've never been able to successfully do it...so, I guess the jury is still out on that one.

[Linda]

Talking about guiding your dreams, I think I've been able to guide my dreams a tiny or replay a scene over or slow it down when I'm not deep sleeping, like in the last hour maybe of sleeping.

Ok, so my question is what percentage of your average week would you say you spend working on your writing? Also, do you have a good life/work balance and if so, what is it?

[J.R.]

Linda wrote: "Talking about guiding your dreams, I think I've been able to guide my dreams a tiny or replay a scene over or slow it down when I'm not deep sleeping, like in the last hour maybe of sleeping.

Ok,..."

Hi Linda,

I currently spend around 20 hours per week writing, but it's less than I'd like because I've been helping out with my sister's business lately. Once I cut back, I'd like to increase to 30. I feel like there is no specific number of hours that creates a good life/work balance. Every writer needs to figure out what works for them. I'm happy with my balance in general, but that doesn't mean that I don't have weeks that I feel I fell short in one area or another, you just have to keep working at it.

[Colleen]

Thanks everyone for joining the chat this month. Our winner is Kelsey! Don't forget to stop by next month when my featured author is Sarah Beth Durst!