Before I began writing full-time with my novels, I had another profession that gained me a lot of experience useful in my Craig Ramsey - Occult Detective series. The collage says it all. I used to work onstage as a mentalist (sometimes called myself...

Let’s get something straight. You don’t need to be a literary critic. You don’t need a degree. And you definitely don’t need to write 1,000 words analysing symbolism in chapter three. A good review does one thing: It helps another reader decide if t...

Some stories aren’t supposed to end cleanly. I didn’t realise that until I nearly broke this one. At one point, I was tying everything up—every thread, every question, every loose end. It felt right. Neat. Complete. And completely wrong. Because the...

I was recently interviewed by AwesomeGang about my writing, the ChronoSpace time-travel series, and how I approach storytelling. If you’d like to read the original interview, you can find it here: https://awesomegang.com/chris-johnson-2/ Below are s...

Time travel theory sounds chaotic. It’s not. The strongest models — from the bootstrap paradox to fixed timeline theory — are built on structural consistency. Here’s how they actually work. What Is the Bootstrap Paradox? The bootstrap paradox is one...

I wrote this a few years ago, before I left Facebook and before my daughter hit school age. But every time I see parents at the park, I realise it’s even truer now than it was then. This is an unusual post for me. It's about you, a bit about m...

"David," I said, taking my best friend aside to talk. "There's something on my mind, which I have to talk about. I hope you don't mind." David nodded, his face reflecting his usual concern and attentiveness. He always was like that with everyone he ...

(And How It Affected Me as a Mentalist) People are sometimes surprised when they find out I’m an introvert. They assume that anyone who’s spent years on a stage, reading minds and working a crowd, must love being the centre of attention. Truth is, I...

I’ve always believed that readers should have choices. Whether you prefer to read on a Kindle, a Kobo, an iPad, or an old-school PDF on your laptop, you should be able to buy books in the format that works for you. That’s why I publish wide—meaning ...

The other day, someone told me they’d read my supernatural thriller. But here’s the twist—they hadn’t bought it. A workmate had lent them their copy of While He Was Sleeping Now, some authors might whinge at the idea of a shared book rather than a s...

I drew this on the front of my high school folder in 1987. These days, that same folder holds my early book plots, brainstorming notes, and half-baked ideas. The back cover had my version of Roger Moore as James Bond. Both were favourites back then....

When I First Started Writing ChronoSpace When I first began writing the ChronoSpace series, the image of Tony Nowlan hadn’t fully solidified in my mind. I knew I wanted him to be brilliant, driven, and introspective — but the visual and emotional to...

A flash of lightning tore the night sky, igniting the darkness with unsettling clarity. The thunder that followed felt like someone had lobbed a bowling ball into my gut, dragging me from the depths of sleep. I shot upright, blinking against the rus...

Speculative fiction with wit, heart, and a twist of the impossible I am Chris Johnson, and I write adventures in speculative settings: a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy, with a dash of quirky humour. I live in Brisbane, Australia. Near...