Category: Writing

Action, Character Development, Horror, Inspirations, James Cameron, Mystery, Science Fiction, THE FREEZER, Thriller, Writing

It’s Murder … in Space by Timothy S. Johnston

TSJ’s Thoughts on His Second Novel THE FREEZER

What Really is the Most Dangerous Life Form in the Solar System?

THE WAR BENEATH Jacket Copy Reveal by TSJ

THE WAR BENEATH Jacket Copy

Here it is — the book description for my upcoming underwater thriller.

I’ve always been excited by books and films set in this interesting, unique and dangerous environment. In many ways the undersea world is more hazardous for humans than outer space. With great depth comes great pressure. This means that structures face implosion at almost any time. It also means that more nitrogen and other gases dissolves in our bloodstream and tissues, and this results in The Bends if a character bolts to the surface. There’s therefore no escape in an emergency. Characters must solve issues on the spot.

They are prisoners of the deeps.

Throw in the superpowers of the world engaged in a new cold war, cities on the ocean floors, submarine warfare and espionage, love and family and greed and revenge, and it makes for an exciting and action-packed undersea world. I hope you enjoy it; the book is coming this fall.

Here’s the book’s jacket copy:

The War Beneath by TSJ Cover Revealed

February 23, 2018 • 0 Comments

Coming this Fall: THE WAR BENEATH by TIMOTHY S. JOHNSTON

Coming this Fall from ChiZine Publications

I’m thrilled to reveal the cover of this underwater thriller, coming from ChiZine Publications this fall!

It has been a long wait for a new novel since THE VOID, released in March 2015, but I promise it will be worth it. This new novel is action packed and exciting, and is set in the next frontier — the Earth’s oceans — during a new cold war. The environment is dangerous but compelling, and the novel takes place at a time when the world’s superpowers are fighting with each other to colonize and exploit the ocean floor.

Here is the cover, below!

The Greatest Trifectas in Film History

January 31, 2018 • 3 Comments

The Greatest Trifectas in (Recent) Film History by TSJ

While writing the blog entry “Where Has the Character-Driven Action Film Gone?” (found here) I mentioned the idea of a trifecta — or “triple” — in film history. There are few directors who can create successful film after successful film. Having one critical and commercial hit is difficult enough. Having two in a row is even harder. And three? Nearly unheard of.

I decided to create a list of the greatest triples in film history. Even the concept seemed absurd, however — what gives me the right to create such a list? Who am I to say one director created a “better” trifecta than another? Moreover, how does one define success or failure in the creative/artistic industry? Sometimes a box office hit can be a critical failure, or vice versa. Well, to be blunt, this is my blog. I’ll write what I want. However, to identify triples and narrow the field it was necessary to create a list of criteria that I would follow.

TSJ at Forty-Seven

January 20, 2018 • 0 Comments

Forty-Seven. Can’t really believe it, but there it is. It’s been quite a ride so far.

I couldn’t have been born at a better time, really. I was born in 1970 and grew up with the explosion of science-fiction films that coincided with the birth of modern f/x. I also had the benefit of discovering novelists from the Golden Age of Science Fiction — Isaac Asimov, Fred Pohl, and Robert Heinlein to name just a few.

TSJ’s Top Three Movies of All Time

January 13, 2018 • 3 Comments

People often ask me about my favorite movies. I try to watch a lot of thrillers and horror, especially in the Science Fiction genre, I like to talk about movies, and I enjoy reviewing great ones on my blog. So, I figured that this might be a good place to write an article about my top three films of all time.

Counting down from Three to One …

TSJ Remembers Wes Craven

January 5, 2018 • 0 Comments

When I learned of Wes Craven‘s passing in the Summer of 2015, it hurt.

He was one of the originals. He was a horror director who helped create the “slasher” genre, but he did so with more backstory and style than some of his peers. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET brought us Freddy Krueger, one of the greatest villains of all time.

So many films of the slasher genre involved teenagers being teens, and having to deal with the repercussions of bad or questionable choices. When this movie appeared I was fourteen years old and among the age demographic that Craven had targeted. (I was perhaps a tad on the young side of the demographic, but the movie had a greater effect on me because of it.) Nightmares are by nature scary and intangible things and have the potential to impact in emotional and scarring ways. Wes Craven tapped into this in a very effective way, and Freddy’s history ensured that he was an invincible villain. Freddy became iconic and instantly recognizable around the world.

Title Change for Book 1 of the New Series

January 2, 2018 • 0 Comments

ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are changing the title of the first book in The Rise of Oceania. It is now THE WAR BENEATH by Timothy S. Johnston.

TSJ on THE TERMINATOR

December 6, 2017 • 1 Comment

I watched THE TERMINATOR on the weekend.

I had to.

It was calling me.

I use the phrases “watershed film” or “watershed book” quite a lot. That’s the point of this entire blog. What are the movies/books/tv shows that influenced me in the years leading to my first attempts at writing fiction? Hell, even the name of this blog — “Life After Gateway” — is a nod to my favorite Science Fiction novel. This blog is dedicated to the books and movies that inspired me in my creative/formative years. A few TV series, some fantastic authors, and a small selection of short stories helped along the way. Certain teachers were invaluable too.