When Insomnia Pays Off...

When I can’t sleep I stare at the ceiling (or worse, the clock). Meanwhile, New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch came up with an enticing premise for her latest novel The Insomniacs (out today). Clearly, I need to boost my midnight productivity.

Four insomniac strangers — a lonely middle-aged mom, an injured baseball player, an elusive retiree, and a young waitress — find unexpected connection during late-night meetings at a diner in, of course, the city that never sleeps. As they share their fears and form a fragile bond, they begin to feel like an unlikely family. When one of them suddenly disappears, the group is pulled into a mystery that forces them to confront how well they truly know one another. In searching for answers, they must decide how far they’re willing to go to save their friend — and themselves.

With its smart, page-turning mystery and deeply compelling characters, The Insomniacs is sure to make for another sleepless night for me — but for all the best reasons.

Let’s dish on Allison’s story process, the trait she shares with her characters, and just how many drafts it took to reach The End.

**To enter our drawing for a chance to win a copy of The Insomniacs, drop a comment below by Sunday.**

Author Confessions (AC): What’s your take on the idea of “write what you know”?

Allison Winn Scotch (AWS): I think there’s a kernel of truth behind this concept, in that you need to be able to understand your characters and their journey in order to write truthfully, but I also think if you limit yourself to “just what you know,” your range will surely be limited.

In my books, my way in is always by emotionally relating to one of the central characters and building the world from there — the circumstances they find themselves in rarely mirror my own but by connecting with their mindset, I can dive in and see the world from their eyes.

AC: Why did you write this book and why now?

AWS: Well, haha, per the above, I am not a very good sleeper. 😊 So this idea came to me via circumstance. I was up in the middle of the night knowing that I had to pitch several book ideas, and I thought: wouldn’t it be amazing if there were a whole nocturnal support system of people we could rely on and befriend who would help us assuage our anxieties in the middle of the night? That was the seed.

Then, per the above, I started with Sybil, a woman at midlife whose circumstances were not reflective of my own but whose circumstances I could relate to nevertheless. As far as why now? It feels like increasingly, so many of us are staring at the figurative ceiling these days — the timing just felt right.

AC: Did any experiences or events from your life shape the plot?

AWS: Nothing particular about the plot, other than I wish I were a better sleeper. But I had a really great time writing Zeke, a famous athlete, which is a profession and type of character I’ve never written before.

When I was younger, the very first thing I wanted to be when I grew up was a sportscaster — I’m old enough to have spent mornings scouring the sports section of the newspaper to read all the box scores. So this was a really fun way to dive back into that world a bit.

AC: Are any characters — or aspects of characters — based on you or anyone you know?

AWS: No. I never base any characters on people I know in real life. I find that really limiting creatively because once your characters have to start making choices based on the circumstances you have placed them in, you find yourself boxed into a corner asking what would the person you know in real life do? And the answer may be wildly different than the character on page. I, personally, think it’s a mistake to try to fictionalize real people instead of spinning someone from your imagination.

AC: Do you find yourself drawn repeatedly to the same or similar themes? Why?

AWS: Hmmm, good question. I think I like exploring characters who aren’t living their best lives and forcing them into growth to try to change their circumstances. I also tend to write very strong women, sort of putting my money where my mouth is, in terms of what I want to see in the world. I think I’m just expressing what interests me — culturally, politically, humanistically. I like to think we are all still works in progress, so I enjoy nudging my characters along to improve their lives.

AC: Any details in the book that reflect your real life?

AWS: In this book, no. In the past, I used a college reunion as fodder for In Twenty Years, a reunion book. But generally, I’m not sure I live an interesting enough life to base an entire book on! Oh wait, I just remembered when I read your below question: I am obsessed with Sudoku, and I worked that into the book!

AC: Any fun “confessions” you’d like to make? Or things no one knows about you?

AWS: If I could be paid to play the NYTimes games professionally, that would 10/10 be my dream. I would also like to be hired to be a professional thrifter — my kids make fun of me but I can find almost anything you need at either a discount price or secondhand. It’s almost like the NY Times puzzles for me: a game that I won’t quit until I solve it.

Behind the Keyboard: AKA The Top 10 List

1. How long did it take from the book’s beginning to The End?

About a year

2. How many drafts?

Oof, about six, including two complete rewrites after 150 pages, which I had to throw out and start over.

3. Do you use a daily word count / time period / etc to know when you’re done for the day?

Yes, 1000 words a day 5-6 days a week.

4. Type or handwrite?

Type

5. Plotter or pantser?

Pantser

6. Beverage or other pre-writing routine of choice?

Orbit gum with water

7. Do you read outside your genre? If so, what?

I will read pretty much anything, as long as it’s well-written. I love dystopia and sci-fi, but will read historical fiction, romantasy, suspense…anything that I think looks like it will keep me turning the pages.

8. Most exhilarating aspect of writing?

When I have a day where 1000 words feel like absolutely nothing.

9. Most challenging aspect of writing?

When I check my word count, and I’ve written like 43 words but it felt like 1000.

10. Favorite resource for writers?

Hmmm, not sure I really have one but certainly other writers. It’s important that you find your crew and network so you can commiserate and celebrate, sometimes simultaneously.

To enter our drawing for a chance to win a copy of The Insomniacs, drop a comment below by Sunday. If you enjoy a book, then leaving a good review is the best gift you can give an author.

To learn more about Allison and connect, check her out at @aswinn at your social media of choice…