60 seconds with J. R. Vieira

What if your mind could create another world when you go to sleep? A haven to protect you from the pain where your loved one never leaves.

That's the thought that psychological drama and thriller author, Jessica Vieira had during her university philosophy class, inspiring her novel, Before the Sun Sets.

In 60 seconds, Jessica discusses her writing journey, why exploring the theme of grief in her novel is important to her, and more.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm an independently published author living in Canada.

I’ve always liked writing in one form or another - first with journaling, then poems (that will never see the light of day).

I didn't connect with my passion for writing until I wrote a thriller short story in my high school English class. Something about the suspense, the high stakes and the twists sparked something in me.

My author career started later on in 2020 when I decided to take active steps in publishing my novel. It had been hiding in the closet for far too long.

How did you first become interested in writing psychological dramas?

I’ve been an avid reader in the thriller genre since I was twelve.

I enjoy the escapism that comes with reading. The capacity to travel to another place while sitting in your living room is incredibly satisfying, but also therapeutic. I enjoy the twists and turns. The mental exercise of trying to figure who did it and why attracted me to this genre and I have always wanted to create that experience for someone else.

Although my first novel, Before the Sun Sets, is a psychological drama, it includes the suspense and twists of a thriller with Ellie’s unreliable point of view.

Tell me more about Before the Sun Sets. What inspired the storyline, and what can readers expect from it?

I was inspired to write Before the Sun Sets during one of my philosophy classes in university. We were discussing hypothetical situations and my mind wandered. I started thinking of how the mind works in weird ways; in our dreams and in our decision making.

I remembered a dream I had about my family member the day after they passed. I was in their kitchen and they squeezed my hand with a melancholic smile which translated to goodbye. Then in that class, a thought popped into my head. What if your mind could create another world when you go to sleep? A haven to protect you from the pain where your loved one never leaves.

From that day onward I couldn’t stop thinking of my story. It haunted me until I put it on paper.

Readers can expect a story of love, grief, despair, addiction and hope through Ellie and Trevor’s point of view. It is a story with two different worlds – the real world and the dream world – colliding. It will take you on an emotional trip of highs and extreme lows.

Before the Sun Sets expresses the importance of dealing with grief, but also fighting to not lose yourself in the process.

Why was it so important to you to explore grief in particular?

Whilst all my characters are fictional, the emotions in dealing with loss are real. A while back, I lost two family members tragically. It froze me in place - incapable of accepting my new reality - while the world moved on without me.

It made me question life and my own existence. I’m familiar with grief and the damage it can do to someone. Although I didn’t go through the same thing as my characters, I have felt their pain.

We all develop different coping mechanisms when dealing with a loss of a loved one. Some even refuse to grieve, but grief will creep up, one way or another, if it is neglected.

I aim to shine the light on the difficulties of everyday life while coping with grief and loss, because we often suffer in silence. It is important to know we are not alone in our struggle and though it may feel impossible, with time and acceptance, we start to heal.

Are there any specific scenes in your novels that were challenging to write?

There were a few challenging scenes when writing Before the Sun Sets. Particularly when Ellie and Trevor find out their son, Jake, dies (this is not a spoiler, I promise). Putting myself in their shoes, took me back to a dark place when I lost my loved ones. Reliving the grief was difficult.

Can you share any memorable fan interactions or feedback you’ve received?

The most memorable response, and biggest complement, was “you made me cry.”

I don’t want to make others cry in general, but as an author, if I am capable of making someone feel raw emotions for fictional characters, then I’m doing my job.

I have had such amazing interactions with people during my signings as well. I remember a woman in particular that opened up to me about losing her mom because of my story. She said she connected to Ellie’s character a lot. We related to each other even as complete strangers and I think that is a beautiful thing.

What is the hardest thing you’ve done in order to write a book?

I would say neglecting my health and social life for three months straight to make a deadline. I had been too ambitious and set a tight deadline with my editor which led to writing non-stop every single day after work and on weekends. During those months I felt isolated and exhausted.

Writing a book, especially being self-published while having a full-time job, is hard. It is still a challenge today as both my author career and my day job require full-time attention.

That is the reason why my current work-in-progress is not finished. I decided to prioritise my health by focusing on realistic timelines while enjoying life with family and friends. I don't want to be in a place where writing is no longer my passion, so I do my best to take it one step forward no matter how small it is.

Tell us about your work in progress?

I’m currently working on my second novel, a suspenseful detective thriller. This is very different from my first novel and with it comes new challenges. I’m loving the process and I’m looking forward to having it published in the next couple of years.

I’m also working towards having Before the Sun Sets available on audio book through Audible. I recently started listening to audio books and it has been a wonderful experience. I want to provide this experience with my novel to those that prefer to listen rather than read.

Can you sum up your work in progress in 5 words?

Be careful who you trust.

And finally, if you could tell your past self anything, what would it be?

This is a great question. I would have so much to tell my past self.

Firstly, I would tell her worrying about what others think is a waste of time.

Then, I would tell her to get out of her own head and retrieve her manuscript from the closet. Keep writing. I would tell her not to be scared of failing. In order to grow, we need to fail. In reality, we only fail if we quit.

And lastly, it is a definite no, if you don’t try.

About J. R. Vieira

Jessica Vieira was born in Canada and has lived most of her life there. She also lived in Portugal for six years, until the age of 10. Her passion for languages persuaded her to become an ESL teacher and live in Spain for three years.

Jessica has always enjoyed writing, but her love for it really blossomed when she studied for her BA in English and minor in Spanish at the University of Ottawa.

Jessica is a first-time author of Before the Sun Sets. She currently resides in Ottawa. When she is not writing or with her dog, she spends her time reading, hiking outdoors, and eating out with friends.

Find J. R. Vieira here:

·        https://www.instagram.com/j.r.vieira_author/

·        https://www.jrvieirabooks.com

Before The Sun Sets

Ellie feels lost and alone after surviving the car accident that killed her seven-year-old son, Jake. She needs help to cope with her grief and survivor’s guilt, so her doctor prescribes her sleeping pills. These pills do more than help her sleep; they bring her son back.

In her dreams, Jake lives on, her family is whole, and it’s as if the accident never happened. But seeing her son for a few hours at night is no longer enough. She wants more, but the more time she spends with Jake, the worse her health and relationships in the real world become.

The line between Ellie’s worlds begins to blur. When she is deprived of her pills, it threatens everything she has come to believe is real. She wants it all, and she will push past the point of no return to get it.

Available now on Amazon.

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