Rick Koestler

Rick Koestler: Why I began to write SleepWriter

I've always wanted to write a story about a man that sleepwalks to his computer and begins writing a story. When he wakes the next morning, he notices his computer is on and there is a file on his desktop screen he does not recall putting there. I thought I could build on that concept and come up with a real thriller.

Well, the idea sat in the back of my head for quite some time until one morning a dear friend of mine called me at 5:30 am, irritated that I texted her at 2 am and 5 am. After telling her that was impossible, I was asleep the whole time, she produced the evidence to prove that I indeed had written to her... in my sleep. At first it shook me but then when it kept happening, I would always apologize and ask her what I wrote. The text was always like a mumbled dream... probably my subconscious. I wrote a one-word text once, it read simply 'God'. Then another time wrote, 'I'm chop meat... I know, it sounds crazy, but it's true. So, after having produced this phenomenon myself, I felt dually authorized to begin a new novel entitled, 'SleepWriter'.

The book is dedicated to my brother Kenneth Vincent Koestler, who recently passed on from a long bout with lung cancer.

Many of the names that appear in the book are names of family members and their wives.

For instance my protagonist's name is Ken Vincent and his love interest is Martha, but she likes to be called Marti. She is and was my brother's charming wife.

I hope you enjoy the read as much as I did writing it. Here's to you Ken!