Interview: John P. Johnston

The following is an interview I had with John P. Johnston, author of the well acclaimed book "This Side of the Gate" I spoke with John many times on the phone and each time I felt more enlightened on Atlantis and reincarnation. Hope you enjoy looking into the life of an author and look for a review on his book in our Book Reviews this month.

Starzcast: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, and like most boys I enjoyed all the popular sports of the day. We lived in the suburbs and I spent my summers playing baseball, swimming at the local pool, and climbing trees with my friends. Reading became an important part of my life around the age of 10 when I discovered the Hardy Boys. From that point on I became an avid reader of adventure stories. Around the age of 16 I happened upon a copy of Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by C.G. Jung. Reading Jung’s autobiography signaled the beginning of a new adventure, one that launched a long and wonderful journey, initially into the discipline of psychology, ultimately into the realm of metaphysics, beginning with Edgar Cayce, culminating in Alice Bailey. I didn’t start writing until approximately eight years ago, but once I started I soon realized that yet another adventure had begun.

Starzcast: Why do you write?

Why do I write? Writing for me is not just a form of expression, but a journey of self-discovery. While writing I am aware of the fact that I am very passionate about sharing my ideas, all those wonderful impressions that arrive from the depths of consciousness. However, I am also aware of the fact that frequently those revelations only reluctantly emerge into the light of day, demanding a birthing process that sometimes requires careful thought, additional research, and quiet meditation. Consequently, I find that writing stimulates and develops the connection that exists between spirit, mind, and body, a process that never fails to both clarify and refine the very core of my identity.

Starzcast: Tell us a little about the plot for This Side of the Gate.

This Side of the Gate is the story of one soul’s journey – 32 incarnations into the world of physical manifestation. The story is told by the soul itself, who shares psychological and spiritual insight, but not without a healthy dose of dark humor. The journey spans 12,000 years and includes historical information heretofore unavailable to the public. Each of the 32 lifetimes is entirely unique; however, those lifetimes are in fact connected, which is demonstrated by the unique karmic conditions experienced by the various incarnations. Those cause and effect patterns - the fact that the actions of one incarnation frequently impact other incarnations, hundreds, if not thousands of years later - are frequently explicit, but occasionally subtle, requiring some contemplation on the part of the reader.

Starzcast: This Side of the Gate is original and spectacular! As the author are you continually looking for the "answers to life"?

When it’s all said and done, we are all searching for meaning and purpose in our lives. And every life has meaning, regardless of the circumstances. We all share the same journey – the journey of self-discovery, and that journey takes us through many, many lifetimes. For me self-discovery is all about relationship. And the most important relationship, the one that determines the nature of all other relationships, is the one we have with ourselves. Typically we have a series of disconnected relationships, one with our environment, one with our friends, another with family members, and yet another with our God. That arrangement creates a lot of stress, because each relationship demands some form of adaptation; however, when we have fully integrated our personalities, not just within the context of the present life, but within the context of our past lives, then we are able to free ourselves from some of that external control because we are no longer limited by time, but fully integrated into time, and therefore well on our way to becoming fully aware of who we really are. We have no choice but to inhabit time; however, when we comprehend the timeless nature of our inner being, that unbroken thread of consciousness expressing itself one life to the next, we are no longer confined by time, nor are we defined by it.

Starzcast: How do you feel This Side of the Gate is different from other books in the same genre?

This Side of the Gate is totally unique. I am not aware of any other novel written from the point of view of the soul, let alone one so thoroughly packed with psychological insight and spiritual guidance. Nor am I aware of any other novel that depicts both the sowing and the reaping of karma, lifetime after lifetime, over a period of thousands of years. In a very real sense This Side of the Gate is autobiographical, because many of the lifetimes depicted in the book are based upon my own recollections. Of course, those recollections have been dramatized for the sake of literary artistry.

Starzcast: How long did it take you to write This Side of the Gate? What did you learn from writing this book?

The writing of This Side of the Gate was undoubtedly a labor of love. I was eight years writing it, the last five years full-time. During those years the extent to which the evolution of my own consciousness paralleled the evolution of the book gradually dawned on me. Achieving greater clarity on the page frequently translated into greater clarity in both thought and intention, ultimately incorporating my voice into the rhythm of the book. On a more practical level I learned to persevere, no matter the difficulty, no matter how bleak the outlook. Having learned the value of perseverance, I now consider it essential for the success of any meaningful endeavor.

Starzcast: What do you hope to achieve with This Side of the Gate? What do you hope readers will take away from reading This Side of the Gate?

As a writer my goal is to awaken the soul of humanity. Life after death! Reincarnation! These concepts should be explored, and ultimately embraced by the public. We need to realize, both individually and collectively, that each and every one of us has inhabited the body of every racial form, and that each and every one of us has incarnated time and again into many cultures and many religions. This is how consciousness evolves, through cyclic manifestation, learning and growing through diversity. I want my readers to understand that death is not what it seems, that it is neither a terrible loss, nor a horrible tragedy; that we simply transition to another realm of existence, only to once again return with a new and better plan. Beyond that I’d be very pleased to learn that at least some of my readers are benefiting from the method of advanced meditation revealed in my book, that they are tapping into their own Divine Inner Presence.

Starzcast: What has been your feedback from readers?

The feedback has been positive and encouraging. Many people have told me that one reading of the book doesn’t do it justice, and that they intend on reading it again in order to fully engage the wealth of information it contains. Some of my readers have reported feeling uplifted and inspired, while others have experienced increased dream activity, awakening in the morning with a sense of having worked on something important during the hours of sleep. At least one reader reported having experienced death on the battlefield during the Napoleonic Wars.

Starzcast: What’s next?

I have an idea for another book, not a novel, but something similar to a self-help book. What I have in mind is a series of lessons and guided meditations designed to facilitate the reorganization of the reader’s subconscious mind, while at the same time creating an avenue of descent for the higher self. The idea has presented itself to me on several occasions, and I can already sense the healing power that will be released through this book. Meanwhile, my attention is focused upon the task of marketing This Side of the Gate.

Starzcast: What was the last book you read?

I recently finished reading Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte, and am now reading the sequel, Purity of Blood. Captain Diego Alatriste is a veteran swashbuckler who is constantly running amuck in 17th century Spain, most notably with the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition. The story is narrated by the Captain’s young protégé, Inigo Balboa, whose father died in combat while serving with the Captain. Both the narrative style and the delightful mix of reverence and irreverence are similar to my own writing style. As far as non-fiction goes I am currently re-reading Alice Bailey’s A Treatise on the Seven Rays, a five volume set of metaphysical books that have greatly influenced my thinking.

Starzcast: Do you have hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

My favorite hobby is vacationing on the island of Maui! Actually, I have never developed any hobbies beyond reading, writing, and the practice of meditation. I do however go to the gym, and find that working out regularly keeps me anchored in the physical world, nicely balancing the other aspects of my life.


This Side of the Gate is the story of one Soul’s journey through many incarnations, sometimes playing the part of a villain, sometimes that of a courageous warrior, occasionally that of a student or teacher. Each lifetime is entirely unique; however, those lifetimes are in fact connected by a cause and effect relationship. Hence, the actions taken in any given lifetime invariably affect future lifetimes, sometimes hundreds, if not thousands of years later. Life’s inherent struggle and the inevitability of death are essential themes, and many of the chapters include penetrating insights into the nature of life beyond the grave. The underlying premise of the book holds that reincarnation blesses each of us with an opportunity to grow and evolve. On a practical level, reincarnation lends insight and understanding to circumstances and events that would otherwise have no meaning. In addition many people discover a wonderful sense of relief when they realize that they do not have to meet every challenge, satisfy every obligation, or achieve every goal in this lifetime. It helps to know that lessons learned are not lost, and that mistakes made are not final. They find comfort in the realization that they will be given other opportunities. Imagine the good that would prevail if we could but realize that each and every one of us has inhabited the body of every racial form, and that each and every one of us has incarnated time and again into many cultures and many religions. This is how consciousness evolves - learning and growing through diversity.

John P. Johnston holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington. His first novel, This Side of the Gate, was published by AuthorHouse in October, 2005. In February, 2006 John appeared on Contact Talk Radio, The Sixth Sense, with Alan and Margaret McElroy. In 2006 Planet Starz – Mystic Living Today published an online interview and book review, and continues to publish articles from the author’s Ancient Wisdom Series. In September, 2006 John was interviewed by Daniel Ott, host of The Edge. After 25 years in the field of corrections, John is now retired and writing fulltime. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his lovely wife – his constant companion and chief editor. John is an avid reader in the areas of psychology, philosophy, and metaphysics.

Press Kit

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