In Cody Newman’s Insanity Journal, author Cody T. Newman opens the door to his own emotional labyrinth, guiding readers through the loops of pain, confusion, and catharsis that accompany human suffering.
Written from a deeply personal place, the book blurs the boundary between fiction and self-reflection. The result is a haunting meditation on the fragility of the mind and the strength it takes to confront the darkness within.
Quick Look
Title: Cody Newman’s Insanity Journal
Author: Cody T. Newman
Genre: Psychological Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Publication date: October 16, 2025
Availability: Kindle Unlimited, Amazon
Page Count: ~120 pages
Themes: Mental health, emotional realism, cycles of despair and self-discovery
Buy the book: Amazon
Every day repeats itself. Or does it?
In Cody Newman’s Insanity Journal, readers follow the author as he descends into a psychological spiral, where reality blurs and emotions overpower logic. The story unfolds as a raw, emotional journal — a first-person account of inner torment and self-reflection.
As Cody confronts his fears, regrets, and the ghosts of his past, he begins to realize that the line between madness and meaning might not be as clear as it seems. What begins as an attempt to understand his emotions transforms into a reckoning with the nature of sanity itself.
Author Q&A with Cody T. Newman
Q: What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
A: I find this question quite interesting. There was actually a very good reason why it was written in first person. When I started writing, I actually experienced what Cody, the “protagonist” did. I was him, even though the story itself is fiction. I felt every single one of the emotions he had and I wanted to understand them better.
I started writing through the tears, expressing a “mirrored life”, with the same feelings, but expressed differently, shown like “they felt to me”. While the context is different for me, the feeling Cody, and, if I did my job right, the reader, feel are the same ones I felt back then. It helped me, and I hope reading the book will help anyone passing through the same difficulties in life.
Q: When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
A: I started writing when I was 12. It was mostly silly little stories, some poetry, a few novellas and a full novel. But none of them got published. I wasn’t happy with how they ended up. When I wrote that novel, I felt that every novella that I wrote before was too childish, too innocent, with not enough understanding of the reality of the world and I didn’t feel like publishing them.
The novel, however, ended up much better, but I never got to finishing it, and, due to some current world situations, I postponed it for now. I chose to publish the Insanity Journal because it was the first work that I felt was actually finished, refined and sent the exact message I wanted it to.
Q: Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
A: Definitely Jim. He did not get the story time I was hoping for at first, but he will definitely do. 😉
He represented the friend that I wished I had during that time, he joked all the time, but when it actually came to being serious, he was the pillar that Cody needed to snap him out of the self-loathing and paranoia he was in, to hit him with the truth that he needed to hear.
He was there for him, no matter what, in spite of his help never truly being asked for, and I tried to emphasize that, as one in the emotional state Cody was in, rarely calls for help, or hesitates to do so.
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: Hopefully, they will understand that life is never truly good, but it’s never truly bad either. Everything is bittersweet. And even when you feel that your nightmare is overwhelming, when the abyss stares right into you, find the power to make it blink.
Q: Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
A: While the entire story is fictional, the message is completely real, based on the whirlwind of emotions that I felt during one of my hardest times. Some of the characters were inspired by real-life people I know, that gave me hope, or became targets of my regrettable blame, but they diverged so much they became their own “beings”.
Q: What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
A: “Was she real?” I won’t spoil what it’s about, but this was the first question my first reviewer asked me. And, to be honest, I was hoping the reader would ask me that, since I confronted myself with it most of the time while writing and proof-reading the book. The answer is: it is your choice if she was or not. I don’t have a better answer than this, and I think it’s better this way.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
A: Not necessarily a quote, but rather a feeling: that moment when you get to face your “demons”, not with fear, not with anger, not with doubt, but rather with acceptance. When you choose to calmly embrace them and realize they are just another part of you is when you truly heal.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: It was probably having to face my emotions, understand them, and, at the same time, write about them, but, in essence, the writing was part of the healing process itself. It was messy, there were other challenges as well, but the important thing I learned was to push through and never give up on reaching for the light.
Q: What’s next for you as a writer?
A: I already started work on two parallel things: a short story about Jim, which will likely be featured on r/nosleep soon and a longer story, maybe a novella, which will be a prequel to this one, but not necessarily related except in small details.
The Jim story will be from his perspective, exploring an independent set of events and emotions, loosely tied to the ones in Insanity Journal. The prequel will be quite different, I have already written parts of the first chapter, choosing a tone, a plot, themes, the emotions to explore, but, to be honest, it will be much harder than anything I have written, and I enjoy a challenge.
Why Read This Book
Insanity Journal speaks to those who crave authenticity in horror. Rather than relying on jump scares or gore, Cody T. Newman crafts fear out of feeling—turning the mind itself into the most terrifying place of all. For readers who crave psychological depth, emotional realism, and a touch of madness, this book offers a deeply personal experience.
It’s perfect for fans of Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, Chuck Palahniuk’s Haunted, or psychological thrillers that explore the fragility of the human mind.
About the Author
Cody T. Newman is a Romanian horror author whose work blends emotion, psychology, and the darker aspects of the human experience. His writing dives into the mind’s shadow — exploring fear, introspection, and the blurred edges between sanity and chaos. Drawing from personal experiences and emotional truth, Newman’s stories are both haunting and healing.
Follow Cody online:
Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Reddit
You can read Cody Newman’s Insanity Journal now on Kindle Unlimited, with a paperback edition coming soon.
Buy the book: Amazon Link
We love to read and explore a wide range of genres, including contemporary and historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, and memoirs. If you’d like us to review your book, feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to hear from you!