by MATTHEW HAYS

If writers are supposed to write what they know about, Montreal author Milan Miletic chose his subject matter very carefully when penning his first novel.

"I needed to talk about the emotional drama of an immigrant who comes to Quebec," says Miletic, who himself emigrated here some 12 years ago from the former Yugoslavia, which was then breaking down in civil war. His first novel, Insomnia (Vantage Press, $10.95) has already been released in the U.S. and Europe, where it's received warm reviews. In it, Miletic recounts the story of Daniel, a disillusioned young reporter who migrates to Quebec, where he falls into a relationship with a Quebec nationalist. Their story is told through e-mail correspondence, as Daniel discusses his attraction and repulsion for the man to Claudia, an ex of his who works for Radio-Canada.

Through this microcosm of relationships, Miletic says he hopes to illuminate the dangers of nationalism. "I think that many people aren't aware of the psychological consequences of nationalism," says Miletic. "The mistakes made in Europe should not be repeated here. History can hit the small players in the game hard, which was something I wanted to convey through the tragedy of the book."

As well as making a number of documentary shorts, Miletic has reported from Bosnia for RDI, focusing on the struggles of gay and lesbian activists there who face severe discrimination. "Many gay people go through a very rough time over there. Hopefully, with the novel as well, I'll help people to understand that many of the rights we have here are not a given in parts of Europe."

The Insomnia launch will take place on Feb. 5, 6:30pm, at Paragraphe (2220 McGill-College).