Author Interview: Claude Dancourt

About the Author:

The last time I decided to (finally) bring some order into the chaos of my apartment, I realized that it would mostly consist in piling all my books in only one room. I tried. I promise. But I simply can’t do it: I have books everywhere; novels, dictionaries even thesaurus lie on nearly each flat surface, including the laundry room. Go figure…

Beside books, my house homes a crazy/witty cat, two plants which stubbornly refuse to die, an eclectic CDs collection and an even more random choice of DVDs. If I am not at the gym, checking my mail box or wondering where I’ll travel next, it means my restless muses set another attack on me.

They tend to do so at the most inappropriate times, both a blessing and a curse. The only way to appease them is to surrender, and make mines Walt Disney words: “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island.”

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Both. I try to let the story flow as much as possible, but I have the general plotline written down.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

All the time! At the beginning, it was annoying me senseless. Since then, I learnt to obey… It’s their story after all, so who I am to decide if they should go right if they want to turn left? Hum? Yes, I’m the author. As if that counts for anything.

What is your favourite food?

I like peanuts. And cheese. But you don’t really want to know what I put in my sandwich…

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I would say a night owl, especially during the holidays and on weekends.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I used to travel a lot, but I never visited Scotland and Australia. Those countries are probably next on the list. I’d like to return to Disney World, too.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Sometimes, though I try to keep them as realistic as possible. Internet is a great (and sometimes tricky) source of information.

Do you listen to music while writing?

I do. Music inspires me.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

My latest release is a paranormal romance, MOONSHADOWS. I was fed up with werewolves and vampires, so I tried a new kind of shapeshifters, werecats. The good point is that I could do whatever I wanted regarding their lives, changeling, killing, etc. It turned out more dramatic than I expected, but I’m proud of the results.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

To trust my instincts! And also to write for me, not for an audience. When you are publishing, you want absolutely to please potential readers, and sometimes you lose sight of why you start writing in the first place.

Is there anything you would do differently?

If I had, I would not be where I am now. So no, I don’t think so. But ask me again tomorrow, and I’ll probably say yes.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

I read all kind of books, and it’s hard for me to point out one author or one book that had a major influence. If I absolutely have to, I’ll say Homer, the Arthurian Legend, and Clive Cussler. With some Elizabeth Peters and Agatha Christie to spice up the mix.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Keep writing, and don’t be afraid of critics.

What are three words that describe you?

Ha. The though one. I’m obstinate, generous and curious.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

I love Le Petit Prince by Antoine St-Exupéry. I also love Shakespeare, and the authors I mentioned above.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

When Mira was turned into a werecat, she panicked. She ran away from her life and her boyfriend without a goodbye.

One year later, she’s on the verge of emotional and physical collapse, and answers are nowhere to be found. When the man she left behind shows up unexpectedly, Mira is so desperate to feel human again that she welcomes him back into her life despite her best resolves.

Erik has some questions of his own,and he won’t take no for an answer. He doesn’t believe in Supernatural, or in ancestral creatures. He wants a real explanation for her abandon. But when the new moon reveals the black panther inside Mira, he has no choice but to face the truth.

While the pair struggle to work out their issues, a killer lurks in the shadows. And its restraint is thinning…

List of previous books if any

SECOND CHANCES

RETURN TO CAER LON

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

My author website is www.claudedancourt.webs.com,
 I tweet (about all and everything) @claudedancourt, and you can find me on Goodreads as well.