Céline Perron was born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario and now lives in a
small community outside of Ottawa, Ontario. In 2018 she graduated
post-secondary with a Master of Arts Degree in Criminology. In addition to
writing, she works full-time as a Fraud Investigator.
When not writing or working, Céline enjoys spending time with family and
friends, watching Crime shows, and working through her ever-growing TBR pile.
Céline is currently working on her next book, The Shallow Graves due for release on the 13th of December 2021.
Genre:
Crime Thriller / Mysteries
Q&A:
Q1:
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest
book is entitled The Caged Curse and it is the first in a series of four
paranormal mystery books. The book itself was inspired by my love of paranormal
books similar to Meg Cabot and Kelly Armstrong. Being able to bring similar
stories to life has been a goal of mine for many years now, but it was only
until recently I was inspired to write about Nora Palmer and her story. I
distinctly remember plotting out how the book would go and suddenly I wondered,
What if she could see ghosts? Just like that, The Caged
Curse series was born. (Book two is set for release December 13th
2021).
Q2:
What advice would you give to help
others create plotlines?
I am partial
to plotting out my books in a three-act format, but that wasn’t always the
case. I distinctly remember hearing other authors recommend this same method
and all I could think was how much it reminded me of High School English and
that I was not at all interested in applying this to my own books. However, on
one particular day when I was struggling with the outline for The Caged Curse, I decided to give it a shot and before I knew it, everything was
mapped out. The Hook all the way to the Climactic Moment that would leave
readers guessing, it was all laid out in a nice and organized way. So ever
since, I have applied this method to my writing. I find that it’s also helped
as a nice visual so that I can clearly see when there are areas in my book that
need more work before I dive into the drafting stage.
Q3:
What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I
think of the books that inspired me to write I have to give notice to the
Canadian authors whose work did just that. Authors like Don Aker and his
book The First Stone is the book that inspired my debut novel The Next Right Thing. Other authors, like the late Norah McClintock’s
brilliant mystery books have inspired me for years and her books remain on my
shelves to this day.
Q4:
What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?
My
schedule can differ quite a bit in comparison to my fellow author friends,
mostly because unlike some of them, I also have a full-time job that takes up
most of my time Monday-Fridays. On the days when I am drafting a book, I take
up any spare time I can find, whether it be while on break from work, after
work, and then late into the. My family, friends, and co-workers would always
find it astounding that I could just go from working on one computer to another
without issue. But I would just tell them that when you spend time working
on something you’re passionate about, it’s really easy to do. Writing a
book can take a couple of months, but this also depends on work schedules,
family time, and the occasional writer’s block which could set me off course
for a time. Nevertheless, I’ve found that this system – if you want to call it
that – really works for me and I love that I can just disappear into another
story at a moment’s notice and the process begins all over again.
Q5: Does writing energize or exhaust
you? Or both?
Definitely both! I could go from having the longest day at work and then
be able to just walk over to my writing desk and pick on my current WIP with no
issue. On the days when I’m struggling to write a scene or a plot hole is
giving me a hard time, it can at times feel exhausting and as if I’ll never
figure it out. But such is the ways of an author, it’s the ups and downs of
the work that keeps it interesting.
Q6:
What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?
The best
writing advice I’ve ever heard came from Dan Brown – “Write as if no one is
watching, because no one is watching.” This quote alone was so impactful
for me, especially in the beginning. I used to, and sometimes still do, get
nervous about what people will think about a certain scene I’m writing or even
the book as a whole. I felt those concerns when I wrote The Next Right Thing
and then again when I wrote The Caged Curse. The truth is, you never
know what anyone is going to think about your writing until you actually sit
down, write the book, and put it out into the world for people to read. It was
because of this quote from Dan Brown that I learned to get out of my own way
and just do what I love: write! The rest will come with time.
Q7:
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
Character
names are as unique as the personalities of my characters themselves. I prefer
to think up my characters personalities, their likes and dislikes, whether or
not they have a moral code, or have something in their life they’re passionate
about, before I give them a name. This way, I can choose a name that is more
fitting to who the character is as a person – fictional or otherwise. I’ll be
the first to admit that I struggle the most when it comes to character names,
and especially title ideas. So much falls on just one name or the title of a
book, that I’ve had times where I changed the title or character name
several times throughout the plotting process. But once I have the right
name/title, I’m able to dive right into the story and begin drafting.
Q8: What do you think is the best
way to improve writing skills?
Practice, Read, and Practice! I remember in the early stages of my
career as an author, someone had mentioned that authors should set aside time
to read just as much as they set aside time to write. Back then I thought, well
I love to read so that’s not hard at all. As it would turn out, writing can
take up a pretty big chunk of your free time, especially when you already have
a full-time job. I used to read several books a month, I was now going months
without picking up a book. It was only when I heard this comment that I began
to rethink my strategy. Reading has always given me that time to just relax and
let my imagination wander. Wouldn’t you know, the best cure for writer’s block
is to read more books? That or literally doing anything but writing and just going
outside for a walk and getting some fresh air, listening to music, watching
some TV. Any of these options have significantly helped me when I’ve been
stuck. But above all, you improve your writing by working at it. No one
becomes the best overnight.
Q9:
What are you working on now?
I am
currently working on plotting out and drafting book three in The Caged Curse
series – title to be released soon – as well as another WIP which is a
standalone Crime Thriller I am absolutely excited about sharing with the world.
I am also
hard at work at translating my book The Next Right Thing in French –
coming soon!
Finally,
I am working with the official narrator for The Caged Curse audiobook,
which will soon be released as well.
Q10:
What are you currently reading?
I
am currently reading the latest release from my dear friend and writing
colleague Tiffany Andrea, We’re All A Little Tired.
THE
DARK WANTS NORA...
BUT IS SHE STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST?
Life for Nora Palmer has become an altogether
different place since coming into her newfound abilities of seeing and speaking
with the dead. Navigating the world of the supernatural through her mentor
Lenora, and working to maintain a respectful reputation as a junior in High
School, Nora is adamant that she has things well handled.
That is, until one night when Nora is drawn into
the depths of the forest behind her family home and comes across the still form
a recently attacked town local.
Now a suspect in a gruesome murder, Nora
struggles to balance her life and to convince others that she hasn’t gone off
the deep end. But such things are easier said than done, and the dark is
sensing blood in the water. Coupled with a mysterious new arrival in town, Nora
battles far more than wayward spirits and sees the life she’s carefully made
for herself begin to fall apart at the seems.
Will she succeed in coming out on the other
side? Or will the dark finally win?
To find out more about Céline Perron, check out her social media links below:
