Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I work full time and have three young children and live in a small town in Canada called Sturgeon Falls. Northern Ontario is a corner of the world that means a lot to me which is why I decided to use it as the setting for my novel. Writing is something that I am deeply passionate about. It makes me feel connected to myself and the world in a unique way. For me, writing is the fun part. I’m still learning about how to reach readers and connect with them. Although it’s a bit scary, I’m really looking forward to this next step in my journey.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is called Who Is Bobbie-Mae?. The idea first came to me when I was in my twenties. I had just been through a break-up and was feeling kind of lost. I started thinking about my past relationships, the different places I have lived and the people I had met and started wondering, what if I forget the things that have happened to me, would it change who I am? Later on, when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzeihmers, I started questioning even more the relationship between our soul and our memories and the relationship between the two.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I almost always write at night when the house is quiet and I have time to reflect. What helps me the most is listening to a lot music before and during my writing sessions. I like music that is emotionally moving. Some songs I listen to on repeat if I feel they are particularly inspiring for a specific scene or the emotions my characters are feeling. The other thing that has really helped is thinking about my characters and what going to happen next in my story, even if I don’t have time to write that day. I also like to write random ideas on my phone or in a notebook as they come to me. My notebook is a big mess of ideas!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favourite authors are Margaret Atwood, John Irving and Paulo Coelho but I’m always on the lookout for new authors. For me, reading and writing, like music, is all about emotional connection – to yourself and to others.
What are you working on now?
At the moment, I’m mostly focussing on learning how to promote my novel and engage with readers and other authors in a way that feels authentic to me. I plan a starting to write again soon. I always have multiple ideas on the go. I just have to chose which one to focus on next.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a tough question for me to answer because I’m still learning and trying things out to see what will work the best.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice would simply be to write. Carve a bit of time every day to do it and make it fun. Don’t over think it. Enjoy it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A year ago, I read somewhere that if you want to write a novel, you have to treat it like a part time job. You have to work on it regularly. That advice really helped me complete my novel.
What are you reading now?
I am reading a book of short stories by Margaret Atwood. I’m trying to decide if my next book will be a novel or a collection or short stories.
What is your favorite book of all time?
The book that has influenced me the most would be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I have read it many times and have even gotten my children to read it. It’s the book I read when I feel disconnected or that I’m falling off course.
Author Websites and Profiles
Christiane Legault Website
Christiane Legault Amazon Profile
Christiane Legault’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile