Interview with Author – Alice Renaud

About Alice Renaud:
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she's a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green” will be released later this year. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS “Mystic Desire” anthology, out now. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!

What inspires you to write?
I draw my inspiration from books I've read, particularly myths and folk tales from Wales and Brittany. But also from things I see and hear in my everyday life, or read in the paper. For example I got the idea of shape shifting mermen one day in Brittany, when I saw a group of young men come out of the sea dressed in black wet suits, with palms on their feet.

What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
At the moment I'm reading Robin Hobb and loving every word. I also love Tolkien, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Tell us about your writing process.
I start with an idea about the characters, who they are, how they meet. Then I fill in a detailed interview about the 2 main characters, the hero and the heroine (I write romance). I cover their physical appearance, their personality, their family… everything I can think of. Then I do an outline chapter by chapter. Then I begin to write.

For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I imagine them talking to each other in my head. Sometimes I talk to them too. People who see me in the street must think I'm slightly loopy!

What advice would you give other writers?
You can't do it alone. Writing is a craft and it can be learned. So take writing classes, find some critique partners, get feedback. And enjoy it! It's great to bounce ideas off other people and the work is so much better as a result.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I work full time and have a family, so don't have the time to self publish. I chose a small indie press, Black Velvet Seductions, because they're great with new authors. It's like a family, we all help each other.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think people will always love stories, but the way in which they enjoy them will continue to evolve. Print books and ebooks are still with us, but audio books are becoming more popular. Readers can listen to them in the car, or on the train, on their way to work.

What genres do you write?: Fantasy Romance

What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print

Website(s)
Link To Alice Renaud Page On Amazon

Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.