About C.L. Denault:
C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs), and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.

Writing stories and posting on The INFJ Café are her biggest passions, along with drinking coffee and watching sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.

Her debut novel, Gambit, is the first in a Young Adult dystopian series.

What inspires you to write?
As the daydreamer type, I usually have a million thoughts and ideas bouncing around in my brain. When several of them converge, that’s when inspiration strikes. A world will appear in my imagination, and I’ll dream about the cool adventures that could take place there. If one of those adventures really speaks to me, I start writing.

Tell us about your writing process.
My process begins with daydreaming. During this phase, I’ll pick out names for characters and places, maybe type up some notes on my laptop. Then I’ll choose a main character and take off, researching as I go. Visuals are pinned on a Pinterest board. Music is added to a playlist. The story sort of creates itself. The quickest way to stifle that creativity is to outline the whole thing (been there, failed at that). So it’s best if I let my subconscious mind guide me and allow for inspiration along the way.

For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I definitely listen to my characters. They have unique perspectives and demand that I hear them out. But if I don’t like what they say, I’ll back them up and make them do it differently. It’s probably very similar to what a director does while filming a movie. For every chapter I write, there’s an comical number of outtakes.

What advice would you give other writers?
Write from your heart. That’s where passion stems from, and that’s what will speak to your readers. When you pour your heart into your words, you create something unique and amazing. Never underestimate how powerful that is.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
When I first considered publishing my work, I only knew about traditional publishing and self-publishing. Then I happened to connect with an editor from an Indie press, and she opened a whole new world to me. I was impressed with the freedom her company offered, as well as the marketing opportunities. So I submitted my work to them and was blessed to receive a contract. A small press is like a family, and there are many benefits to that kind of relationship.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think digital publishing is the wave of the future. But I love my paperbacks (you can tell which scenes are favorites by the chocolate stains on the pages) and really hope that the printed word never goes out of style.

What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers

What genres do you write?: Young Adult, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction

What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print

Website(s)
C.L. Denault Home Page Link
Link To C.L. Denault Page On Amazon

Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram

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.