About Monte Plaisance:
Monte Plaisance has been an avid reader and writer since his childhood. Growing up amidst the bayous of South Louisiana, he was instilled with a healthy respect for the strong culture and a little joie de vivre as well. In his youth, he often fancied himself as a Huckleberry Finn, type of character and had many adventures and explorations in the vast swamps, woods and bayous of his home state.
At the age of 13, one of those adventures nearly resulted in his death. From that near-death experience, his life took a drastic change and he immersed himself in the study of the paranormal and the occult. His lust for adventures never left him, however, and he quickly amassed a long list of paranormal encounters. He traveled extensively in his early 20’s, joining several secret societies and various religious groups; all the time searching for answers to the questions of life.
After many years and many adventures, he settled down back in his home town along the bayous of Louisiana. He has published several non-fiction works on occult topics and has recently moved to writing fiction. Together with his wife, Jamie, they decided that some of the stories and adventures that both of them shared over the years would make a great series of novels – thus was born the NightStalker series.
What inspires you to write?
My experiences with the paranormal have taught me that there is so much more to the world that what most people see. The desire to share those experiences with others is what motivates my writing more than anything. My stories are all based in some factual experience, although often turned up a notch or two for the sake of weaving a good story.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is chaotic! In most cases, I have a basic idea of what I want to write about, but there are so many times that I get caught up in the characters, that they take on a life of their own in my mind. There are days that I’ll write a few chapters and then set it aside for a few days. When I come back to it and re-read it, I’m like, “Where did that come from?” I never really know exactly how the story is going to end, I just let it evolve based on the characters’ reactions, personalities and decisions.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters are alive and well in my mind. I often hear them speaking in my ear. I’ll write a dialogue a certain way and that character will jump up in my ear and say, “Hey, that’s not how I would say that.” Then I go and change it. The characters are just as real to me as the people around me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write about what you know or what you care about. A writer’s passion can be felt in their words. If you don’t give two-cents worth of care for a topic or a story, the reader will feel that.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have a couple of books published in the traditional way, i.e. through a publishing house. The idea of self-publishing always appealed to me, because I could write it the way I want it to be. The decision was an easy one for me.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I can see where physical books are moving into the minority and digital printing is the wave of the future. However, even though I embrace the future, there’s nothing that can replace the feel and smell of an old book. It’s like an old friend that is there to comfort you in times of distress. I love books and will always have a personal library.
What do you use?: Professional Editor
What genres do you write?: Horror, Paranormal, Occult, Mystery, Adventure.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Monte Plaisance Home Page Link
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.
