About O’Neil De Noux:
Much of my writing is character-driven crime fiction, although he has written in many disciplines including historical fiction, children’s fiction, mainstream fiction, science-fiction, suspense, fantasy, horror, western, literary, religious, romance, humor and erotica.
In 2007, The Private Eye Writers of America awarded its prestigious SHAMUS AWARD for Best Short Story to “The Heart Has Reasons” by O’Neil De Noux (the cover story of the September 2006 Issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine). The Shamus Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. “The Heart Has Reasons.” De Noux is also the 2009 DERRINGER AWARD winner for Best Novelette for “Too Wise.” The Derringer Awards are given annually by the Short Mystery Fiction Society to recognize excellence in the short mystery fiction form. Another De Noux story, “The Bonnie and Clyde Caper” was runner up in the Derringer Award Best Long Story category.
In 2010, De Noux made a move to eBooks and print-on-demand books, teaming with other artists in the art co-op Big Kiss Productions and he quickly published a number of books: SLICK TIME, a sexy caper novel, NEW ORLEANS NOCTURNAL and MAFIA APHRODITE, an erotic suspense novel.
In March 2011, the novel JOHN RAVEN BEAU was published by Big Kiss Productions, which was named 2011 POLICE BOOK OF THE YEAR by Police-Writers.com, a group that boasts of 1153 state and local law enforcement officials from 485 state and local law enforcement agencies who have written 2504 police books.
In 2011, BATTLE KISS was released, a 320,000 word epic of love and war set against the panorama of the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815. In 2012, Mr. De Noux’s first private eye was published. ENAMORED, a novel of obsession and murder, is set in 1950 New Orleans and BOURBON STREET is a crime novel set in 1947 New Orleans.
Books published in 2013-2016 include USS RELENTLESS, a saga of the US Navy in the Age of Sail, the Lucien Caye mysteries NEW ORLEANS RAPACIOUS and HOLD ME, BABE, as well as the first Jacques Dugas novel THE FRENCH DETECTIVE, John Raven Beau novels CITY OF SECRETS and NUDE IN RED, LaStanza novels NEW ORLEANS HOMICIDE, THE BLUE NUDE and THE LONG COLD and the World War II novel DEATH ANGELS.
Awards and Recognitions
2015 Literary Artist of the Year – St.Tammany Parish Art’s Council, St. Tammany Parish, LA
2016 Shamus Award Nominee for BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL PRIVATE EYE NOVEL The Long Cold
2014 Derringer Award Nominee for BEST NOVELETTE “For Love’s Sake”
2013 Shamus Award Nominee for BEST INDIE P.I. NOVEL Enamored
2011 POLICE BOOK OF THE YEAR. On May 23, 2012 (San Dimas, CA), Police-Writers.com professional writers organization named the novel John Raven Beau by O’Neil De Noux as the police book of the year. The selection process considered all fiction and non-fiction books authored by police writers in 2011. Current, retired and former law enforcement officers are included in the organization of over eleven hundred published writers who have published over 2,300 books.
2009-2010 Artist Services Career Advancement Award from the Louisiana Division of the Arts
2009 Derringer Award Winner The Short Mystery Fiction Society awarded their 2009 Derringer Awards for best short mystery fiction on May 1, 2009. “Too Wise” by O’Neil De Noux (from the November 2008 Issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine) won BEST NOVELETTE (stories between 8,001 and 17,500 words). “Too Wise” is a Lucien Caye private eye mystery. The Derringer Awards are given annually to recognize excellence in the short mystery fiction form. Another De Noux story, The Bonnie and Clyde Caper featuring John Raven Beau was nominated in the Derringer Best Long Story category.
2007 Shamus Award Winner for BEST SHORT STORY was awarded to “The Heart Has Reasons” by O’Neil De Noux (the cover story of the September 2006 Issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine). The prestigious Shamus Award is given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. Both Enamored and “The Heart Has Reasons” feature De Noux’s private eye Lucien Caye.
Best American Mystery Stories Collection. Stories included in 2013 and 2003 editions.
2007 United Kingdom Short Story Prize – Short Story Challenge Winner
2005 Artist Mini-Grant Award for Literature from the Louisiana Division of the Arts
In 2013, O’Neil De Noux was elected Vice-President of the Private Eye Writers of America.
What inspires you to write?
I have to write. That’s what I was put on this earth to do. My inspirations come from life experiences.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write every day. First thing in the morning until lunch time. I take a short nap after lunch and write until supper time when I socialize with my family. Then I write late into the night. There is always an outline but it can be details or it can be only a couple pages. At this point in my career, I put my characters into place, give them a problem, then walk along with them writing what they say and do. I write quickly and rewrite slowly.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Once I’m into a novel, I live there until it’s finished. My characters will talk when I’m away from my computer and I have to stop and pay attention. I go to sleep daydreaming about my characters and their situation. I imagine the story and my characters let me know what’s up.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write. Write. Write. Read as much as you can. In and out of your genre. Pay attention to what people don’t like and cultivate that part of your writing. It is what’s unique in your writing. You are the artist. You outrank everyone. List to constructive criticism, especially if something you’ve written is unclear to the reader. Otherwise, to hell with them. This is your life.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Began with traditional NY publishers and they printed the books, opened their back door and tossed them out. No publicity. No support. Hell, I could do that. I teamed up with several other writers, artists, proofreaders, editors to form a co-op and we do our own books. Trade paperbacks and eBooks. We control everything – the writing, the cover art, the size and price of the books and we get much higher royalties.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Independent book publishing will eventually kill off traditional publishers.
What genres do you write?: crime fiction, historical fiction, children’s fiction, mainstream fiction, science-fiction, suspense, fantasy, horror, western, literary, religious, romance, humor and erotica.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
O’Neil De Noux Home Page Link
Link To O’Neil De Noux Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
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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.
