Interview with Angelique LaFontaine
Published 2014-03-05.
What do you read for pleasure?
I love to read novels by Stephen King, John Saul and Dean Koontz. They all have a wonderful way of using descriptive words to create a vivid visual of a characters and places.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Honestly...I think my preference is a PDF download onto a computer. I'm an old fashioned girl and like to have physically have a book in my hands but the PDF download, for me is the next best thing.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
The most effective tool that I've used has been Facebook. I have a lot of supporters and and friends online that help my ad's get out there. The writing industry is a very much "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" type of business...especially for Indie Writers.
Describe your desk
Messy...Organized Chaos...empy coffee cups EVERYWHERE
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in northen Wisconsin. In fact, the woods in my back yard was a HUGE inspiration for my first full length book SandStone and Mirrors. Much of the sceneries that were described in the book were in fact sceneries that I stumbled upon when going for strolls in the woods.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing probably around the age of 10. I first started writing poetry. Back then, I thought that it was more fun to have poems that rhymed and so that was a criteria for my poetry writing. That proved to be somewhat difficult becuase even as a child, I was an older soul so I wanted my poetry to be meaningful and not just nonsensical lyrics.
What's the story behind your latest book?
My latest book She Has No Name, has a very simple premise, a woman goes through many different events in her life and the book is intended to be nothing more than a window into her mind on how these events molded, shaped, and influenced her. This book has been criticized for having lack of emotion, reads like an email or blog and I say GOOD. Then the book did exactly what it was supposed to do. It was intended to be delivered in an apathetic nature where regardless of how horrific the events are that take place, it is not intended to stimulate sympathy but rather, education; education of the reader on how a person can start out one way in his or her life and then how they end up an entirely different way.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I view writing as yet another vehicle for artistry. I paint as well and so since I will not allow a person to tell me what to paint, I will not all people (companies) to tell me what to write. I do not do this to get rich and famous and so I will not change my emotional release to accomodate what the industry says will sell. I believe very much in emotional integrity.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Smashwords has been a wonderful platform for me to use to make my books available for purchase. With the latitude of being able to generate coupons, I am able to offer any and all of my books at discounted prices and at many times, free of charge. The numerous formats that the downloads are available in only broaden my reader base by that much more.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love to be able to tell a story, preferrably suspense and thriller. Nothing gives me greater pleasure and makes me smile more than when I watch a reader finish a story of mine and say, "Wow! Didn't see that coming!"
What do your fans mean to you?
My fans are who I write for. They never ask me to write specific things. They never ask me to change things up. They accept me and what I write for who I am and what I have to offer. They read my stories and support my endeavors for no other reason than they enjoy and are entertained by my imagination.
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