Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written thirty-five books since I was sixteen, and have twenty-five currently published, including three I have written and published with a group of high school students. These teenagers, ranging in age from thirteen to eighteen, are part of an afterschool novel writing program I run at a local high school in London Ontario.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am currently finishing up a novel entitled The Librarians. I looked at one of those book nooks and wondered who would live there, and decided they would be fairy-like creatures who survive by borrowing things from stories. Set in a great library, it is a humorous romp through some of our most beloved stories. A traditional quest romance (knights and villains and lost items) it follows Dash, Apostrophe and Comma on their travels to retrieve the Adventure Stone from the Dark Librarian.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write either directly in a word processing program or a notebook. I write every day without worrying about how many words I manage and usually start with a simple plot outline, leaving room for imagination and inspiration.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My library contains two thousand books ranging from the Stratamyre classics like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to Grisham, Baldacci and Lee Childs. Many authors have influenced me over the years, including classic writers like Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters. I make it a habit when book shopping to buy at least one book from a genre I don’t normally read to expand my horizons.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on four novels. I am a few chapters from finishing up The Librarians, I am working on the first book of a series entitled Goth about a fifteen-year-old girl with some witch-like magical talents that get her into trouble, rewriting an older novel entitled Redemption about a serial killer, and working on the first novel of a fifteen novel historical fiction entitled the Canadians. This one has the subtitle The Cry of the Wyandot.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have found that exchanging newsletters on Story Origin and releasing a few freebies on Inkitt has led to the most sales and readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are starting out, I would suggest that you write your story from beginning to end before trying to edit. I get my new student writers to work out a simple chapter by chapter plot outline, keeping it simple. Write down only a few sentences about what needs to happen in that chapter, leaving room for imagination and inspiration when you write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know.
What are you reading now?
I am reading a Baldacci novel called The Christmas Train.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The rest of the year will be filled with writing the second book of the Darkhaven series, which is a continuation of my current Crystal Raven series. I will also reformat one of my current books to increase the quality, and start a few new novels. I am also currently helping one of my students, Tara O’shay, complete her first solo novel. She will be the first graduate of our writing program at John Paul II secondary school here in London, Ontario.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wow! This is a tough one. Probably Little Dorrit from Charles Dickens, one from Lee Childs, Baldacci, and something from Grisham. Which would last me about a week and a half, so I think I’d drag those authors along with me and make them write me some new books.
Author Websites and Profiles
Allan Lacoursiere Website
Allan Lacoursiere Amazon Profile
Allan Lacoursiere’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account