Leo Valiquette interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A little introduction:

Leo Valiquette (pronounced "valli-ket") grew up in Eastern Ontario, Canada, but had become a regular tourist of Tatooine, Middle Earth, and that barn in Charlotte’s Web by the age of eight. He first trained to work in museums before taking up the pen as a journalist, newspaper editor, and then corporate business writer. This love of the fantastical and the historical, as well as finding the root of a story, fuel his need to create worlds of his own. 

The tireless support of his wife, Natalie, keeps him chasing the dream of becoming a career author, while his autistic son William everyday teaches him the virtues of kindness and empathy. A cancer survivor, Leo has been contesting with metastasized melanoma since late 2019.

When did your love of books begin?

Early. When I was seven, my mother joined one of those old mail order book clubs where you get four free books to start. She picked the novelization of Star Wars, Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. The following year, my Grade 3 teacher read to our class The Hobbit. It all unfolded from there.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

High school. Wrote most of my first novel at age 16 and actually got credit for it as part of drama class.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

It’s definitely a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race. Writing may be a solitary pursuit, but there is a like-minded community of other creators out there and various events. It was vital for me to tap into all that, to feel challenged by others who I saw as better at this stuff than I was and use that as motivation to up my game and recognize my own weaknesses so that I could improve upon them.

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

When people say it’s the most persistent, not necessarily the most talented, who get published, it’s no lie. Talent matters too, of course. But unless the first reason you write is because you enjoy it, and you accept that there is always more to learn from others and ways to improve your craft, you’re gonna run out of gas before you get published. You need that passion to push through the rejections and the setbacks that are an inevitable part of the journey.

Many creators cringe at the thought that they have to hustle to “sell” themselves and their work. But if you want to be seen and noticed and have your work found by those who will appreciate it and become fans, you kinda have to. The key is to find what works for you and don’t try to be something, or someone, that you are not.

Lastly, quality matters. Sure, anyone can self-publish just about anything these days, but quality still matters, perhaps more than ever before, if you want to stand out from the crowd. That extends from having a professional-looking cover, to having a manuscript that’s been professionally edited.

Tell us about your book/books:

My first (to be published) novel released in December 2021 from an American small press called Inkshares. It’s an epic fantasy, and gunpowder fantasy, called Bane of All Things. I consider it “gritty” without going all grimdark. There are flavours of McClellan’s Powder Mage series, Howard’s Solomon Kane, and Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone.

The story revolves around two people who refuse to become the pawns of ancient forces that have been in conflict for thousands of years. Lieutenant Ryn Ruscroft, a soldier sworn to serve the church of the land, is torn between conscience and duty after his part in the massacre of a village. Josalind Aumbrae has been tormented all her life by the Voices and their visions. This affliction could have her facing a witch’s pyre, but she is something far more powerful and dangerous than anything the church describes as a “witch.” 

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

The support. Like I said earlier, you need those connections with other people who “get it” when it comes to being a writer and trying to become published. I call it being part of a tribe. And there is nothing more heart-warming and affirming than having complete strangers praise your work and give you those 4- or 5-star reviews.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Thank you. Writing fiction is a selfish pursuit that demands the writer spend long periods isolating themselves. It’s awesome when other people see value in the output of this effort and find it enjoyable, on whatever level.

Where can people connect with you?

https://leovaliquette.com/novelist/

Twitter: @leovaliquette

Instagram: @LeoValiquetteAuthor

Facebook: @LeoValiquetteAuthor and @BaneofAllThings