Guest Post – Girls & Monsters Blog Tour

Hello everyone,

Today, I have the pleasure to host a guest post by the lovely Anne C Michaud, a fellow Québécoise who, like me, chose to write in English. She’s stopping here as part of her blog tour for Girls & Monsters, a collection of five YA dark but uplifting novellas.

Without further ado, here’s Anne’s story of French and English pub, and the details for her great book launch giveaway!

A Writer’s Path

Many people ask me why I choose to write in English and not in my native French, and some of them are offended as the struggle to keep our roots in Quebec is almost a day to day battle. For these people, it’s political – but for me, it’s just a matter of taste and ease. I prefer my stories to be told in English, it’s as simple as that. I’ve always preferred it, also for my music, movies and books – why does it have to be one or the other, anyway? I’m working on a French novella at the moment, which expands my voice as well as potential readers. But the question is: how to approach the publishing of that book?

I’m curious to see how this book of mine will develop in the Quebecois book industry. It’s so different from America’s, with their sales numbers and brand-making, the omnipresence of social media and agents – but is our Canadian publishing industry just slow to catch up on the ebook trend or will it be as hard to get my name on a hardback, because of harsh economic times? Because here’s the funny part: my goal is to get my French novel traditionally published.

I’ve made the big jump into the indie side of publishing through a small press getting a good buzz. Don’t get me wrong, it was really hard to let go of my dream of seeing my name on a hardcover in a bookstore, but at some point – for both my mental state and my career – I had to make a move that would advance me to the next stage. I’ve been writing intensely for eight years and with every agent or open submission publishing house rejection, it felt like square one smashed me right in the face every time. At some point, I faced insanity or a change of plan. Option two, please! So this French book might give me a chance to live the dream, just because Quebec’s editors haven’t caught up the virtual trend. For the very first time, I’m quite happy that we’re so far behind from our neighbours.

What does it mean for my future plans? Well, beside that project, I’m concentrating in an indie path of published ebooks and softcovers in America. Too many horror stories (not the kind I like) have come up about how writers are badly treated by traditional publishers, so I’d rather do my little thing than living a nightmare. I do hope that traditional publishing will go back to a more normal state, but I doubt it ever will – and who knows, maybe Quebec will rebel against ebooks for as long as I write and I’ll finally see my name on a hardcover. It might never happen, that bookstore dream, but I won’t die from it – and one thing’s for sure, it won’t make me stop writing. Not one bit.

Giveaway

As part of her launch event and blog tour, Anne is giving away a softcover copy of her book and… drumroll… 5 skellies handcrafted by her awesome self. Come on, look at that picture! Don’t you want to a chance to win these? Easy: GIRLS & MONSTERS Giveaway

The winner will be announced during the LIVE CHAT on release day, April 30th at 9PM east http://www.darkfuse.com/events.html

* * *

She who likes dark things never grew up. She never stopped listening to gothic, industrial and alternative bands like when she was fifteen. She always loved to read horror and dystopia and fantasy, where doom and gloom drip from the pages.

She, who was supposed to make films, decided to write short stories, novelettes and novels instead. She, who’s had her films listed on festival programs, has been printed in a dozen anthologies and magazines since.

She who likes dark things prefers night to day, rain to sun, and reading to anything else.

She blogs http://annecmichaud.wordpress.com

She Facebooks: http://www.facebook.com/annecmichaud

She tweets @annecmichaud

Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CCQ1Q6W

Girls & Monsters Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17335353-girls-monsters