Joining me today is another author who writes about angels, Dominique Mondesir. Thank you, Dominique, for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

Tell us a bit about your book

Destiny chooses you …

Finding out his life is a lie–full of myths and misconceptions.
Perez battles a world full of danger and fear.
Where he must learn to survive and adapt.
But fighting the lies while facing off
Against cunning, ruthless angels
May result in Perez’s downfall.

In a world full of relentless villains and disloyal confidantes, one angel must accept his true identity …

If there was a film or TV adaptation of your book, who would you like to see play your characters?
Thats an interesting question. My main character would be played by Michael B. Jordan, because I loved his role in Chronicle. My first choice would be Idris Elba, but his a bit too old to play the character, although I think he could really make it come alive.

Monroe would be played by Scarlett Johansson, because Monroe is a very feisty character, and Scarlett’s portrayal of Black Widow really impressed me.

The others I would have to think on, because this is the first time I have not casted my characters on people I know. Each one is so unique and different that it’s hard to put a label on them.

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?
Character names are very near and dear to me. I hate using John or Dave, because I believe your characters should be larger than life pieces in your art. They should jump out at your audience and grab them, never letting them go. But getting the names for characters that way can be challenging. So what I do whenever I came across a good name, reading a fiction or non-fiction book, I write it down. Or sometimes names just pop out at me when I’m walking or working out, and I say them in my phone recorder or text them to myself.

Give us an insight into your main character. What makes them unique?
Perez is unique in that everyone can relate to him. He’s your everyday hero, who isn’t the strongest, or fastest, or smartest. He doubts himself at every turn, but he still manages to find the courage to do what he needs to do. I think that’s what really sets firefighters and the like apart. They are scared, of course they are, but they still do their duty anyway.

Where do your ideas come from?
Argh!!! Every writer hates that question. I get them from submersing myself in great works of art. Be it TV, books or film. Greatness tends to leave clues.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
My best accomplishment do date is starting and finishing writing a book. As authors I think we sometimes forget how cool that is.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I want to be a household writer name. I want to stand among the greats such as, King, Rowling and Patterson.

Have you always liked to write?
Yes, for me writing has always come easier than anything else I have done in my life. I do it almost everyday, so now it’s just a habit.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Buy a writing app. Set a goal total you want to hit, a deadline and hit it. To do that you have to write everyday, or close to it when you first start. After that it doesn’t get easier, but it doesn’t get harder.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?
Honestly, I can’t see myself doing anything else.

What is your best marketing tip?
The best and only marketing tip that really works is write your next book. People don’t want to hear that, and they believe Facebook ads and the like will save them or make them bestsellers, but writing your next book is the best thing that you can do to increase your paycheque.

In this game of writing, a lot of courses have come about that claim to help you increase your sales and they may work to a point. But that’s just a tactic, and you don’t want to build your business on marketing tactics because those can change in an instant.

You want to base your business on a strong foundation, and only books will give you that.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?
One word, editing. Writing the first draft is dancing drunk. Editing is re-watching it sober and trying to take the best bits out of it.

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others?
I never do sex scenes. My grandmother reads my books, and having that in there would embarrass me too much. It’s bad enough having a few swear words in my books.

How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a book?
The first draft is normally done in the first four to five weeks. That’s at a slow, steady pace.

Describe what your ideal writing space looks like.
I love writing in nature. If I can find a park or some woods to write at, I can spend all day there and write without getting distracted. Plus not having the net helps too.

Where did your love of books come from?
My love of books came from reading. One of the reasons I’m a writer is so I can read all day. To become a better writer you have to read and write, that’s it. There is nothing I love better than reading a good book and just letting the author’s words take me away.

I mean man, it’s like a drug. I remember I was in Budapest last year and I stayed up all night reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I was sitting in the bathroom so I wouldn’t wake up my girlfriend and I couldn’t put it down. I think I didn’t finish the book till four in the morning. That for me is what books should be all about. It’s why I write. As an author if you can give that same experience to your reader, it’s worth its weight in gold.

How long have you been writing?
Since I was in my teens. My first book was going to be called Two-Faced killers. Hahaha. The wisdom of youth I guess.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
It gets better. All you have to do is endure.

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
Why do you keep hurting me you bastard!

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?
Website | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads