I always doubted my writing and worried that it wouldn’t be good enough. Essentially, I had to get out of my own way.
Céline Perron – 12 March 2021
The Back Flap
Twenty-seven-year-old Rena Moretti has lived her life the only way she knows how: by being a good girl and avoiding scrutiny. As the by-product of an illicit affair gone wrong, she figures she doesn’t have much room for error. A budding journalist with an ambition for big things, Rena is comfortable in her own skin, enjoying the simple pleasures of her comfy apartment and the confidence of her best friend. But when Rena becomes the victim of a random hit-and-run accident, her life gets turned upside down on all fronts.
After the accident, everyone wants Rena to make a safe return to the life she had before—but Rena is increasingly convinced she has to do the exact opposite if she wants to find any closure. She becomes obsessed with a young man that she’s convinced was involved in her crime, but in pursuit of connection, Rena is dragged into the criminal dealings of a local gang.
The Next Right Thing is a moral crime thriller which proves to be equal parts dangerous and thought provoking. Bringing with it victims of crime, countless moral dilemmas, and an elusive gang leader. Rena must now decide whether the right thing is always the best thing. In this page turner, readers will follow along as Rena chooses to overcome her fears and finds inside her a bravery she never knew. But can she make the right choice before it’s too late?
About the book
What is the book about?
My book is about the moral dilemma of doing the right thing and the consequences that can arise from that choice. My characters Rena and Will come from different backgrounds and are faced with their own struggles. Along the way, readers will learn of the choices Rena and Will make and hope along with them, that they made the right ones.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing my book in April 2020. Truth be told it had begun as a passion project.
How long did it take you to write it?
Three months later I had a complete manuscript.
Where did you get the idea from?
I have had this idea for a book in mind for the better part of the last decade. Ever since I was in High School and was inspired by the books I was reading at the time.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The most struggle came before I started writing. I always doubted my writing and worried that it wouldn’t be good enough. Essentially, I had to get out of my own way.
What came easily?
Once I finally took the time to actually sit down and write, the words came without any struggle.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Although most of my characters are fictitious, some personalities were inspired by people in my life. There is one character in my book who is named after someone very dear to me.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I can’t stress enough how important it is as a writer to keep reading. In some cases, this has also helped with writer’s block. When it comes to the authors that have had the most influence on me, I would have to say that Meg Cabot, Sarah Dessen, and Norah McClintock have definitely inspired me to write my own books. I’ve been reading their books for years.
Do you have a target reader?
I would like to think that anyone, from any age group, can pick up my book and read it. But in terms of a specific group, likely anyone between the ages of 13-30 years old.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My writing process begins long before I start actually writing the book. Everything begins once I have the inspiration for a potential story. Once I have the idea, I begin to add more to it. Building upon the bones of the story – when it happens, who is involved, what happens to them, what do they want to have happen, what is their story? Before long the bones of an idea I had develop into a story. Now it’s time to write.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Absolutely! Outlining for me can definitely appear messier to the untrained eye as I mostly break it down into the chapters/sections of the story and give a brief description of what will happen in that chapter. I prefer not to limit myself when it comes to the outline process because I know that when I start writing I’ll be adding more details into the story as the process goes on. But it’s great to have somewhat of a roadmap.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Definitely wait till the end! When it comes to grammar and typos if I stopped at every mistake and reconsidered it then I would never get anything done. Especially when I am in the writing grove the last thing I want is to stop. Once the book is done – so to speak – I then read through myself so that I can ensure that the story flows as I wanted it to. After that, I have my trusted editors who will read through the manuscript for the very first time.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I worked with the team over at FriesenPress to self-publish my book. They are a Canadian based publishing company which is dedicated to Indie writers and offered many services to ensure that an author’s book is the best it can be. With them I worked with their editing department to ensure that there were no outstanding mistakes in my manuscript before it was published.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes and no. When I am really in the writing groove I don’t listen to any music because I find it too distracting. I’ll mostly listen to music when I am story boarding and working on character development. I do, however, watch movies and TV shows when I’m writing. For instance, if I am writing a particularly suspenseful scene, I opt for watching a thriller/horror movie to really get myself in the mood for the scene I’m writing. I find it helps with setting the tone.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did try my hand at traditional publishing in the very beginning and it was definitely a teachable moment. I spent a lot of time researching aspects of submitting a query to a publisher or agency to be as best prepared as I could be. Although I got many rejections back for The Next Right Thing the feedback was very positive which kept my spirits up. I understood that when it comes to querying a book its really all about finding that agent who really vibes with your work. That and the fact that I was submitting in the middle of a worldwide pandemic definitely made matters tougher than usual.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I had considered the possibility of self-publishing early on but had wanted to really try my hand at traditional publishing first. Once that didn’t work out as I had hoped I spent more time researching self-publishing to learn more about the aspects involved. Before long, I found my way to FriesenPress and the wonderful team there and never looked back. In the end, self-publishing my debut novel was the right way to go for me at the time. I will still consider traditional publishing for future projects but love that there are many options for authors to have their work published.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I absolutely love the cover of my book for a number of reasons. Not only is it so aesthetically pleasing to the eye and gives the right vibe for the story itself. The cover design was actually inspired by my cousine Chantal Drisdelle – who is a noted contributor for my book – the idea for the cover was her idea as well as going with a black and white photo. We had taken this picture ourselves and I couldn’t be happier to know that we accomplished it together.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I do have a marketing plan in place which I have designed with the team over at FriesenPress. Although things are tougher given the pandemic, I have high hopes that I’ll be able to continue promoting my book especially with the help of online resources.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
My advice would be to choose the publishing route that works best for you. There really isn’t any right or wrong way when it comes to publishing your book, but I would recommend doing as much research as you can on both self-publishing and traditional publishing. Reach out to authors you may know and ask them questions, many will even go as far as to post on social media or their respective websites on the tips and tricks they learned along the way. These tools are invaluable when you are new to the game of publishing.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario, Canada called Sturgeon Falls. I lived there all throughout my childhood and up until I moved away to attend University.
Where do you live now?
I currently live in a small community not far away from Ottawa, Ontario.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I would like them to know that The Next Right Thing is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. To learn more about my book, readers can visit my website at www.celineperron.com
What are you working on now?
I am working on a new project which is a paranormal mystery series for which I am so excited about. I am currently working on the second book in the series now while I work on publishing the first novel.
End of Interview:
For more about Céline Perron, visit her website and like her Facebook page.
Get your copy of The Next Right Thing from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
