Author Interview with Alicya Perreault!

Author Interview with Alicya Perreault!

Hi, Alicya Perreault, welcome to the Indie Publishing Group website! Introduce yourself to us. Tell everyone who you are, where you’re from, what you enjoy doing, your hobbies and interests.

Hello. My name is Alicya Perreault and I was born and raised in Wales, U.K, but my family and I moved to Canada when I was a teenager. I currently live close to the Canadian Rockies in Calgary, Alberta with my husband and two rescue mutts. We are also fortunate to own a home in the Okanagan valley in British Columbia and we spend a lot of time there as it’s a place our two adult sons visit as often as possible. Eventually, I hope to offer weekend retreats there at least that’s the dream at the moment.

When did you start writing and why?

I’ve been writing off and on for most of my life as a hobby. I wrote a children’s book when my sons were younger just for them (I never dreamed of publishing it back then) it was about a boy and hockey (we’re Canadian, what can I say?)
Two years ago, at the urging of my husband and sister, I started writing a book and was determined to follow it through all the way. I kept that promise and very thankful I did.

Which is your favorite book you have written and what gave you the idea for it?

I have to say my latest book Taming Crazy – Confessions and Lessons is by far my favourite because it’s my story. It’s part memoir, part self-help and chronicles the journey through chronic anxiety, depression, and OCD and the steps I took to become anxiety free. There’s also a lot of humour in the book because we’re a family that likes to have a laugh even when faced with trouble.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

The title “Taming Crazy” just came to me even before I started writing it. It perfectly describes the way I felt when I started my journey and still does. The subtitle “Confessions and Lessons” appeared when I started editing because each chapter tells a “confession” and the “lesson” I learned and shared.

Who helped you with the cover? Or did you design it yourself? What was your inspiration for your cover design?

I designed the cover using a stock photograph and editing. I wanted it to show how we never see the real person when they suffer from mental health issues. We wear a mask to show up in the world and it reminds me of one of my favourite quotes by Bhante Gunaratana “You are a mess, and you know it. But you hide it beautifully.” I think the cover reflects that perfectly.

What are some of the themes of your story?

The main theme is hope. I wanted to share my story of how mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and OCD can affect your life, but I wanted to show that I never lost hope in finding a way through. I also use a lot of humour throughout the book because mental health topics can be heavy, and I’ve never had a problem laughing at myself (that’s probably down to being British.)

What’s your process when you sit down and decide to start writing a book and do you have a system?

I’ve always had a problem with self-discipline and tend to chase squirrels down rabbit holes. For this book, I had to set myself up with a schedule and used Google calendar to keep me on track. I wrote every weekday morning from 8 to 10 and whenever I could on weekends. I used the same schedule for editing too and the process took about 2 and a half years to complete.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Having OCD means that I have trouble with definitive answers, but my love of reading started with Enid Blyton (I’m showing my age a bit here.) One of my favourites is Sharon Kay Penman who can have me in tears with her writing but otherwise, I don’t stick to one author or genre.

Have you got anything you’re working on now?

At the moment I’m trying to decide on my next book which will have mindfulness and humour as the main themes. It’s a choice between the second Taming Crazy book or a children’s book.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?

Hopefully, I will have finished my third book and will be busy setting up our home at the lake to receive guests for my retreat. It’s something I can visualize so with some work and imagination I’ll have it sorted by then.

Thanks, so much for taking the time to do an author interview, Alicya Perreault! Take a minute and check Alicya Perreault out on the links below! If you would like to do an author interview, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Author Alicya Perreault Twitter

Author Alicya Perreault Goodreads

Author Alicya Perreault Website

Author Alicya Perreault Blog