Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelique L’Amour.
Angelique, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a writer. So I have always written. When I was about 30 I wrote down a one line sentence describing books I wanted to write and discovered 21 books in my head! I began working on my first fiction book at that time. I had already published a collection of quotations, A Trail of Memories, which had spent 16 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list. But this was different. I was now learning to write fiction. I grew up with my dad being a highly successful author so I had been in the book business my whole life but there is nothing like taking a pen to paper on your own to teach you immense respect. It seemed to come so easy to him. I spent a long time learning. I am still learning. Suffice it to say I was already married and then became a mom, which slowed down my writing process. Then I got hit with a curveball, cancer. I went right back to writing my way through difficulty by beginning a blog.
As I went through treatment, while parenting, I had a number of people reach out for help doing just that so I published, Chemo, Cupcakes and Carpools which is a nuts and bolts guide to parenting while undergoing cancer treatment. The book has been bought by caregivers, cancer patients, and doctors. There are two companion pieces as well, a home organizer, The Keeping Your Sanity Home Organizer and a gratitude journal, The Keeping Your Gratitude Journal.
Now, although I am still speaking to groups about my cancer experience and my attitude, I am back to writing fiction and coaching writers who want to tell their stories.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Cancer made me put aside fiction for a number of years. I was trying so hard to stay in the here and now I didn’t want to be anywhere pretend. Our daughters were 7 and 11 and I was worried about how long I would get to be in their lives.
They are now 17 and 21 and I have more time to write these days. Time is the biggest difficulty. I grab my time where and when I can. I publish a weekly blog on writing, occasionally on cancer when I feel a need to discuss something. It is hard to work at home in the kitchen as I can always see something that needs to be done! I am getting better at it though. I am prioritizing and I decided to devote myself to what I love–my family, my health and my writing.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am most known for being an enthusiastic supporter. By that I mean that I encourage writers and others to follow their hearts. I believe everyone has a story to tell and they need to just do it. Just write and let everything else fall into place.
I love coaching writers to a better story. I love teaching workshops on character development and my newest workshop on how to write through trauma.
What sets me apart is my positive attitude and my sense of humor. I may teach a workshop on trauma writing but it is not a sad space. I speak about breast cancer but it is not a sad space it is filled with light and love and acceptance. We all have a choice to make about being negative or positive.
I am proud of my work ethic right now. I made a promise to myself to finish three books this year and I am very close to doing just that!
I also am proud of my ability to listen to writers speak about their stories and pinpoint just what questions they need to answer to move forward.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define personal success as accomplishing what I set out to do. This year that is writing three books to where they are ready to step out into the world and be published. I would love to make money from my writing, most of us would, but my happiness comes from seeing my children enjoy their lives. I love that we have a family that is close and strong and enjoys being together even as they are moving out from us.
My dream is to write stories that encourage people to read. I want my books to be ones that get picked up off the shelf and read. My dream is to have my books be ones kids choose for themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: AngeliqueLAmour.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @angeliquelamourauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeliquelamourauthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LAmourAngelique
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