When I was a junior in university, studying toward a degree in publishing, my sister suggested—as a joke—that I become a writer. I’ve always loved to dabble in the art of writing, and I’ve always been an avid reader, so it felt like a fitting career choice.
There are so many authors I look up to, who’ve inadvertently shaped me into the author I am today, that I can’t name them all. If I have to choose, though, I’d say D.H. Lawrence, Jack Ketchum, and Stephen King were my biggest influences.
Again, there are so many books for me to choose from, it’s difficult to pick just one. I’m rather fond of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett, Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, It by Stephen King, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and the list goes on.
I can’t narrow it down much more than that, I’m sorry.
Once you’ve finished reading my books, I highly recommend you head on over to Goodreads to check out some of my lists. Sometimes, I do get lazy and don’t update it as often as I should, but you’re welcome to peruse what there is for your next read.
Sometimes I write at a desk, but I've been known to work in the living room—on a big, comfy reclining chair.
There is inspiration around us all the time.
Dark Country was wholly inspired by my own childhood, the country I love, and the people who live here. The places that Esmé visit in the book are places I've been to in real life, the horrors she face are inspired by real events I’ve seen in the news or heard about through the grapevine. Though, some may say the book is fictitious (that the crimes are too horrific to be real), I assure you, Dark Country borders on non-fiction.
The Night Weaver Series, on the other hand, was inspired by shadows ... I know it sounds silly, but one sleepless night, I wandered around the house, and the shadows simply wanted to tell me stories. I listened, and eventually a book was written.
All of my characters, thus far, have been creations of my imagination. I have, in some instances, borrowed some personality traits and/or quirky habits from people I know in real life (with their consent), but it wasn't anything major.
I do a bit of both, actually. Some books need an outline more than others, especially if there's a difficult theme I want to tackle or a complex character that needs developing. Sometimes, I just let the story flow out of me, and fix whatever problems there are during the self-editing phase.
That being said, both Dark Country and The Night Weaver series were roughly outlined before I started writing the books.
Of course, thank you so much for thinking about me. Please send all the details in the body of an email to: monique@moniquesnyman.com. Oh, and don’t attach anything to the email, because I won’t open attachments.
Check the About page for my official bio.
As of writing this, none of my books are contracted for a movie or TV show. My agent is, however, shopping the books’ film rights around Hollywood.
I’m represented by Italia Gandolfo of GH Literary.
My publisher is Vesuvian Books.
Because of my intense schedule as both an editor and an author, I can’t read your manuscript or short story. If you're struggling, though, and you really need someone to help you, I suggest you read through Crystal Lake Publishing's Author Services page, where they have skilled professionals who will help you get to the next level.
This is a difficult question, and my answer will be highly controversial for some … When it comes to writing, I believe you don’t need a degree to succeed. Yes, you need a firm grasp of the written word, but from personal experience, tertiary institutions aren’t always familiar with what happens in the industry itself.
The other thing you should consider: writing isn’t always a lucrative venture. Writers live off royalties, which usually translates to “beneath the bread line”, until they strike it big. This job is a gamble every quarter, you don’t know what you’re going to make, and if you don’t have a second job or know how to manage money, this writing think can blow up in your face.
That being said, there are countless resources available online to help you get started on your journey. Google is your friend. Use it, do your research, make doubly-sure of everything. Whether you want to study toward a creative writing degree or not, though, have a back-up plan in place.
My best advice is to download a FREE copy of Writers on Writing: Volume 1 and to go from there. Those articles are written by authors who’ve been in the business for a while, and they give you a glimpse of various aspects of the industry. Alternatively, you can always join the mentorship program at Crystal Lake Publishing, where you’ll be taught the basics of being a professional author.
Congratulations! You’ve done something some people only dream about doing.
The first thing you need to do now that your book is done is to self-edit it. I can't stress enough how important it is for all aspiring and new writers to get their hands on Writers on Writing: Volume 1, at least just to get a glimpse at what to expect as a writer. Also, my article revolves around the self-editing process. So, please do consider downloading this concise handbook to help take you to where you need to be in the beginning of your career. It is written by writers for writers, and truly is a must-have author's guide.
Muti Nation has been re-titled Dark Country. After some major changes to the manuscript, Vesuvian Books picked it up.
Dark Country is slated for release in 2021. 🙂
YES! The original manuscript was supposed to be a standalone, but after some major changes Dark Country is merely the first book in a trilogy. Whoohoo!
The Night Weaver Series will consist of 6 full-length novels.
