Philip La Croix Interview || The Best Laid Traps
Philip La Croix bio:
Philip La Croix is a thirty-three-year-old knight at Medieval Times in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is looking to expand his talent beyond his use of the sword and lance. He graduated from California State University Fullerton with a BA in theater and has been an entertainer all his life. He is channeling his many experiences into telling new tales.
The Best Laid Traps is the first of hopefully many books to be sent out into the world.
Contents
What inspired this book?
Like the main character, Edward Dalton, I was bullied in school for being “the fat kid.” After reading The Count of Monte Cristo for the umpteenth time, I started wondering how I’d get back at my bullies if I had a vast fortune to spend on revenge.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
After I graduated with my BA in theatre, I started getting really into books. One night I had a very vivid dream and knew I had to get it down on paper. It was a disastrous attempt, but my love for writing grew and I have tons of stories that I want to share with others.
How long does it take you to write a book?
At first It took me forever, but I learned to set myself a schedule it and stick to it like glue. I can usually knock out a first draft of a novel in roughly three months.
Readers should read this book for?
The adventure. I’ve been told it’s one heck of a ride and people should sit back and enjoy the trip. Friendly warning, the feedback I get most often is that it’s a “real page turner,” and that you “shouldn’t read it before bed.”
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
The Best Laid Traps was the first book I ever published, but the first one I ever finished was a full-length fan-fic novel when I was about 25 surrounding the characters of The Hunger Games. I’m very proud of it and hope one day I can get a copy of it in front of Suzanne Collins and see if I can get her permission/blessing to publish it.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I go to the gym as often as I can, but most of my life is consumed with my job as a Knight at Medieval Times. I absolutely love doing it which is why I’m still going after 15 years! I get paid to do stunts and play with horses and weapons, by far my favorite job to date!
How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?
At first, I choose everything about my characters, but in an incredibly short amount of time, they begin to take on a life of their own and I move from driver to passenger in the events that unfold. They often surprise me, and I have absolutely no idea where these twists and turns come from.
What was your favorite scene to write?
I loved writing Edward’s time in the forest because I grew up with stories like Hatchet and Tripods. However, I have to admit that when the time came When Edward finally confronts the main contributor to the horrific events in his life, I felt every bit of savory revenge that he did, at it was sweet!
What was the most difficult scene to write?
The most difficult scenes to write for me are when I have absolutely no idea what should be going on in them. Luckily it’s rare, but some times you have points A, B, D, & F which are clear in your mind and easy to write, but what to do for point C sometimes takes some serious critical thinking, but often times lead to more ideas you never even considered before.
Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?
I don’t know if I really have a style per se, I started with writing a horror story, then I moved to a fan fiction, then to sci-fi, then adventure thriller, and the one I’m currently writing is a dark fantasy. I say, if you get an idea for a story, follow it wherever it leads.
What do you want people to take away from reading this book?
I hope that they take away a fun experience and enjoyed the thrills, and hopefully they’ll want to come along with me on the next adventure.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?
It centers around the characters from L. Frank Baum’s original novel of “The Wizard of Oz.” It takes place many years after the story and paints a different picture of what happened at the end of L. Frank Baum’s version. Instead of sending her home, Glinda traps Dorothy to keep her in stasis while she deals with a mysterious gloom or poisoning of the land of Oz, stemming from the great wizard himself.
Glinda disappears and Dorothy finally breaks out and must take up Glinda’s mantle to try and put everything back to rights. It’s kind of like “Wizard of Oz” meets “Shutter Island” and has been very exciting to write because it has so many huge twists and turns and an ending that I think will blow your mind, at least it did for me.
The Best Laid Traps
