Meet Sebastien Lacasse | Scriptwriter & Novelist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sebastien Lacasse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sebastien, what matters most to you?
The value that I strive to emulate the most in my work and personal life would be integrity. I want to tell honest stories that people can relate with, stories that raise a mirror and encourage others to reflect. To me, having integrity means being authentic to myself and the stories I want to tell. I want to reflect truth in my characters, themes, and genres. This is why I write primarily fiction with an emphasis on realism: oftentimes the lessons we learn in fiction are truer than non-fiction.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a child, I loved telling stories. I don’t know where it came from, but it’s something I had from an early age. I would dream up adventures with all the characters and details of its world, then gather my mom, grandma, and aunties and tell them all my twisted tales. It was something I relished in: the ability to capture someone’s attention and transport them away from our world for a while.

Even at a young age, I was intrigued with stories that were different and left an imprint on the audience. I went to a middle school writing conference once and was the only one who brought a story that wasn’t about a previous time in my life, i.e. the first time I rode a bike, the summer I broke my leg, etc. Instead, I brought a fantasy story I’d written about a group of friends who enter a dangerous dungeon in search of treasure. It didn’t win any awards to say the least, but I wrote something I loved and that was important to me.

Over the years, I’ve tried to hone my craft and become better at writing imaginative stories that are more accessible to people who aren’t necessarily fans of fantasy and science fiction. I believe any story, whether contemporary or in a world different from our own has lessons to impart.

I try to be very consistent with my writing habits, but obviously no one is perfect. I’m very much a “little goes a long way” type of person and prefer to set small daily goals that add up over time. I finished my first novel, a high fantasy, when I was sixteen by staying strict to my goal of writing 500 words a day. At the time, I was heavily influenced by books like The Lord of the Rings and Eragon.

Seven years after finishing my first novel and with continued patience and practice, I published my first book–a short story collection–titled Drenched in Time. It was the result of many sleepless nights, countless drafts, and endless effort. Since then I have published another story collection–On the Edge of Dreams–and now write a true crime podcast called Minute Murders where we recount both high-profile and more obscure murder cases. Whatever it is I’m writing, I try to make it engaging and long-lasting.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite spots in the city are the Getty Museum and Villa, Korean BBQ, Somi Somi, Two Hands Korean corn dogs, and Pattern Bar in Downtown. When I need a break from writing and want to blow off some steam, I’ll go play football beach or to a local soccer game.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My favorite author Haruki Murakami has been a great inspiration for me. He’s not only helped me determine the kind of writer I want to be, but his stories have genuinely taught me life lessons about trust, relationships, and perseverance. He perfectly blends the imaginative with the concrete and my own writing has come to emulate that.

Some of his works that I love the most are The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, and Norwegian Wood.

I’d also like to recognize and thank my family for believing in me and sticking by me.

Website: https://www.sebastienlacasse.me/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebastien.lacasse/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-lacasse/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkmDHy0pT8h1U4QgHv6Drg

Other: https://www.amazon.com/Sebastien-Lacasse/e/B09KHM17TC?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Image Credits
Drenched in Time cover photo found on Unsplash.com On the Edge of Dreams cover by smdsilva on Fiverr.com Personal photos taken by Rose Zubler Minute Murder Logo made by Minute Murders Podcast Monster sketches for my first story drawn by my old friend Vinit Suganur