Danielle Bouthillier is a laboratory technician, digital artist, and science fiction writer. Her debut novel, Hero, work started in 2012 and went through several revisions over the years to create this tension-driven and unconventional superhero story. She has two smaller publications from winning writing contests, which gave her a dream to, one day, publish a story that was unforgettable and entertaining to read. Her first small publication was a short story called “A Night to Remember”, in Touched by Titanic, a children’s book created for the 90th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. In 2016, she published an article titled “Canadian Use of Bath Salts,”which was featured in the second edition of the textbook titled Drugs, Behavior and Society by her professor Dr. Hebb.
Author Interview
What’s the hardest thing about being an author?
– Constructive criticism and lots of revisions (which included removing scenes and characters that did not add to the plotline).
– Embarrassment and fear of rejection
– Time constraints since I was in university when I wrote majority of this novel and had little time for myself.
– No family support towards my goals and their doubt that I would succeed.
What is the best thing about being an author?
Satisfaction that I have accomplished my childhood dream of publishing a book and sharing my story to a wide audience.
What inspired you to write this book?
In 2011, I was relaxing from studying and watching TV, when my strict religious mother saw that I was watching Superman cartoons on the television, she saw Superman use his laser vision, and she then exploded and accused Superman of performing witchcraft. I was then punished for watching witchcraft on TV (and introducing Satan into the house, etc). I was taking 2 child psychology courses at that time and pondered to myself ‘What if Superman had my mother?’ A person who would immediately abuse a defenseless child who was discovering their superpowers – and how the abuse of the past as a child would affect them throughout their adult life.
Thus I wrote a book about a superhero who suffered from child abuse and the consequences of that abuse such as anxiety and depression, low-self worth and self-esteem, and how it affects their life as an adult crime fighter.
What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?
I hope that readers would be entertained. More importantly, to show the reader a different perspective of a superhero suffering from depression and ponder what it means to be a “hero.”
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for your support, kind words, and great reviews of my work which took years to create. I sincerely appreciate your support and kindness.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
Why readers would appreciate my Novel?
The story is unique and has a unique writing style – The words that are used are common plus the narration is very descriptive making the read fluid and effortless. This makes the visualization of the events, places, and characters possible for everyone. The narrative delivery is on point and imaginable while the story is being read. Also, no reader will notice that he has already read multiple pages since there is almost a moving picture in front of him.
It is an unconventional and memorable superhero story where the superhero needs to be saved and needs support and protection. Even superheroes need to be saved.