“A Day in the Life” with Calgary writer Craig Dilouie

August 6, 2018 Admin Arts, Literature

Craig Dilouie is a Calgary writer of many talents. His books span the speculative genres and, with his Crash Dive series, even into submarine thrillers. Nominated for the Horror Writer’s Association’s Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel 2014, Suffer The Children is a horror tale that asks, “How far would you go for someone you love?” Craig’s fantasy novel, The Alchemists, was one of the first novels launched by the Tapas app. His first published novel was a science fiction piece titled The Great Planet Robbery. Let’s not forget his zombie fiction, notably Tooth and Nail and Infection War. In his latest novel, One of Us, he takes all three genres—minus the zombies, sorry—and winds them into a Southern Gothic tale of prejudice and the need to belong.

But this American-Canadian isn’t just about writing fiction. He is also a dad to two rapscallions who fill his life with joy, laughter, and general silliness. They enjoy making “slime” together, playing board games, and poking around the Calgary Library. When he’s not entertaining and being entertained by the rascals, he and his partner write together or watch a movie or series that more times than not end up being reviewed on his blog. And right now—literally as this is being typed—he’s hard at work on his latest novel.

By author Chris Marrs

Craig DiLouie giving a reading at the Owl’s Nest bookstore in Calgary
Craig DiLouie giving a reading at the Owl’s Nest bookstore in Calgary
With his children at the beach in New Jersey, where he grew up. He takes his kids there every year to create magical memories of the ocean. Craig identifies as a dad more than anything else.
With his children at the beach in New Jersey, where he grew up. He takes his kids there every year to create magical memories of the ocean. Craig identifies as a dad more than anything else.
A writer and his cat
A writer and his cat
With his partner, horror writer Chris Marrs, at the Stanley Hotel Writer’s Retreat
With his partner, horror writer Chris Marrs, at the Stanley Hotel Writer’s Retreat
Craig DiLouie with his daughter Mieka at her book signing at the Owl’s Nest bookstore Craig challenged her that if she wrote a book, he’d publish it. Her novel, She Tamed a Dragon, was on the Calgary Herald bestseller list for several weeks. All profits were donated to Inn from the Cold, a local charity that helps families in need.
Craig DiLouie with his daughter Mieka at her book signing at the Owl’s Nest bookstore Craig challenged her that if she wrote a book, he’d publish it. Her novel, She Tamed a Dragon, was on the Calgary Herald bestseller list for several weeks. All profits were donated to Inn from the Cold, a local charity that helps families in need.
Giving a talk about story structure to local writers at the annual When Words Collide conference
Giving a talk about story structure to local writers at the annual When Words Collide conference
With friends and colleagues David Fitzgerald and Dana Fredsti at the Horror Writers Convention
With friends and colleagues David Fitzgerald and Dana Fredsti at the Horror Writers Convention

What ‘hood are you in?

I live in the Windsor Park area of Calgary, Alberta. It’s a terrific neighborhood, close enough to the core to enjoy everything the city has to offer but far enough from it to raise children in a less busy environment.

What do you do?

I’m a writer, with my time split between nonfiction and fiction. I do journalism and education in the lighting industry, writing for construction magazines and organizations like the Illuminating Engineering Society. I also write books—sci-fi/fantasy, thrillers, and horror—published by major publishers and also through my own self-published brand. Otherwise, I’m a full-and-a-half-time father to two amazing children and a partner to a wonderful woman.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently celebrating the launch of One of Us, a Southern Gothic dark fantasy published in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook by Orbit, one of the world’s leading sci-fi and fantasy publishers. I just closed out a very popular self-published series called Crash Dive, which might be described as Horatio Hornblower on submarines during WW2. And I’m currently neck deep in revisions for a thriller about a brother and sister forced to fight as child soldiers on opposite sides of a second American civil war. While my journalism career saw a steady rise over my adult life from advertising exec to magazine editor to freelancer, my fiction career has only taken off in the last decade or so. It’s been an amazingly gratifying and humbling experience.

Where can we find your work?

You can get One of Us in the sci-fi/fantasy section at any physical or online bookstore. My other books are available at Amazon.com and other online stores. Please visit my website to learn more.

 

 

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