In this special blog post, discover how O’Neil De Noux uses his hometown of New Orleans as a constant source of inspiration for his stories. Be sure to check out his latest, “The Human Form Divine,” in our [November/December issue, on sale now!]

Like other New Orleanians, I became intrigued with the story of Madame Delphine LaLaurie when I was a kid and visited the only wax museum in the French Quarter, the Musée Conti. The wonderful museum (now closed) included a haunting display of lovely Madame LaLaurie and the horrors surrounding her. The story of this woman stayed with me, prodded me to write about her. “The Human Form Divine” took a long time to write and re-write and re-write until I got it right. Madame LaLaurie was the personification of beautiful evil.

When I began writing mysteries, I started with what I knew best—police procedurals. I was a homicide detective and wrote hyper-realistic novels and stories about homicide work. Meeting Elmore Leonard and writers George Alec Effinger and Harlan Ellison and others influenced me to write different types of crime fiction—private eye, suspense, thrillers, cozy, and classic mysteries. My education includes a degree in European History which drew me to write historical fiction. I also write in other genres from science-fiction to fantasy, children’s fiction, mainstream fiction, horror, western, literary, religious, romance, humor and erotica. I have fifty books in print and over four hundred short story sales.

After Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, my wife and I moved to a small town across Lake Pontchartrain. When people here ask what I do, I pass them a business card and tell them I am probably the most prolific local writer they’ve never heard of. My job isn’t to be famous. My job is to write.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, I became an Independent Writer (an Indie writer) and helped form BIG KISS PRODUCTIONS, an informal co-op venture of writers, artists, editors, and an entertainment attorney-agent. We collaborate to produce paintings, sculptures, photography, novels, story collections, short stories and scripts. We own and control our art. As a novelist, I write my book, select the cover art and what is written on the back of the book. Indie writers do not surrender their rights to a publishing house and share their royalties only with the printer and distributor. Our books never go out of print. Our books are instantly available as eBooks, trade paperbacks and audio books. Sales are sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but we persevere.

Since I retired from law enforcement, I write every day and feed neighborhood cats, opossums, bothersome raccoons, the occasional fox (both red and gray) and turtles who love dry cat food. I read more and watch less television than I used to. I search for movies and TV productions without excessive violence, explosions, gore, ridiculous characters. As for writing genre-bending stories, I’ve written stories which are a blend of mystery and erotica. I prefer writing novels and stories set in the past. To me it’s a less frenzied time, far less crazy.

Recent publication? NAUGHTY PRIVATE EYE—the ninth novel in my Private Eye Lucien Caye series, set in 1954 New Orleans. It is inspired by the paperback books of the 1950s, so is its cover.