Meet Faye Arcand

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Faye Arcand. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Faye below.

Faye , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience is something I learned as a young child and honed over the years as challenges presented themselves and tough decisions needed to be made.

Being the seventh of eight children, means you have to stand up to be heard and seen.
I was blessed with a sister who recognized something in me.
Fourteen years older than me, her influence was huge. When I was two and three years old, my sister would play ‘school’ with me in the attic. She instilled a love of words, reading, and writing as those classroom sessions had a lasting impact over my entire life. My sister Maureen took me under her wind at such a young age, but unbeknownst to us, a very special relationship beyond sisterhood was being formed as she became my mentor.

This was special because I always knew I had someone in my corner.

Many people have siblings that are close, but I had a cheerleader, a pseudo parent, a friend and a challenger. She taught me from a young age, that it was imperative I stand up for myself and work hard at anything I chose to do. And, if I wanted something bad enough, I could do it… without question.

The confidence she showed for me, translated into a tenacious quality within me. She instilled the desire of seeking growth through education, experience and sharing.

While the path was sometimes bumpy and life tossed those darn curves-balls every once in a while, I always knew I could, and would, survive and/or succeed at anything I put my mind to.
It was my sister Maureen, who introduced me to writing as a child and encouraged me as an adult to share what was within me.

Experiences, career choices, travel, and loss have all enhanced that resiliency.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Life has a way of working out the way it’s supposed to. It’s quite amazing when you think about it. When my son started grade one, I launched myself into the world of writing.

I studied and read everything I could.
I took classes, went to conferences, and told my tales. I wrote short stories that won contests, I became a successful newspaper columnist. I wrote a book, and I mentored young people through difficult situations.

I even went so far as to start a writing festival in my hometown so that others could benefit from what I’d learned over the years. This turned into a five year stint as a non-profit Board Chair.

While I was building my community, I realized I had to finally concentrate of my own writing and get serious about becoming a published author.

Currently, I am focused on growing my reader base for my writing. I published a domestic suspense novel, titled INSIDE OUTSIDE, in October 2024. It is a dark psychological twisty read that has been very well received.

I have a very twisted writer brain and the muse likes to go toward the dark side and expose elements of human behaviour which are not necessarily the most attractive. INSIDE OUTSIDE does just that as it weaves a dual narrative and timeline through the lives of two very different women with horrific traumas that affect and define who they’ve become in the world.

As INSIDE OUTSIDE nears it’s one year anniversary, I’ve completed my second novel titled CAN YOU SEE ME?

This is a domestic thriller that has potential to be a series.
CAN YOU SEE ME? Will be released before the end of 2025.

My third novel is also half way done and is a domestic psychological suspense/thriller told in a series that spans a career of over fifty years.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three most important qualities/skills/knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are:

1. Community. Let’s face it, writing is a lonely pursuit. Without community it can be even more isolating.
By community I mean participating socially and professionally with like-minded individuals. This could be on-line or in person. For me, I’ve started and led different writing groups and activities. This is very important and sometimes you meet the coolest people!
To be able to step up and start these things (festival, write-ins, meet ups etc.) brings the introverts (including myself) out of their rooms. It’s so important to know that others are also struggling and learning on a daily basis. Imposter syndrome is real, but if you have a community to discuss issues with, you’re less likely to dive as deep down that doubt-filled rabbit hole… or at the very least you can compare notes with another writer.

2. Public Speaking. With the resilience I learned as a child, I learned that others are just as nervous, if not more so, and as insecure as me so someone needs to stand up and just lead. This comes through public speaking whether in leading a class, a group, or giving a key-note, embracing the courage it takes to stand before a crowd has been something I feel has been a gift that keeps on giving. If you can’t stand in front of the class just yet, at least force yourself to attend and participate in some way. It’s important.

3. Knowing that tomorrow will come. We can all suffer from imposter syndrome and deep insecurities, but learning to dig deep and *know* that things will work out and tomorrow will come can be a life-saver. Writing and creating bare the souls of those sharing and rejection, judgement, and differing opinions can be real issues. Knowing that I don’t need to satisfy or please everyone is huge, but at times I’ll allow myself those pity moments where I climb in under my blankie and have a good cry or a big bowl of ice cream, but always give myself the kick in the butt needed to get the job done. All you need is one yes, one nod or one smile to remind yourself that it’ll all work out. And, remember that same advice when dealing with others. Be kind always or walk away.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

As an Indie author, the main challenge I face is learning things related to distribution and publication.

The publishing industry is changing very quickly and though my work has been repped by two separarate agents (one, the agency folded and the other agent was not a good fit in that she wanted decided to work with a different genre/type of author), means that you’re on your own.

Not only am I doing all my own marketing, but I’m also attending events, selling, and trying to learn the systems…It’s a lot and it’s a recipe for burn-out.

For me, success means that people all over the world are reading and enjoying my work. I’m a writer, not a distributor. I would love to work with a publisher who is supportive and appreciative of the creative process.

When an author is everywhere promoting their book and trying to constantly sell, they’re not writing and creativity.

The other thing is technology… the learning curve and invasion of ai is real., and it’s scary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fayearcand.com/
• Instagram: Faye.arcand
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Faye.E.Arcand/

Image Credits

All images are mine