Richard Plourde
Author Interview - Richard Plourde
Author of Back to You... - The astonishing fate of John Fisher and If You Knew...
About If You Knew...
When their four-year-old son Gabriel’s leukemia relapses, Richard and his wife are thrust back into the nightmare they thought they had escaped. Every heartbeat feels like a countdown as they beg for a miracle to keep their child alive.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in time, Bill — a young university student reeling from heartbreak — suddenly glimpses a future that shouldn’t be his to see. Horrified by the suffering that seems to await, he vows to defy it at all costs.
As both men confront what they most fear, their stories converge into a haunting clash of destiny, courage, and life-altering choices. Will the actions they take be enough to rewrite fate, or are some destinies impossible to escape?
About Back to You…
One day, without warning, John Fisher turns his back on his past, on his name, on his father.
Thirteen years of unhappiness and a bout with leukemia later, John becomes convinced that the answer to his life’s woes lies in the mysterious female bone marrow donor who gave him a second chance at life.
Forced to face the demons of his past, John embarks on the journey of a lifetime, back to where it all began.
Author Interview - Richard Plourde
Author I draw inspiration from:
2026: Marc Levy -- If Only it Were True
2024: I am a very big fan of the French author, Marc Levy. I love his storytelling quality and his ability to create multi-dimensional and endearing characters. Moreover, his stories are always imbued with love and compassion, qualities that we need now more than ever.
Author Interview - Richard Plourde | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
2026: In my living room next to the wood stove in the winter and the front porch in the summer.
2024: My preferred writing spot is on the front porch during the summer and in my living room by the fireplace in the colder months, accompanied by my cat, Muse, cuddling against me. Paradoxically, I also enjoy reading in bustling and noisy cafés while sipping a cappuccino.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
2026: Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Arthur from If Only It Were True by Marc Levy
How I imagine it playing out:
The elevator would shudder to a stop between floors, the lights would flicker, and my first instinct would be mild panic, until Arthur, calm and wry, would break the tension with a perfectly timed joke. While we waited for help, we’d talk about the strange ways life derails our plans, the people we love, and the moments that feel impossible—until they aren’t. And when the doors finally opened, I think I’d step out feeling lighter… like I’d just had a conversation that lasted longer than an elevator ride should, but exactly as long as it needed to.
2024: Robert Langdon from Dan Brown’s « Angels and Demons .» His intelligence and resourcefulness make it likely that he could come up with an escape plan. Yet, even if we end up remaining stuck, he would be an incredibly intriguing person to engage in conversation with.
Author Interview - Richard Plourde | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
2026: I knew I wanted to become an author when I discovered that words aren’t just words—they’re doors. Open one, and you can travel across time and space. Once I felt that, I wanted to write stories that could do the same for others.
2024: Since my young age, I have been impressed by the power of words. Even though I was a fairly avid reader, I had never dared to dream of becoming an author. That changed one the day, in my thirties, when I read the first novel and bestseller by Marc Levy, 'If Only it Were True.' When I learned that he had worked for an architect firm and had no formal training in literature, I immediately believed that I could become an author too.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
2026: Hardbacks feel special—beautiful on a shelf, satisfying to hold, and perfect for collecting or gifting. The downside is the price and the weight; they’re not always practical to carry around.
Paperbacks are my everyday favorite: affordable, easy to travel with, and they still give me that “real book” feeling. The only drawback is that they wear out faster—creased spines, bent corners, and dog-eared pages.
Ebooks are unbeatable for convenience. I love having an entire library in my pocket, especially when traveling, and being able to adjust the font size is a huge plus. What I miss is the tactile experience—the cover, the paper, and that sense of progress as you turn pages.
Audiobooks are fantastic when I’m driving, walking, or doing chores. A great narrator can add a whole new dimension to a story. But if the narration doesn’t match the tone, it can pull me out of the book, and I sometimes find it harder to remember details compared to reading on the page.
2024: I'm more of a paperback person. I adore the feel and scent of paperbacks. However, I must confess that I recently read a book on my wife's Kindle and surprisingly enjoyed it. I believe I might gradually transition to that format.
The last book I read:
2026: The last book I read is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I loved it. It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you, funny in a quiet, dry way at first, then surprisingly moving. Ove is prickly and blunt, but the more you learn about him, the more you see the tenderness underneath and the grief he’s carrying.
20234: « Tuesdays With Morrie » from Mitch Albom. I’ve read this captivating crash course on living many times. A truly indispensable read.
Author Interview - Richard Plourde | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
2026: Definitely computer. I must admit I had to get used to it, but now I wouldn't trade for pen and paper.
2024: A little bit of both. Although I mostly use a computer, I do go back to pen and paper when I travel.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
2026: Parvaneh from A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman because Parvaneh is the kind of person who shows up—warm, direct, hilarious, and fiercely loyal. She doesn’t let people stay stuck in their loneliness, but she also doesn’t pity them. I think we’d be good friends because she’s practical and courageous, and she brings people together in a way that feels genuine. Life is simply better with someone like that in it.
2024: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache from « A World of Curiosities » by Louise Penny. I believe Gamache's compassion and empathy toward others would make him a supportive friend who genuinely cares about the well-being of those around him. His love for the arts, literature, and philosophy would likely lead to engaging conversations and shared interests.
Author Interview - Richard Plourde | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
2026: If I couldn’t be an author, I’d probably be a filmmaker—still telling stories, just with images, sound, and performances instead of paragraphs. I love the idea of shaping emotion through pacing, music, and quiet moments on screen, and bringing characters to life in a way that feels immediate and shared. In the end, it would be the same goal: to move people, make them reflect, and let them step into another life for a little while.
2024: Music producer
Favorite decade in fashion history:
2026: I love how unapologetically bold the ’80s were—neon colours, big hair, shoulder pads, denim, and that anything-goes confidence. It wasn’t subtle, but it was fun, expressive, and full of personality.
2024: 80’s. Neon, pastel, acid-washed jeans, big hair, leather jacket, shoulder pads, just to name a few.
Place I’d most like to travel:
2026: I would like to go back to Vienna. Vienna feels like a city where history and beauty are part of everyday life—grand architecture, cozy cafés, and music around every corner. I’m drawn to its mix of elegance and warmth: spending an afternoon in a museum, then lingering over coffee and pastry, then ending the day with a concert or simply walking along the streets and soaking up the atmosphere. It sounds like the kind of place that inspires you without trying too hard.
2024: There are so many! If I only got to choose one, I would go with Fiji for its pristine beaches.
My signature drink:
2026: I always go back to a good old microbrewery IPA.
2024: I can’t name just one. It depends on my mood and the occasion. A cold, crisp IPA, fine red wine and an Aperol spritz.
Favorite artist:
2026: Prince : Prince was pure creativity—fearless, genre-defying, and endlessly original. He could be electrifying and intimate in the same song, and his musicianship was unreal. Every time I listen, I feel that mix of funk, emotion, and brilliance that only he could pull off.
2024: Music : gabocarina96, Acting: Isabelle Plourde
Number one on my bucket list:
2026: Finishing my fourth novel.
2024: Write the screenplay of my novel "Back to You... - The astonishing fate of John Fisher".
Anything else you'd like to add:
2024: Thanks for the invitation and best wishes to all the Hasty Book List readers.
Find more from the author:
https://www.facebook.com/richardplourdeauteur/
https://x.com/Richard_Plourde
https://www.instagram.com/plourderichard/
About Richard Plourde:
Author Interview - Richard Plourde
Bestselling author Richard Plourde is a retired Atlantic Canadian optometrist with a genuine passion for writing captivating stories. His two novels, originally published in French, were both critically acclaimed and were finalists for the coveted France-Acadie literary prize.
Richard also published a children’s novel that was selected as a one of the top children’s book of the year by the consumer guide “Protégez-vous”.
Father of two accomplished young adults and three beloved cats, he lives in a lovely town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains in New Brunswick.
His books have been translated and published in English.
Richard is currently working on his fourth novel and is also writing the screenplay for his first book.
