Dee Ouellette, Author

Where do You Get Your Story Ideas?

I have always had a vivid imagination but a lot of my ideas actually come from my dreams. ‘Zoo at School’ is one of those stories from a dream. I remember waking myself laughing because a rhino was trotting down the school hall. Another dream involved some dinosaur eggs that hatched out strange-looking creatures. That book is entitled ‘The Eggs’ and is still being written.

Other times I see a news story or observe some kids doing something like playing soccer and an idea comes to me. I’m writing a book titled ‘EX 2020’ that came about while I was watching a news program. It’s a story about some inner-city teens who find a secret experimental device that is being developed for the U.S. military.

Stories are all around us every day. A writer can get all the inspiration they need from observing these stories.

Are your characters based on real people?

Yes, many are based on people I know or on my own character. In my book Ty and Jake Adventure series, the boy’s Ty and Jake are based on my grandsons. Also, some of the animals mentioned in my books are based on my own pets like Ajax, Anna’s horse, in ‘Zoo at School’ was the name of my horse when I was growing up in Texas.

have you been to the places you write about?

I have been to thirty-six states and have lived in eight of them. I have also been to twenty-nine countries and five of the seven continents. I love traveling and introducing characters from different cultures, races, and backgrounds into my stories. I believe all people can learn to live together in peace.

Books I loved as a kid: