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First of all, why don't you introduce yourself to those of us
unfortunate enough to not already know you?
Hi, my name is Leslie, and I'm a writer. I just finished my seventh book
and am currently working on my eighth. I live in California with my two
kiddos, who are my biggest fans. When I am not writing (or being a mom),
I enjoy working with a local non-profit that puts on red carpet events
for independent films. What got you
into writing in the first place, and did you receive any formal education
on the subject? When I was little my mom would read me Charlotte's Web and The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I remember my mind trying to form
images of Wilbur in the barnyard with Charlotte or Aslan curled up on my
bedroom rug. I wanted to create images and worlds like that. I wrote my
first story when I was six and my first novel when I was a senior in
college. I never really intended to go to school to be a writer - I
planned on being a teacher. In fact, it wasn't until my last year of
college that I switched my degree to English with a focus in journalism.
I worked in an after-school program while I continued on to complete my
MA in Humanities. After completing that, I began to write books in
earnest, and I haven't stopped.
How would you describe yourself as a
writer, and what can you tell us about your writing process, writing
rituals and whatever?
I am a very visual writer. I see my stories as if they are a movie
playing out. My closest friend is a filmmaker, and so I have always been
around the camera, and I think that has influenced the way I write. I am
incredibly descriptive - in fact, I sometimes struggle with dialogue
because I would rather describe the situation than have my characters
talk about it. Each book starts with a seed of an idea - usually totally
unexpected. For example, The Rock and the Wind came from a fever
dream I had when I was incredibly sick. I was delirious and had this
dream that essentially became the book's plot. I also tend to write
whatever I am dared to. The aforementioned best friend has come to me
twice and told me I should write both a contemporary piece and a fantasy
piece. Challenge accepted. That is how Demons in the Hog Shed and
The Legends of the Vale series came about. When I write, I take
notes and get a rough idea of what I want to happen in the plot. AI has
been excellent in helping me create images of my characters, which helps
me with the visual descriptions I like so much. My office is in my
closet, and the walls are covered with books and images of my
characters. That helps me to write because I feel like they are with me,
prompting me to create their story. Do talk about the novels you've
released so far, and your sources of inspiration behind them!
(In order)
Freedom's Dream - A story of a family in Ireland during
the Potato Famine. I was, and still am in love with all things Ireland,
being Irish myself. When I was in high school, all I read were novels
and informational books based in Ireland, and then I wrote my own.
The Rock and the Wind - Historical
fiction set in 1800's Maine. As I mentioned before, the idea for this
book came from dreams I had while sick. But once I started writing, I
drew heavily from Anne of Green Gables and The Age of
Innocence. The story revolves around a love triangle that began in
the trio's youth. The heroine must choose between the two men who love
her - one offering peace and security and the other a life to match her
wildness. Demons in the Hog Shed - My contemporary
piece. At its roots, Demons in the Hog Shed is an homage to women who have gone
through trauma and the way it always stays with them. Audrey flees her
midwestern home - running from a dead-end life and a life-altering
trauma she experienced. She meets the enigmatic Mr. C., a publishing
mogul and philanthropist. Audrey's indifference towards his wealth
intrigues him, as does her fear of her own shadow. And so, he endeavors
to discover her secrets in order to save her from herself.
Millennial Faith - My only non-fiction
piece. A reflection on my life growing up as a pastor's kid and a
formative part of the ministry at my church. I discuss conversations
I've had with other Christian millennials and how the faith of our
fathers transcended into a faith of our own.
Let the Magic Grow - My children's book,
written for my niece and nephew who are adopted (and for myself as
well). The story of a young orphan who wants nothing more than parents.
And so she waits, hopes, and believes as her caretaker, Miss Maddie,
works her magic behind the scenes.
Child of Dawn - Inspired by reading my
children Beauty and the Beast during Covid and the BLM movement. It
began with the idea, "What if the Beast never changed back? Would
Beauty still love him?" I made my beast a jaded half-vampire,
half-elf, and built a story around prejudice and judging people based on
how they were different, not how they were the same.
Silken Waters - I never planned on
writing a sequel, but everyone wanted one. And I wasn't sure where to
take the story after the end of Child of Dawn. And then the idea
of pirates came to me. In the first book, I examine how war affects
people on land. In Silken Waters, I look at what happens to
those who have thrived off war in a time of peace.
Coming Up - The Ashwalker and Firebrand
- the continuing story of the characters in Child
of Dawn and Silken Waters.
According to my information, one of your novels, Child of Dawn, is turned
into a screenplay - so what can you tell us about that project, and how
does compiling a screenplay compare to writing a novel?
There never was a plan for a screenplay. Of course, I could always
envision my books on the big screen, but I had never thought to write
the script myself. And then, during an interview with an incredible
human named Terrance Hutchinson, he challenged me to write the
screenplay myself. As always, the challenge was accepted. It was
like learning another language. When you write a book, you give as much
description as possible; when you write a screenplay, you remove all
those descriptions. Everything needs to be short and to the point, which
I HATED. After the first draft, I hired an editor who proceeded to take
huge chunks out of the story and make it a mess. I then went back, fixed
it, and hired a second editor from Germany, who actually knew what they
were doing. He managed to hone down the script to the length it needed
to be. Now, it's floating around on the industry highway - hoping
someone will pick it up, whether for streaming or the big screen. It's a
brutal world. You think you have a lead, pitch, and then get ghosted.
But I think the series would be epic on the screen; I believe in it, and
I just remain stubborn in pursuing its success. Any
other future projects you'd like to share?
Once I finish writing Ashwalker, I will work on the screenplay
for Silken Waters. Once that is done, I will write Firebrand,
then the final two screenplays. After that... my brain is blank. Writers and
whoever else who inspire you?
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Feeling lucky ?
Want to search for books by
Leslie Anne Lee
yourself? |
The links below
will take you
just there!!!
(commissions earned) |
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Joyce Carol Oates, writer. Peter Jackson and Christopher Nolan, filmmakers.
Eddie Redmayne, actor. Elanor Tomlinson, actress. And since this is a movie
site primarily, your favourite movies?
Braveheart, State of the Union, Return of the King, 300,
The Thin Man. ... and of
course, films you really deplore?
Anything with Cameron Diaz or Reese Witherspoon - except Sweet Home
Alabama and The Holiday. Also, hate horror movies with gore. Your website, social
media, whatever else?
http://www.leslieannelee.com
Instagram: @lepie21
Twitter: @Deslie82
TikTok: grayhavenbound Anything else you're dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Thank you!!!!! And Happy New Year! Thanks for
the interview!
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find Leslie Anne Lee at amazon.com
find Leslie Anne Lee at amazon.co.uk
find Leslie Anne Lee at amazon.de
