Gina: Tell us a bit about
yourself?
Leeah: I’m Leeah, a paranormal romance
author and lover of all things vampires, witches and wolves. Writing has been
my passion since I could remember and my *ahem* obsession for all things
paranormal for just as long.
When I’m not playing master of my worlds, I’m a stay
at home mommy to two perfect little devils *cough* I mean angels and
wife of twenty years to an amazing man in the great Sunshine State. We also
have five furry children- three cats and two dogs.
Gina: Have you always wanted to
become an author?
Leeah: I’ve always had a very active and vivid
imagination. Long before I started writing I was making up stories in my head
but it never occurred to me that I wanted to be an author.
I was thirteen when I started writing short stories and
fanfiction. And even later in my twenties when I began writing more original
works. It wasn’t until I hit thirty that I realized I wanted to be an author
and share my stories with others. Five years later I’m finally living that
dream.
Gina: What was your inspiration for your current book/series?
Leeah: I’ve always had a love for Paranormal
Romance. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Interview with the Vampire both set a
fire in me to love all things vampires.
But I found, more recently, what I wanted to read wasn’t out
there. Or at least I wasn’t finding it. So with my love for the angsty love
stories in The Vampire Diaries and sexier, darker storylines of The Originals,
and a set of characters that needed a story- I finally started writing the
Kings of Sterling.
Gina: What are you working on now?
Leeah:
Kings of Sterling is my only project right now, though I have several waiting
quite impatiently for me to finish. It began as one book, one love story. The now
book two in the series was originally the first nd only bookd. But the deeper I
went the more it exploded into an entire world, cast of characters, and a story
I never saw coming.
As I
mentioned above I have a love for The Vampire Diaries but really I didn’t even
start watching it until I saw The Originals. The bond of family in that TV
series paired with the rich history of New Orleans fueled my world building. I
wanted to write the same family bond and even more, a bond beyond blood set in
a fictional small town of Georgia rich with it’s own history and backstory.
Kings of
Sterling isn’t just love stories but a story about a family the lengths they’ll
go not to only protect each other but the town they love and hold dear. And
with plenty of twists, turns and OMG moments along the way.
The series
is planned to be 10 books long not including companion books and spin off
series.
Gina: Do you have any quirks while working?
Leeah:
While writing? Not really though my characters do “talk” to me and their
temperament will decide how much work I can get done. It also makes for some
interesting discoveries along the way too.
Gina: What are your hopes for the future?
Gina: What are your hopes for the future?
Leeah: Short term, I hope to get the majority of
Kings of Sterling published this year, so far I’m half way there. But long term
I’d like to make this into a career while doing what I love. I know the road
ahead of me is long and will take a lot
of work but I’m ready to do it.
Gina: Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?
Gina: Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?
Leeah:
Find your tribe. It makes all the difference when you surround yourself with
fellow writers to cheer you on and mentor you. The best decision I made was joining a small critique
group of ladies in my genre and while our group isn’t very active now, I became
amazing friends with one of them and we are like cheerleaders for each other.
She makes a huge difference in not only writing
but everyday life. So, find that tribe. It’s out there.
Gina: Do you have anything to say to your followers?
Gina: Do you have anything to say to your followers?
Leeah: I have met so many great people along the
way so far. Many of them readers that still, even today, blow my mind when they
talk about my books. I think sometimes I’m still in this surreal state about
it. But I can’t be more grateful, and truly blessed, to have found a great
group of followers and readers!
Gina: Thank you for joining us today, Leeah for this short interview. I know you are very busy with your upcoming release and I am so happy you took a moment to sit down with me.
Leeah: Thank you, it a pleasure.
Blood of Night
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