Continuing our spotlight on the authors of
Renaissance Romance Publishing’s Fall
Fires anthology, today I am hosting N. L. Leeks, author of Winter’s Love.
Do
you agree with the adage ‘Write what you know’?
No, I don’t believe with it. I’m sure
there are some writers that will only stick to what they know, and if that
works for them, then great, I think that’s awesome for them. For me, though, I
love being able to branch out and try new things, I might find that I am good
at one genre, but why not try new things, there could be others that you are
really good at.
So long as the writer does their research,
makes sure that they have their facts correct, that nothing could be
misconstrued or anything like that, then what’s wrong with trying your hand at
something different? You may just find something else that you excel at!
Not only that, but some readers can get
tired of reading the same things by the same author, they get to a point where
they know what to expect and there are no surprises, no differentiation.
Whereas, an author who writes more than one genre, could have more readers in
the long run, as they never know what to expect from them. Take Stephen King as
an example, he writes one main genre of horror, but then branches off into sub-genres.
He has books in fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers etc. When I pick up
a book by him, it’s nothing like what I might have read by him the previous
week!
Then you take someone like Jonathan
Kellerman, he writes mainly psychological books, and after reading four or five
by him, I could guess what was coming next before I’d read it. By sticking with
one genre, you come to a point where you’ve done everything you possibly could,
and have ran out of avenues to explore. Failing that, someone else has already
done it.
Describe
your ideal writing space.
That’s the easiest question I’ve been
asked yet! If I could live there more often, then it would be the cottage that
my Grandmother has at Buckhorn Lake in Canada. It’s quiet, cosy without being
small and has the most beautiful view! Inspiration has struck me many times
just while being there for a few days when I was there last.
All I would change, is to have a desk near
one of the windows so I could look out. Take a break from staring a computer
screen or a lined notepad. Then I would have a small table with a chair facing
the lake for the days when it’s warm so I can catch a few rays at the same
time!
Seeing as I can’t be there all the time, I
just need to be somewhere quiet, where my thoughts can run rampant without the
hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Summarily, apart from the cottage, my idea
writing space doesn’t exist! There are simply too many people everywhere to
find somewhere quiet enough!
Winter's Love is N.L. Leeks short story in the Fall Fires anthology.
Winter’s Love:
A past relationship has left Jared Winter broken. When Eric Healey runs
into him, Jared finds a reason to learn to trust again. The two men begin to
fall for one another, but the prejudice around them threatens to tear them
apart. Can their love survive in the real world?
A quick peek at what’s under the cover -
“Hey!
Jared! Yoo-hoo!”
I
cringed once more and turned to my sister, forcing a smile. “Hey, Rose-Anne.”
“What
are you doing here?” She giggled.
“Well,
Rose-Anne, in general one attends Asda, or any other supermarket, when they’re
doing their food shopping,” I sniggered.
Rose-Anne
rolled her eyes and glowered at me. I knew what she meant and was trying to be
subtle while avoiding her questions.
“Jared,
stop playing dumb with me. You know what I mean. Curry powder, two types of
meat, and prawns? You only cook this fancy when . . . Oh! You have a date
tonight, don’t you?” she squealed.
Behind
me, the cashier told me the check came to twenty-three pounds and some change.
I handed her a twenty and a five and waited for her to hand me the difference.
As she placed it in my hand, I took it and grabbed my already bagged shopping,
thankful that it had been done while Rose-Anne had been interrogating me.
Trouble was, she was still at it while I made my way back to the car.
“Rose-Anne!
For the love of all alive, will you please drop the subject? I love you to
pieces, but for just once, can I enjoy something without having to be
interrogated by you?” I yelled.
I
saw tears pool in her eyes and felt the guilt in an instant. Finding my car, I
placed the shopping in the back and pulled her into a hug.
I sighed. “I’m sorry, sissy, but sometimes you
are just too much.”
“Sorry,
Jed.” I cringed at the nickname, “I know I’m too nosy for my own good. But it’s
been so long since we’ve seen you with someone. We were beginning to think you
had taken a life of celibacy, all because of . . .”
“No!
I don’t want to hear his name, sissy! Yes, I’m having someone over for dinner
tonight. It’ll only be the second time I have seen him, so yeah I’m playing my
cards close to my chest. And yes, I’m a little dubious about where this will
go, but I won’t allow . . . him . . . to ruin everything good in my life, okay?
My friend’s name is Eric, seeing as you’re dancing around I’m sure that’s what
you wanted to ask me. Now that you’ve achieved your mission, you may return to
our beloved parents and tell them anything you want, but no phone calls
tonight!”
N.L. Leeks
lives in England with her fiancé, whom she has been with since the age of
eighteen. She first began writing when she was a child. Her friends, Matt and
Lou, helped her reignite that passion as an adult, and her journey into writing
began once more.
You can follow N. L. Leeks and her writings at the
following links:
Stop by tomorrow, when author Jude Ouvrard will be
joining me in the hot seat.
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