1. When did you start writing?
I was a late bloomer for reading, not really 'getting it' until 2nd grade. About a month after I grasped the whole concept, I wrote my first book, The Mean Old Man's Backyard. At a whopping 6 pages, including stick figure illustrations, it was hardly literature, but I still have it, bound with red plaid fabric over cardboard.
2. Do you write full time?
Yes. As a stay at home mom for two, one of whom is autistic, I have some time to myself, but not a lot. In order to work a "real" job, I'd have to find specialized care for one kid and then something else for the other, and it would be a terrible nightmare to coordinate, not to mention outrageously expensive. Writing is what I do to maintain my sanity while they're at school.
3. What did you do before you became a writer?
I played with dolls and trucks. Seriously, though, I worked in 3rd party technical support, which is one of the more soul-sucking jobs available to anyone with some computer skills. My favorite story from that dark time is the caller who'd managed to get the installation wizard running ten times concurrently, by putting in the disc, thinking nothing happened, then pulling it out and putting it back in again and again and again. For some reason, his computer was running very slowly.
4. Who is your favorite author? What about them inspires you?
I'm too mercurial in my tastes for books to have one favorite author. There is no one writer for whom I will read anything with their name on it, but I am fond of a few series. One is Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, which is a well done first person urban fantasy. The main character appeals to me a great deal, as he's a smartass who is also a dumbass. I'm also a fan of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books, and Dean Ing's Systemic Shock and its sequels. Each of these writers is very different, yet they all show what can be done with their chosen genres and niches to great effect.
5. What Inspired you to write The Fallen and Harbinger?
The main character, Chavali, began her life as a Dungeons & Dragons character, in a game run by Erik over a message board. Despite both of our best efforts, the game didn't finish. For both of us, the story felt grossly incomplete, and I may have plied him with alcohol to convince him to help me write the full story as books. We're pretty good at the dynamic where he plots and I control the characters through it.
6. Are any of the events based on something you've experienced in your life?
I've had my fair share of moments dealing with idiots. Other than that, no. This is purely fantasy. Chavali herself has a bit of me in her, as all my characters do, but I'm not her and she's not me. I promise I'm nowhere near as prickly as she can be, and I'm a lousy liar.
7. If you could pick any actor to play the main character in your story, who would it be?
Based on her performance in My Cousin Vinny, Marisa Tomei would probably do a good job. She's a little too old for the role now, since Chavali is 25. I'm not sure if I'd pick Scarlett Johanssen just because I'd like to geek out over her for being Black Widow or if she'd actually do a great job with the part. Vanessa Hudgens is close to the right look, but I'm not familiar with her acting skills.
8. Do you have any advice for fellow authors?
The one thing I always say is this: Write words. Lots of words. A writer is only a writer because of actual writing. The words won't come out perfect, they just have to come out. You can always fix them later.
9. Is there anything you'd like to say to your readers?
I appreciate each and every person who enjoys reading, no matter whose books you choose. Complete the circle by leaving a review! Every review helps another reader find a great book they might not otherwise give a chance.
10. What are you working on next?
Right now, I'm hock deep in NaNoWriMo. I've got a new urban fantasy series started, book 3 of The Greatest Sin is a quarter written, and a second book in the same world as Damsel In Distress (Ilauris) about a third done. I'm also planning a science fiction story taking place on a space station, and third book in Ilauris.
The Fallen
For hundreds of years, the Blaukenev clan has wandered across Tilzam, from one end to the other and back. Each wagon carries history, love, laughter, pain, sorrow, and secrets. Their greatest secret of all may be Chavali, the clan Seer.
Spirits claim/use/save/damn her.
With her gift/curse, nothing surprises her anymore, no one keeps secrets from her. She, on the other hand, has more than enough secrets to keep. Secrets of her own, secrets of her clan, secrets of the world, secrets she even keeps from herself.
There are always people who want secrets.
Some will do anything to get what they want.
The Fallen is the foundation of the story of The Greatest Sin, of a world adrift from its God that desperately wants Her back. Chavali's comfortable, predictable life will be ripped apart and burnt to ashes as she's forced into the middle of that struggle. Change, she hates it passionately. It hates her right back.
Harbinger
Adjusting to her new life as a soul-bound agent of the Fallen has Chavali pushing herself harder than ever before. Between learning to fight, dealing with idiots, and climbing stairs - lots of stairs - she has little time to waste on thoughts of the future. Or the past.
When another agent fails to report in, Chavali is sent on the mission to discover her fate. Ready or not, she saddles up for a new adventure with new dangers.
The search takes her to Ket, a coastal city slathered in mystery. There, she faces ghosts from her past and demons of her future as she seeks answers. All she seems to find are more questions.
Plague, murder, lies, espionage...this city harbors much more than meets the eye, and maybe too much to handle.
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About the Author:
Lee French lives in Olympia, WA with two kids, two bicycles, and too much stuff. She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community, where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom. In addition to spending much time there, she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don't get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.
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