An Interview with Renee Leigh
Renee Leigh is a faith-based fantasy author hailing from beautiful Western NC! She is dedicated to crafting emotionally charged, character-driven stories that explore the depths of human experience, steeped in psychology (which she has a bachelor’s degree in), all within unique and intriguing fantasy settings! When she is not writing, you can find her enjoying life with her circle of people, and her best canine pal Bucky!
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I’ve been consistently writing for a couple years now but was never able to finish a project! When the idea for this story came to me last one evening—after reading a scene in a book I was currently working through and seeing a random social media video—I stayed up till 1:00 a.m. plotting and then began to write! I wanted to craft a story that was a mix of all the things I love in a romantic fantasy and explore the themes I felt needed to be, so this my story was born!
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Veils of Deceit came incredibly quickly for me, as most names do! It ties pretty well into the story so I won’t talk too much about how it does, but know that once you read it, the reasoning will become rather clear!
Describe your dream book cover.
My current cover is definitely my dream cover! My incredible artist really made my story come to life with her incredible artwork and I couldn’t imagine anything else!
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
“Whose Side Are You On”—Ruelle
“The Winner Takes it All”—ABBA
“The Water is Fine”—Chloe Ament
“I Was Made “For Loving You”—Tiffany Alvord
“Drag Path”—Twenty One Pilots
“Game of Survival”—Ruelle
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”—Fleurie
“Forbidden Fruit”—Tommee Proffitt
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I’m the first in my family to pursue writing as far as I know! So the inspiration, I believe, came from God and a place within where he put the desire and craft for words! He is my inspiration and reason for writing and I thank Him for the talent and opportunity!
Where is your favorite place to write?
My cozy office or curled up on the couch! I’m not an aesthetic person so it’s the basic places that work best for me! I like my quiet, solitude, and space to think!
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Don’t doubt yourself! Your words matter, your writing is beautiful, and it will touch hearts!
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope that someone is impacted by this story in a way that urges them to look within, seek healing, and let those close to them in to share their burdens!
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