A warm welcome to Leigh Smith who is with me today to talk about her writing.
Here we go!
Abigail
How long have you been writing?
Leigh
It’s no secret that I’ve been writing for about two and a half years. A fellow blogger posted a short story every Friday, and was always calling for stories, so I wrote one and submitted it. It received a good response, and I subsequently wrote others. Eventually, I started my own blog and feature a new short story every Monday.
Abigail
How did your writing interest develop into writing books?
Leigh
Many of my fellow bloggers kept urging me to submit my stories to a publisher. I took their advice, and after increasing the length of some of my stories I included them in a story collection that first appeared on my blog.
Abigail
What's your favourite genre?
Leigh
I love cowboys and westerns, so many of my books and stories have a flavour of the west. Having grown up with Roy Rogers and westerns galore, my fantasies take hold when writing about an obstinate, dominant man who works hard and takes no prisoners, especially feisty females.
Abigail
Do you have a favourite book or author?
Leigh
I’ve been a reader all of my life. I remember when I was young I would sit at the breakfast table and read the cereal boxes, much to my mother’s displeasure. To pick a favorite book or author would be impossible. They are all my favorites as I’m reading, but once they are finished they move to the back of the line and are lost in the recesses of my mind. Of course, the classics always remain in the forefront, but in my every day reading, most of the time I couldn’t even tell you the title. When I finish one a book, I just go to the next one of my reading lists.
Abigail
Do you think you will ever write a book that doesn’t contain spanking?
Leigh
I may write one, but I don’t think I would ever sell one. I consider myself more of a story teller than a writer, and I’m not sure anyone would be interested in purchasing one of my stories without the spanking. I have written stories in which spanking was implied and not carried out, but the threat was always there.
Abigail
How do you go about writing a story?
Leigh
I have no plan, no outline, nothing. I sit down at the keyboard, and my fingers start writing. I am a moment to moment writer in that I can write many stories and words quickly and then not do it again for days. A friend of mine recently told me she was fascinated at the many different characters and story lines I am able to produce. There is no rhyme nor reason to my writing pattern.
Abigail
Do you have other hobbies?
Leigh
I paint, and I do it in the same way as I write. I may paint two or three pictures and then not pick up a brush again for weeks or months. At one time, I went years.
Abigail
Have you told your family and friends about your books?
Leigh
I’ve told a couple of my friends, who have told a couple of their friends, and I’ve mentioned it to some of my family. When I told my brother, his response was to ask if I make any money at it. He didn't ask any other questions. My sister did ask what kind of stories I wrote; I told her romantic stories with a kink. Her response was “Ohh” and it has not come up again. I can’t ever see me telling our daughter and grand-kids, but never say never.
Abigail
Do you have any works in progress?
Leigh
There is a story that has recently been submitted to my publisher, LSF Publications, and I’m waiting on a response.
I am also working on a story about a middle-aged couple and their long-standing relationship, and then, and then...
Here's the blurb from Leigh's latest release, At the End of the Rainbow.
After a gruelling 18-month work schedule in support of a political campaign in Washington DC, 33 year-old Melody decides to spend some time with her sister's family at their ranch in Montana. She is given an especially warm welcome by her sister Penny, who loses no time in making a list of the local eligible bachelors … a wasted effort, because on her fourth day at the ranch, Melody meets a tall, handsome cowboy called Kendall (Ken) and they soon begin seeing each other.
Not everything goes entirely smoothly though, and it's not long before Ken, who believes in traditional family values, has cause to take the sassy Melody over his knee for a good old fashioned spanking. At first Melody is reluctant to commit to the relationship but it isn't long before she falls head over heels in love with cowboy Ken. She soon discovers that their post-spanking lovemaking more than makes up for a sore bottom!
The relationship flourishes and the couple get engaged. But when Melody returns home to Washington to let go of her apartment and sort out her possessions, she is contacted by Senator Brewster who makes her an attractive job offer that is hard to resist... It's time for Melody to make an important decision. Will she find love and happiness at the end of the rainbow...?
Well done, Leigh. Pantser or plotter? From what you have shared with us we can see you write by the seat of your pants. Long may it continue!
At the End of the Rainbow is Available from Amazon & LSF Publications. Click here for further info.
Thanks Abigail, for inviting me to visit.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Leigh's book yet. Love her characters.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
Thanks for dropping by Ronnie :)
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