Interview with Regan Leigh

It's that time again. Yes, of course, Monday, but also time for another fun interview. Today we're talking to aspiring writer Regan Leigh.

Welcome, Regan! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a Capricorn, an INFJ, and I love mashed potatoes.

Hehehe, that's awesome. How long have you been writing?

Most of my life... I'm thirty and started writing seriously around twenty-eight, but I was creating "books" at the age of seven.

What is the name and genre of the manuscript you're currently pitching?

I'm not quite to the query level, yet. I have two completed novels. One is an adult novel that has been through a few edits, but still needs more. The other was an adult novel that I decided fit the YA genre better, so it's going through a big over-haul.

Practice one of your pitches on us.

I guess I'll pitch Mallory's Story, the adult novel with more edits. (And yes, I know the name needs help. I'm terrible at titles.)


Wait...my query for Mallory is shaky and I think this describes it better:


Mallory's Story from reganleigh on Vimeo.

Very cool. How did the idea of the story come to you?


I tried an exercise from a writing prompt book, The 3 AM Epiphany by Brian Kiteley,  and that initial short story led me to develop it into five hundred pages. :) (Yes, I have since edited down that crazy page count.)

What else do you have in the works?

Hayes' Story (I know, enough of the horrible titles. :D) Hayes' Story is the adult novel that is transitioning into a YA book.

Here's what I can say about it:


Hayes is trapped in a town where everyone hates him. They’ve hated him since that one particular incident when he was a young boy. They never forgave him. Because of that, Hayes is bitter guy with a dark sense of humor.


Hayes has to come face to face with one of his worst fears, just as the opportunity to leave presents itself.


That’s not even the beginning of all his secrets. But could he really have more secrets than the others? They have quite a list going for themselves.

Intriguing! Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I've had a few betas over the past year for both novels, as well as for my short stories and flash pieces. I do have a couple of people that I turn to on a regular basis and one person that I consider a really important writing partner. But I also do a lot of editing on my own.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Right now, it's finding the time. I can sit down and write for hours, but I find it much more difficult to write in small amounts. Sometimes life doesn't allow me to write for any decent length of time. ;)

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Candles. I love writing late at night and by candle light. (Ok, my Mac is lighting the way, too.) :D

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To read minds. :)

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: daily, crackle, and antler.

The antlers were mounted to the wall, where they hovered above the boy eating his daily helping of crackling Rice Crispies.

Yikes, sounds like a setup for an accident. I feel myself wanting to urge the boy away from the antlers before they fall. LOL.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Oh, I have too many! I've started featuring writers on my blog. Start there. :)

What a great concept. *wink* And finally, where can people find you online?

Absolute Write and Twitter.

Regan, thank you so much for chatting with us. Good luck with your books, and I hope you'll keep us informed on the next steps of your publishing journey.