My Writing Journey
I’m Leah
I started writing the story that would become Ballad of a Renegade in 2019, never planning on doing anything with the book. I’ve been a fan of fantasy and romance books since high school (early 00s), and plotting my own characters, worlds, and adventures was enough for me.
At first, I just gave my books to friends. But then they became my champions, encouraging me to do something more with this series. I kept writing for fun, creating other stories, other worlds, and occasionally revisiting the story of Cyra and Finn. The original draft was far from ready for primetime viewing, and I worried the writing wasn’t strong enough to be seen by the eyes of anyone who wasn’t my friend (or husband).
As the Romantasy genre exploded, I was inspired to really dig in and refine my manuscript. I went through three rounds of beta readers, four significantly edited drafts, completed the entire series (and even wrote an additional prequel series), and finally considered putting my work out into the world. I hired a professional copy editor and proofreader and started my social media journey.
I live in Santa Monica, California with my husband and long-haired Dachshund. In addition to writing, I also sew fantasy costumes and create digital art the not-so-old-fashioned way: with an iPad and stylus. Absolutely no AI, ever.
On my socials, I showcase my original artwork, costumes, and bookish humor. I love traveling, history, books, art, food, wine, and a themed formal event (you will find at least one costume ball in each book of this series).
