Introducing Shelly X. Leonn, YA Thriller Author Who Began on Wattpad

Muffin readers, we are so excited to share with you today this interview with Shelly X. Leonn, who is a YA thriller writer with her first book out two days ago! She started on Wattpad, which is where she also found her agent. She is cool and positive and hosts a podcast, where she might want to interview you. Plus, through exchanging emails when Angela asked if I wanted to interview her, we discovered in this weird universe of ours that our kids go TO THE SAME SCHOOL! :) Read this delightful interview to find out about Shelly's book, what else she's working on, and her path to publication.

WOW: Congratulations, Shelly, on your debut novel just coming out, titled The Ghost and the Wolf , part of  The Broken series. Please tell us about your book--genre, audience, a bit about the plot.

Shelly: Greetings! Thank you so much. It's been a whirlwind, and I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me along on my journey. My first novel is part of a trilogy. I wrote all three books after finishing my doctoral program because I wanted to write something just for me. I had a story in my head, and I had to get it out. This young adult thriller novel is about a secret organization of teenage urban explorers. Urban explorers, also called #urbexers, are people who discover, enter, and usually photograph abandoned buildings. My characters are teens who feel they've been rejected by society; so they, in turn, gravitate to the places that have been forgotten by society. Everything turns upside down when the characters realize the group leaders have destructive end goals in mind for the organization.

WOW: Sounds amazing! A cool setting and adventure and intrigue--plus a new hashtag I'm sure many of us just learned--#urbexers. How does it feel to be releasing book one into the world?

Shelly: I'm not sure when it's going to sink in, to be honest! It still doesn't feel real. I wrote the books mostly for myself. Then, I passed them around to some family members and friends. Only after I posted them on a whim on Wattpad did I realize my stories could be enjoyed by more than my personal acquaintances! Now, I'm hoping that others, especially young people, can relate to my characters, sympathize with their struggles, and appreciate what someone who has experienced trauma has to ensure on a daily basis. If just one person takes that away from my novel, I'll be satisfied.

WOW: That's awesome! Wattpad is a great platform for many aspiring writers. You are agented by Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency. Why did you decide to go the traditional route and how did you land an agent?

Shelly: Stephanie is the best agent anyone could ask for. She's been in my corner since the very beginning, and she believes in my characters as well as my stories, which sometimes can be rather dark or weird! Another Metamorphosis agent discovered me by chance on Wattpad. They said my story had everything a "good" YA novel is supposed to include. I didn't know this when I set out to write it—I was just trying to tell a cool story. I'm still a little blown away by the whole thing.

WOW: This is an amazing story, and so cool! I love when people are jsut doing their thing and then get discovered! We know you are getting started in the publishing world, but what kind of marketing have you done before the book came out and on the book birthday?

Shelly: I had a big following on Wattpad before moving into traditional publishing. Also, I make a lot of my own graphics on Instagram. I enjoy playing with different fonts, backgrounds, and animations to bring the creepy, moody tone of my books to life. Finally, my best friend and I have a podcast! It's called The Writers XL. We are always looking for new people to profile, so come find us and tell us why you would make a great guest!

WOW: Thanks for inviting some of our readers to possibly show up on your podcast. (Link above, interested possible podcast guests) Besides writing, your bio mentions that you also are a teacher of language arts and an adjunct professor. What is it like working with both teenagers and college-age students? What do you notice about them and their writing?

Shelly: Wow, I love this question. Teenagers are often way more agreeable and open during the editing process than adults! I think adults are not used to being "taught," whereas teenagers understand they are in school to learn. Also, teaching adults has made me much more forgiving of my students and their common grammar errors because adults are often guilty of the same sins!

WOW: YES! That is so true, and I love the positive attitude you have for teeangers. We need that attitude for our teens from their leaders and teachers. So, What's next for you?

Shelly: I'm writing my fifth book titled Cabin Redemption. It is a YA psychological horror, and I'm so, so excited about it. I'm also editing my fourth book, a YA paranormal adventure titled The Nefarious Nine. Also, my two sons, my family, and I are always seeking new crazy adventures.

WOW: You sound like you have a full, wonderfully crazy, fun plate. Where can interested readers find you and your work? Website? Social media?

Shelly: Check me out in Instagram @shellyxleonn. My website is www.drsxl.com.

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Meet Laura Snider, author of Witches' Quarters

Laura Snider is a writer, lawyer, and runner. Even though her career has been in the legal field, her first love is with books. She’s close to her large family and uses them for inspiration in her stories, in particular her upcoming novel Witches’ Quarters.

We chat with Laura about her forthcoming novel, Witches' Quarters, which was recently acquired by Clear Fork Publishing, how her family inspires her writing, balancing life and writing, her reading habits, and how working as a lawyer complements her work as an author.

Find out more about Laura by visiting her website: https://laurasniderstories.com/

Connect with her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LauraSniderAuthor/

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First of all congratulations on your forthcoming debut novel, Witches’ Quarters! You mentioned on your website that this book is inspired by your close knit family. How does your family help your writing? Do they provide feedback on drafts?

Laura: Great question! My family is extremely supportive, but that can be a drawback when it comes to feedback because it makes them hesitant to criticize, which is necessary for the wring process.

However, I do draw inspiration from them based on our past experiences. For example, the opening scene of Witches’ Quarters involves four siblings arguing over a bag of quarters. One character (the youngest) removes a quarter from the bag and says she can’t pull out more than one. Disbelieving her, an older sibling snatches the bag and tries herself. When she too cannot extract a quarter, the next sibling tries, followed by the next child, all with the same result.

The situation and banter of the opening scene is based on something that happened with my sisters when I was young. My twin sister and I were the youngest of four, and we used to open pop cans by barely cracking the seal and sucking the pop out (we were strange kids). Well, one year our dad put leftover ice from an ice cream maker into the cooler. Naturally, the pop froze, so when I barely cracked the seal, it started spraying everywhere. My dad, to save his car’s upholstery, told me to throw it back into the cooler – which I did.

The next day, when we left Six Flags, I happened to select that same pop from the same cooler. This time I popped the top a little more and tried drinking. It tasted like salt water, which I promptly announced to the rest of my family. Disbelieving me, my twin sister had to try it too, which she did, with much the same reaction. My older two sisters did the same, as did my dad, who all said it tasted like salt water. Ultimately, my stepmother was the smart one, because she popped the top open and poured it out. It was straight salt water. All the pop had seeped out into the cooler, and the salt water replaced it.

Now that’s a long story to illustrate a small point in the book, but the relationship between the four children is largely based on the relationship I had growing up with three sisters. We fought and argued about almost everything, but when push came to shove we were always on one another’s side.

WOW: I love you used a real moment that happened to start out your book. You mentioned you were reading like an obsessed psycho hermit five or six years ago! Very cool and I can completely relate! What books were you reading about this time? Did any inspire you or help you with your book? 

Laura: I am usually reading three or so books at a time – two audio, and one physical. Right now, I’m reading John Green’s Paper Towns, and I’m listening to Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple and Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.

I wouldn’t say these books inspired me in writing Witches’ Quarters because I finished that book far before I even considered reading these three books. That said, I’m sure they have had some form of influence on my later work. Everything I read influences my writing. I learn from each book. I find things I like about certain novels and also some dislikes. I learn that trying new things can be a great thing, and sometimes not so great of a thing. Every day I learn something new, and that’s one of the wonderful things about writing.

WOW: I can relate to how you use the books you are reading to influence your writing. How did you find time to balance your career as a lawyer, writing this book, and juggling your family life?

Laura: I think the answer to this question is like anything else. If you want to do it, you find the time. It also helps that my husband is extremely supportive. Without his everyday encouragement, I’m sure I couldn’t do it all. He is at my side at all times, picking up the slack when I’m too tired, and building me up when I’m feeling overwhelmed. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication from me, but I’d never be able to do it without him.

WOW: How wonderful to get that kind of support and encouragement! How does your work as a lawyer impact your writing life? How does it inspire you?

Laura: I primarily practice in the areas of Criminal Defense and Family Law. I see all types of people in all types of situations. I think the most important aspect I draw from these interactions is the understanding that the world isn’t quite as straightforward as many people would like to make it seem.

Almost all criminal defendants are suffering from mental health or substance-related issues. They aren’t bad people. Many of them have made poor choices, but they are choices borne from a set of circumstances out of their control. I try (and I’m not sure if I’m successful) to add an element of this to each of my writing projects. Nobody is all bad or all good. We are all just people, making our way through life the best we can.

WOW: I really like how you are using your career to impact your writing. So, what are you working on next?

Laura: Stephanie Hansen [literary agent and owner of Metamorphosis Literary Agency] and I are currently working on the final edits of a legal thriller, based partially on my prior experience as a Public Defender. It’s quite different from Witches’ Quarters, a YA fantasy, but I enjoyed writing the new novel (which is in name limbo for the moment) for different reasons.

Public Defenders are some of the most hardworking and intelligent lawyers out there. They often get a bad rap from everyone, including their clients, who take them for granted and often call them “Public Pretenders.” I wanted to write something for them. I wanted to write something for those who are strong enough to fight day in and day out, often with little to no sleep and far too much stress. My next novel is my effort to achieve that goal.

WOW: I can’t wait to read this next book of yours! That sounds inspiring and will provide a close look into the lives of people most of us only judge from afar.

Thank you so much for your time today and we can’t wait to hear more from you when Witches’ Quarters is released and hits bookshelves everywhere.

About Witches' Quarters:

Charlotte is a sixteen-year-old girl with more responsibilities than the average teenager. Her parents constantly argue, which leaves Charlotte to care for her three younger siblings. During one of her parents arguments, Charlotte uses a small coin tree and a bag of quarters to distract her youngest sister, June, from the fighting.

To Charlotte’s surprise, the Quarters are bewitched, and she and her siblings are transported to an alternate world called Tonganoxia, and the exact scene on the back of the commemorative quarter that June placed into the coin tree. There the four siblings come in contact with the natives, who are intelligent talking animals, and learn that the natives are at war with a group of Witches, who came from another realm, in much the same way as the children did.

Charlotte and her siblings must make a decision. Whose side are they on? The witches or the animals? That decision will change their lives and their relationships with one another forever.

Find out more about Witches' Quarters at Laura's website: https://laurasniderstories.com/published-work/witches-quarters-2/

***

-- About Nicole Pyles

Nicole is a writer, blogger, and bookworm living in Portland, Oregon. She loves writing stories about people in unusual circumstances and hopes one day WOW! Women on Writing will be interviewing her about a book she wrote.

Visit her blog, World of My Imagination, http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com, for book reviews, writing prompts, and anything else in between.

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