June 6th, 2017 by Fifi Flowers
Leslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance, Little
Dude, and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small
orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small
children. Leslie always encourages her kids to be themselves - even if it means
letting her daughter wear leopard print from head to toe. An avid reader from a
young age, she will always trade watching TV for reading a book, unless it's
Top Gear. Or football. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing
about the men you fantasize about. She's unapologetically sarcastic and
notoriously terrible at comma placement.
Always up for a laugh, Leslie tries to see humor in all
things. When she's not in the writing cave you'll find her fangirling over
Beck, camping with her family, or mixing up oil paints to depict her love of outdoors
on canvas.
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Where are you from?
Born and raised in Southern California.
I’ve lived in Oregon and Spain, too.
Tell us your latest news?
I just released All About the D
with Lex Martin. I’m going to release my Giving You series in a box set. And
I’m writing a new book called Sol, set in Spain.
When and why did you begin writing?
When did you first
consider yourself a writer? I wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little
girl. But I began writing as an adult in 2000. I worked in Sacramento at the
time, and I’d bought a blank notebook from a bookstore, walked across the
street, and started writing fiction on a bench at the Capitol on my lunch
break.
What inspired you to write your first book?
In 2014, I
suffered a bout of serious, suicidal depression that actually landed me in
inpatient care. This was my rock-bottom. As part of my recovery, I realized
that the one thing I’d wanted to do all my life was be a writer. I’d been
secretly writing since that time in 2000 and had completed four novels, several
screenplays, a bunch of poetry, children’s books, and other writing. But
whenever I’d attempted to show people, with a few exceptions, I’d been
discouraged. So I kept it in. After hitting rock bottom, I developed a bit more
confidence and devil-may-care, deciding that I was putting my own needs first.
I also discovered romance novels in early 2015. In summer 2015, I started
writing The Sun and the Moon, which ended up winning a prize in the world’s
largest online writing competition.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Contemporary romance.
Deceptively light.
How did you come up with the titles?
The titles to all of my
books are integral to the stories. I usually come up with them first and weave
them throughout.
Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to
grasp?
Always. ALWAYS. I always have a deeper message. In The Sun and the Moon,
it was about recovery from depression and sexual repression. In my most recent
book, All About the D, it’s about reputation.
How much of your books are realistic? Are experiences based
on someone you know, or events in your own life?
While all characters are fictional, yes, often events or situations are based on those that have happened to me or to people I know. An example is that in The Sun and the Moon, I really did walk in after high school and see my crush working behind the counter at a coffee shop.
While all characters are fictional, yes, often events or situations are based on those that have happened to me or to people I know. An example is that in The Sun and the Moon, I really did walk in after high school and see my crush working behind the counter at a coffee shop.
What books have most influenced your life most?
A really,
really long list. The short list is A House Like a Lotus by Madeline L’Engle,
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The River Why by David James Duncan,
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, and Insatiable by J.D. Hawkins.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a
mentor?
Lex Martin.
What book are you reading now?
I read so many at once, both
fiction and nonfiction. Among many that I’m reading is Thoughtless by S.C.
Stephens.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Always. I’m an extra fan of my friend Jerica MacMillan.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of
family members.
My friend Laura.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, that would be
wonderful.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change
anything in your latest book?
In All About the D, I had a scene with a cat on
the counter in a store. The cat got edited out, so I’m going to add a cat to
the next book. But other than that, no, I’m really happy with my books.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
My
mother is a teacher and taught me how to read before I was three years old.
What are your current projects?
I’m writing a
student-teacher romance set in Spain. The guy is a student and military. The
girl is the teacher. It’s about issues of control.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
COMPLETELY UNEDITED FIRST DRAFT of the first chapter of Sol.
Subject to change.
A loud, thumping series of crashes silences the room and
sends my stomach hurtling at light speed to my throat.
What was that?
My eyes widen. From the tiny hairs standing at attention on
my tattooed arms to the zinging sensation skittering up and down my spine, I’m
activated. I tense my fingers against the table, my biceps twitching. I’m a
predator, a lion instead of my usual lone wolf, wary and ready to spring into
action.
But I don’t know where the disturbance came from. Part of me
doesn’t want to know, but I’m trained. I’ll find it. It’s my duty.
Always.
My eyes dart to the left. Four open, square-paned windows
puncture the whitewashed wall like precise, rectangular wounds. Since we’re on
the second floor, unless the enemy has a ladder, that threat is neutralized.
Keep going. Keep surveying. Then take action.
I whip my head to the right. Two dark, heavy doors lie along
the north wall. Back door closed and blocked by furniture, front door open.
Locking my eyes on that one, I crane my neck to get a read on the crowd milling
outside the door. I’m about to go tearing out of here to take care of
absolutely everything that needs to be done, even if I don’t know what it is.
I can disarm an enemy. Take out a threat. Overthrow a
government. Hell, I don’t care. I don’t work out every day as hard as I do for
no reason. I’m prepared.
But nothing seems amiss. No one else is acting like me, about
to go take down walls and kick ass. The chatter in this room returns to the
previous medium-low level, like waves filling in at the shore, and more people
walk in.
A round-faced, sandy-haired, younger dude wearing a white,
button-down Havana shirt and too-short shorts sheepishly picks up the books
he’d dropped in the hall.
Ah.
The source of the commotion. Still, I keep watch.
Fifi: WOW! An exclusive look at your work in progress. Thank you!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your
writing?
As I believe Hemingway says, “Getting the words right.” But seriously,
I try to not repeat myself, and I try to challenge myself with every new
project, to stretch and grow. I’m currently trying to write a book entirely
from a male perspective.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really
strikes you about their work?
Madeline L’Engle for her grace and honesty.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I’m
looking forward to traveling in the next few years quite a bit!
Who designed the covers?
I have different cover designers,
but mostly Michele Catalano.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
It’s always
hard for me to organize and get the plot and characters sorted. Once I have
that done, it’s pretty easy.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was
it?
I learn something with each book. I think the main thing I’ve learned is to
love editing. To me, it’s like redecorating. Just instead of rearranging the
furniture and deciding that the couch would look better against this wall
instead of that, and fresh flowers would really add to the room, you learn that
really you don’t need that paragraph, and this is a much better way of starting
the chapter.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Try not to use the
word “was.” Write the fun part first.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?
I love you all.
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Thank you to Leslie for doing an interview with me
Be sure to follow her on social media
