Welcome special guest: author Leslie D. Soule ~ @Falcondraco @GoddessFish #scifi #urbanfantasy

Today we have author Leslie D. Soule visiting. A fantasy writer who enjoys delving occasionally into steampunk and sci-fi, Leslie D. Soule is the author of the fantasy quadrilogy The Fallenwood Chronicles. She is an author who loves to try new genres and Sacramento, California is her hometown. She has an M.A. in English from National University and is a member of the English Chapter of the Sac State Almuni Association.

So, Leslie D. Soule, what/who inspired you to become a writer?
* I’ve always had a vivid imagination and an interest in creating stories. As a child, I was greatly influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* I’ve been writing so long that it’s hard to tell when it first began. I’m currently editing one of my full-length stories from childhood though – it became the foundation and rough draft for my sci-fi novel Hybrid Space.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* I’ve written a lot of stories that have never made it to publication, so it’s hard to say. They’re all tucked in a drawer, ready to be dusted off and re-worked. I remember one of Stephen King’s writer characters used to do that and I’ve always thought it was a great idea. I think it’s the guy in Bag of Bones.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best piece of advice I’ve received is to not give up and the worst is that you need an agent in order to get anywhere with your writing. You can absolutely do it yourself, and you don’t need an agent in order to get published. In addition, agents tend to be very difficult to get a hold of, and I can imagine, difficult to work with. I like to work with friendly people. Agents seem anything but.

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* This particular book is book two of my fantasy series, the Fallenwood Chronicles. It’s a quadrilogy and the order is as follows: Fallenwood, Forgetting Fallenwood, Betrayer, and Retribution.

What sparked the idea for the story/series?
* I was working retail at the time I started thinking about Fallenwood and it would get really boring, so to keep myself busy, I would create all of these characters and envision scenarios for them. I used to write on scraps of paper I’d stuff into my apron, and then I’d record them when I got home. It gave me something to look forward to each day.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* Yes, I love snakes and I’ve owned a few of them. I will probably get another one at some point.

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* I hate cold weather. I much prefer to be warm. Sunny weather is nice, but so is rain. Either, as long as it’s warm out.

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* One of my friends posted this question on Facebook the other day, asking which door I’d go through and to what fantasy realm: Narnia, Westeros, Middle Earth, Wonderland, etc. I’d definitely live in Middle Earth, because I’ve always been interested in the world that Tolkien created and its languages and history and depth.

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* I’d like to think I’m a very practical individual, so here we go: 1. A jet-boat so I could leave the island.  Me is smart. / 2. A harpoon, in case of sharks / 3. A fishing pole / 4. Water purification system / 5. A golden throne Why a throne, you ask? It’s a desert island. No one would see me on the throne. Well, I would still be able to sit on the throne, and look out over my island kingdom. If I’m stuck there, why not make it fun?

*** About Leslie D. Soule’s book/series… ***

~ Blurb ~ * What happens when Ash accidentally makes her way through another portal, this time into the Other Realm, and forgets she ever went to Fallenwood? More importantly, how much of one's identity is made up of memories? Fallenwood 2 is the continuing journey of heroine Ash Kensington. Struggling with a deep sense of grief, sorrow, and overall confusion, Ash tries to work her way through to a deeper, underlying meaning. This search leads her back to Fallenwood, where the mystery unravels itself as she realizes that a very sinister force may be underlying everything… ~ Excerpt ~ * As she approached the archway, she looked through it and saw the open sky beyond, with clouds that looked soft as cotton. A guard stood next to a bronze plaque with the words "Invisible Bridge—take a leap of faith!" He smiled as though radiating an inner light and Ash felt drawn to the challenge like a moth to a bug zapper. She took a deep breath and was about to take a step out onto what appeared to be nothing, when she felt the strong hands of Terces, pulling her back by the shoulders. She also felt a small force tugging at the leg of her jeans. She felt herself pulled backward several feet and then saw Terces’s brown eyes boring into hers.
* "The invisible bridge is a trap for the unwary. The clerks of the Tower are trying to kill you."
* Ash gasped at the realization of what she’d nearly done. She seated herself on the ground. "I’m so sorry. I need a moment."
* Greymalkin walked up and pressed his nose up to hers. Then he swiped her across the face with a paw. His eyes narrowed. "Who do you think you are—Indiana Jones?"

***Buy Leslie D. Soule's book here***
Amazon | Melange Books

***Find Leslie D. Soule here***
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Thank you for joining us here today, Leslie D. Soule! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Leslie will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to TWO randomly drawn commenters during the tour! So be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter below & also leave your name and email with a comment. In addition, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-vbt-forgetting-fallenwood) for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway