I recently had the chance to chat with a talented author.  So, without further delay let’s hear from the talented

Leigh Wyndfield

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always written stories for myself, but I really thought I’d grow up to be a business woman. I was for awhile, but found the burn to write grew as I aged, until finally I left my job at a big credit card company to write full time.

Tell us what makes Leigh…Leigh.
Hmmm… that’s a tough one. I guess possibly the single most important thing which led me to start writing was the constant moving when I was a child. Every two to three years we moved for my dad’s job (and because he’s generally a rolling stone). This meant I had a lot of free time on my hands to “play” by myself. I spent that time making up stories. I believe I’ll never be lonely because I have so many people living in my head.

You write in several genres. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you want to try?
I love writing Fantasy and SF Romance. It comes easily to me and I enjoy reading it. As for what I’d like to try – I’d love to write an historical romance. I grew up reading them and plan to some day try my hand at it. My college degree was in history, so that should help, but it’s still a ton of research and readers can be tough on historical accuracy. I’ve always thought that’s the hardest kind of romance to write.

Tell us some of your favorites…foods, movies, music, authors, books, colors, and any others you want to share?
Food – Chocolate

Movie – Raising Arizona, Serenity

Music – Dave Matthews Band, soundtracks to movies

Authors – Zora Neale Hurston, Nora Roberts, Linnea Sinclair, etc etc etc

Books – I just read Poison Study (from Luna Books) and loved it!

Colors – Red

Other – Cats, not dogs

How do your stories begin…with a scene, a character, or a location?
I start with a scene. Usually it comes to me when I’m half asleep or day dreaming. It’s very vivid and I tend to see the same scene over and over again until I write it down. Then it’s gone. Poof! Just like that. When I hurt my back really badly two years ago, all the day dreaming and scenes in my head stopped completely for the first time in my life. It was a lonely, scary time. Chronic pain and medications don’t mix well with the creative process.

Do you have a writing schedule you follow and how long does it take you to finish a book?
Lately I’ve been slow as molasses on a winter’s morning. I used to write huge amounts of pages, but now I just try to write a steady 4 pages a day. That’s a long time to finish a book, but it gets me to “the end” eventually.

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
Please visit my website at www.leighwyndfield.com or send me an email at leighwyndfield@yahoo.com. I love reader mail!!!!

Do you believe in happily ever after? Have you found yours?
I am married to a wonderful and funny guy who happened to have a cube three down from mine at my first job out of grad school. It was fate!

What is your guilty pleasure?
For health reasons, I’m on this crazy diet, and have to avoid all sorts of proteins my body can’t process correctly, so flour of any kind is out. I’m a dessert-o-holic, so this was a really horrible thing to have happen to me. Since my diagnosis, my secret pleasure is straight dark chocolate – I eat a lot of it. In mass quantities. And I love every second of it!!

How do you promote your work?
I don’t promote like I probably should. <insert guilt here> But I try to get the word out via my newsletter loop when I have a new release. Once people read one of my books, they tend to go back and buy my other stories. I just have to find new readers! But that’s the tough part for every author.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? What was the most useful piece of advice that you received when you were starting out?
Stick with it. Even when it looks like things aren’t going to happen in your lifetime, dig in and write another book.

How would you spend a perfect day?
I would spend it sleeping – LOL! I’m a night owl and love writing all night and sleeping during the day. But sadly, my life doesn’t let that happen. Work, kids and husband all need me during those evil early morning hours.

Are your friends and family your biggest supporters and do they read your work?
Someone once said they write for themselves and strangers. I try to be like that, mainly because I feel shy about sharing my work (this is the ONLY time I feel shy, as anyone who knows me will tell you). My husband and family are huge supporters of my writing, however. I can’t thank my husband enough for all the support he gives to me.

If you could bring one of your characters or any character to life, who would it be and why?
Probably the hero in my June 6^th release. Ever since I first read Zorro, I’m a sucker for masked men!

Is there anything else you would like to share with us? Any current or upcoming releases?
I just had a book release – IN HEAT – which is on the best seller list for Samhain Publishing and is getting fantastic reviews. In June, the next book in The Heat Chronicles comes out – ICY HEAT. Visit my site to find out more! www.leighwyndfield.com