Interview with sci-fi romance author Lesley Young

Today’s guest is science fiction romance author Lesley Young. We’re just one stop along her virtual book tour for her debut novel, Sky’s End: Book One in the Cassiel Winters Series.

Lesley will be awarding print copies of Sky’s End to 10 randomly drawn winners, and a grand prize of one $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. Make sure to enter using the form below. And to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour spots and enter there, too.

Bio:

Lesley Young is an award-winning journalist who writes for business and lifestyle magazines. Her debut novel, Sky’s End, has been among the Top 100 Paid ranking on Amazon since launched in July 2013.

Please tell us about your current release.

At the start of Book One, Sky’s End, Cassiel Winters has just joined Earth’s fledgling space academy, hoping to find out what happened to her brother, a pilot who has gone missing in action. She quickly becomes tangled up in a battle between alien species, with nothing less than the fate of the universe(s) at stake.

The fast-paced series chronicles Cassiel’s journey as she grapples with a pretty surprising mystery behind her rare ability. Along the way, she discovers what she’s made of.

The story is cross-genre — action, mystery and romance. And because it is set in space, some dub it a ‘space opera.’ The main scientific premise of the series is based on multi-verse theory (if I say more, I will spoil the fun of Book One).

What inspired you to write this book?

I loved Star Trek Next Gen growing up, plus astronomy is a passion of mine. When I sat down to write Sky’s End, I stared at the blank screen and when I began typing, the setting was an Earth space academy. I honestly never knew how badly I must have wanted to read about a kick-ass heroine in a sci-fi setting.

Excerpt:

The sea of black and silver guns and uniforms open up to let through a Thell’eon wearing a long dark gray cloak made of what looks like microscopic chain-mail over a thin gray shirt that contours another chiseled chest and stomach. Honestly, they’re commonplace here.

But . . . our eyes meet, and I swear I have never seen a more handsome or fierce or handsomely fierce man in my life. I forget to conceal my facial expression. He’s the definition of man and . . . and . . . sex. Literally, that is his appeal. Its pull is soft and warm and persuasive. I find myself admiring his intelligent eyes, so dark they seem black. Tattoos or markings, or whatever those things are, accent his strong brow, contour his cheekbones, and one on his chin creates a goatee effect. I can tell by his facial stubble that he would have dark brown hair. I notice he’s breathing a little heavy, like he had run to catch up with the others. Given how fit he is, he must have come some distance.

He eyes me carefully, first with disbelief and then disgust. He claps his hands together suddenly, and laughs, meanly, causing me to jump a little. The spell is only partly broken.

“So this is what ESE sends?” His voice is deep and melodic. “A female . . . child,” he adds, eyeing my face.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The sequel, Sky’s Surrender: Book Two in the Cassiel Winters Series. I am about two-thirds of the way done and hope to have it available in mid 2014.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my first piece of journalism was published just out of university. I think I was 23.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I write in my day job and then write fiction at night and early mornings. I need a massage therapist like on call.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I wrote Sky’s End first person present tense. I wanted it to be super fast-paced, to grip you and hold you tight.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Neurosurgeon, but I think probably just because it sounded good.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love to hear from readers. No, I really mean it. Good. Bad. I don’t care. Like my Facebook page , connect with me on Twitter, or write to info@lesleyyoungbooks.com. You’ll make my day.

Thank you, Lesley!

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