An Exclusive Interview With Leon Stevens
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre indie author, composer, guitarist and artist. He began writing poetry before moving to his favorite genre, science fiction.
Leon published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon, in 2020 followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales. He also is the author of the sci-fi trilogy, The View from Here; a new collection of poetry, A Wonder of Words; and two books in his sci-fi Orion Arm Alliance series, Euphrates Vanished and A Matter of Sabotage.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What made you want to write your current work-in-progress?
Leon: I’m currently working on book three of my Orion Arm Alliance series which I hope to publish in the spring. Book one, Euphrates Vanished, was meant to be a humorous story called “How Sci-fi Saved my Life” but I found it becoming to difficult to maintain the momentum so I kept a few elements and wrote it as a sci-fi mystery adventure. I knew I was going to write a series, but with many of the character’s backstories missing in book one, A Matter of Sabotage, became a prequel.
Confessions of an Indie Author: How long did it take you to write this book?
Leon: Most of my books take between 10 and 12 months. I’m a slow writer.
Confessions of an Indie Author: How long have you been writing and when did you start?
Leon: I published my first book of poems in 2020 and haven’t stopped writing since.
Confessions of an Indie Author: How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
Leon: I have eight books out right now. Lines by Leon, my first poetry collection will always hold a special place in my heart as it helped me through some tough times, but A Matter of Sabotage is my best, in my opinion.
Confessions of an Indie Author: Have any of your scenes came from your life?
Leon: I think most authors draw from their lives in some form or another. We write about what we know or have experienced. That being said, since I write science fiction, it’s a little harder to relate to flying through a wormhole on the way to save the galaxy. Sounds like fun, though.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Leon: Details and descriptions. When I read, I often skim overly long descriptions and backstories, so when I write, it’s more succinct. That’s probably why all my novels are novellas.
Confessions of an Indie Author: How do you develop your plot and characters?
Leon: I just start writing. It’s kind of like life where every thing, every choice, you do pushes you along. I like to take that ride alongside my characters. It’s only fair you know. After a few chapters in, I get a clearer view where the story is going, then it’s a matter of getting from point A to point B by the most entertaining route possible. Oh, and don’t forget the peril. Got to throw some peril their way.
Confessions of an Indie Author: If you encountered a major plot hole in a novel you were writing, how would you address it?
Leon: I joke that writing is often like playing Whack-A-Mole. You fix one plot hole and another one pops up. In my latest project, I spent days working on a chapter that just wasn’t working with the previous storyline, so I had to go back and do some creative surgery to make it work. I also credit my beta readers for bringing these to my attention.
Confessions of an Indie Author: Have you ever tried to write a novel for a genre you rarely or never read?
Leon: I have a few pages of a romance story sitting in a file. An idea popped into my head one day and it just flowed out...for a while. It may turn up as a short story someday.
Confessions of an Indie Author: Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?
Leon: Not usually, but if I do, it’s something orchestral. No words to distract me. Bach, Handel, Holtz, Satie, to name a few. Now, some of my writing inspires music. I wrote a classical guitar piece after I finished writing my sci-fi trilogy, The View from Here, as an homage to the characters I had grown close to.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing?
Leon: Ask that to any indie author and nine times out of ten they’ll give you the same answer: Marketing. There’s a fine line between letting readers know about your books and annoying them with constant posts. Also many authors are introverts and it’s tough to navigate the social aspect of it all.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What are common traps for new authors?
Leon: Oh, there are so many and I keep falling in them. Can you hand me that rope please?
Confessions of an Indie Author: What do the words “literary success” mean to you? How do you picture it?
Leon: I enjoy every time a reader tells me that they liked one of my books. If I’m able to give them something that entertains them, or makes them think, then that’s a win.
Would I like to make a living off my writing? Of course, but that’s not my motivating factor. I enjoy writing. I like creating stories I want to read, and I know there has to be readers out there who want to read them.
Confessions of an Indie Author: How important are book reviews?
Leon: If you never get a review, it’s going to be difficult to grow as a writer. Reviews are written for other readers so they can make the choice whether to read a book or not, but knowing what a reader thinks of your books allows you to make changes for the next. Now, we know that we are not going to please everybody, but if the majority enjoys your writing, you’re on the right track.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Leon: I like to stay active by running, biking, and kayaking. Playing guitar is a nice escape and keeps the mind and body limber.
Confessions of an Indie Author: What books did you grow up reading?
Leon: The first book I remember reading on my own was The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury which got me hooked on 50s, 60s, and 70s science fiction. The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings were some other favorites.
You can learn more about Leon on his website, X, Instagram, Threads and BlueSky. His books are available for purchase on Amazon.
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