Meet a debut author juggling kids, writing, Instagram and success. Leesa Ronald's debut romcom Special Delivery was published in December 2024 and has already been reprinted. Success! Leesa has also signed a further two-book deal with Allen & Unwin, her second romcom will hit bookshelves towards the end of 2025.00:00 Introduction
01:10 Jane asks Leesa about her lived experience as an author. Leesa explains how she was fortunate to land up with Allen & Unwin and the rhythm of her interactions with her publisher.
04:00 Interactions with various people at the publishers and getting used to response times.
05:30 Finding the publisher, ASA Literary Speed Dating and getting a contact at A&U.
07:45 Knowing your genre. Leesa started reading romcoms about 18 months before she started writing one. Writing the book in the midst of being pregnant and having third child.
09:21 Understanding the contract, where Leesa got advice.
10:20 The titles changes and draft front cover.
13:00 Deciding to just write and let the publishers look after the publishing. Feedback on the book so far, reviews etc
14:15 Leesa on her social media strategy and advice she got.
17.20 Writing the book, first the plot of the book, and then how Leesa got started. Not much of a plotter in first book but currently writing second book and doing more plotting.
20:20 With job and three kids, Leesa tends to write at night, some early morning.
21:30 Special Delivery did not have a huge amount of editing to be done.
22:20 Leesa didn't do writing courses before she wrote the first book, but has always worked as a writer of magazine and now corporate communications. Trying to write the type of book I wanted to read. Did do a 6-week course before book 2, what was useful in that.
25:20 Meeting other writers and the romcom community. The Romance Writers of Australian Conferenece.
28: 10 The audiobook production process.
29:00 Thanks and farewells
Leesa Ronald's website is here.
Leesa Ronald is on Instagram here.
Jane Curry Links
Seana Smith Links
Going Under Audiobook: Going Under on Audible, narrated by Seana Smith, click here.
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