From Librarian to YA Fantasy Powerhouse with Rebecca Lennard

# - (Edited) Rebecca Lennard

Thu, Apr 10, 2025 10:29AM • 37:18

00:00

Emma, do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure? Are you wanting more than the daily grind? Me too. Welcome to the Emma Lovell, show a place where we talk about living a life you love. Now I'm your host, Emma Lovell, and my number one value is freedom. I've spent the last 14 years running a business and traveling the world, and now I take my husband and toddler along for the adventure too. It's possible, and I know you can create a life doing what you truly love as well. This podcast will inspire, motivate and encourage you to go after your dreams, to create a life you love and to live it now, not wait for a time and or someday in the future, I'll be sharing episodes weekly about how I harmonize business travel and self care. I'll also bring on incredible guests to share their journeys, the wins, the challenges, and how they're creating a life they love. Let's jump in and get dreaming. This is a space for you to manifest a life you love.

01:03

I would like to acknowledge and recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place, now known as Australia. I am grateful for the continuing care of the land, waterways and skies where I work, live, listen, learn and play from here on, you can bear country and from wherever you are listening, I pay my respects to the elders past and present.

01:26

I'm so excited to introduce you to our guest today, Rebecca Leonard, author of ya all slang Nolan fantasy series. I met Rebecca at a on my first ever author panel, which is so exciting for House of prose. They had a brilliant writing day, and Rebecca was on the panel with me, and she blew me away with how many books she'd written, but also this completely different style of writing that I just have no idea about. And she has this incredible Instagram and Tiktok that you must follow because it's just so much fun. Bit more about Rebecca at 10 years old, when she discovered that the squiggles on the page actually meant something, she devoured every book in the library before figuring out that she could be all she dreamed of, and more if she wrote the book. It took 7017 years to write the first novel in her series and seven weeks to write the last one. In her spare time, Rebecca cosplays as all sorts of different characters, including the character from her book. Please do follow her on Instagram and R Leonard, author, and we are going to jump in and learn so much more about this incredibly talented woman. Thank you so much. And let's go

02:39

welcome to the podcast. I want to say R Leonard because that's how I grow you. So I'm like mysterious, but welcome. Thank you. It's exciting to be here now in your words, and you can say your full name however you want. Who are you? Hi. I'm Rebecca. The reason I go by R Leonard is because putting Rebecca Leonard on a cover makes it tiny and hard to read.

03:07

And I kind of have a bit of a vision thing going on, so I like to try and make my books as inclusive as possible. That makes sense. Yes, and we'll and I don't know, I think it sounds cool. I'm like, Who is this R Leonard, like it sounds a bit, you know, like, J R, A R, J R, R. Tolkien, did it? So why not exactly. And I loved in your little blurb you sent me, it says author of ya, which is young adult, right? Yes, author of ya. Or was it young adult? All slaying no laying fantasy series, and I did have a little chuckle to myself. So,

03:46

so tell us a little bit more about the books and how many? How many books have you written?

03:53

I've written 15 books, 13 of them in the series,

03:58

which three of them have actually been pulled because they're being

04:03

joined up in the Versailles Chronicles, which will be out in July this year, assuming that my editor doesn't kill me first,

04:12

there's Yeah. So seven main novels in the series. It follows Shari, who's ace, so she has no interest in any sort of relationship with anybody. She much prefers stab you than kiss you. She does a little bit of that too,

04:29

stabbing those.

04:31

She has to protect the sentient realm of let's say, from all of the creatures that want to take over it. And there's a lot that want to take it over because it turns out it's kind of an important place.

04:42

Yeah, it's actually really hard not to give spoilers, like I'm so deep into the series. This is the end of the series. The Chronicles are kind of like the companion book, but yes, it's hot, um,

04:56

so it just totally blew my mind. So the way we met was, um.

05:00

I'm on a panel, my first ever author panel, which was so exciting, and there were three of us, and you two were fiction writers, and I was the non fiction and it just blew my mind, like, it's just such a different it's such a different thing. And I, like we, I just was sitting there on the edge of my seat, kind of like, what and like you've like created a world. I've created about 900 worlds. Oh, okay, sorry, just a tuba.

05:32

That's the three other books that I have. One's a world building, one's a character creation, and the other's a cosplay workbook. Because we went to, we go to supernovas and comic cons, and one member of the party forgot their pets,

05:51

so I created this cosplay workbook to kind of keep us a little bit more organized, because that was rather not something that I want to repeat again. Amazing. And so supernova, it was quite like fun, because years ago, I did, I used to do promo work, and so I actually worked one weekend at supernova, and it was just a world that is not my world. So and even the fantasy like, I like, I think I like fantasy things when I'm into it, and I've already said this to you, but I just wouldn't gravitate towards it. And then I mean, so I was saying my husband would, but I'm like, it's just, it's very cool. And I just, it's just such a different space. I just loved how engaged everyone was and passionate everybody was, and everyone so gets into it. And it was, like, it was really fun. Yeah, I think the crowds at supernova are just it's almost like coming home. I was never that sporty person. I was never the cool kid. Can you tell I was very much the geeky outsider? I would literally go to the library on my lunch breaks and hide away and read,

06:59

and that kind of translated over because when I'm not writing, I'm an librarian,

07:06

it's kind of cool to be able to like carry that tradition on and be that safe space for the other geeky kids. And being at supernova and seeing I love seeing everybody in costume. And I think my favorite thing about supernova and other events like that, is you get to see people enjoy their passion, yeah? And that's what I think the pattern that we did was so good because everyone was there talking about their passion, yeah. That's like the

07:35

it's like a little bit of everyday magic. When people do that, they kind of, they light up. And I love that so much, yes, and it is, people are passionate and find and find their like, their tribe. And we can use all the, you know, cliches, but I just it was, and it was a world that I was the outsider there, you know, I would be the outsider. I don't know what's going on, but there were all these different like, people could find their way. But it was very also, like, complimentary. Everyone was like, I love your outfit. And you're like, Oh, I love what you've done. And so people all dress up, and I guess so it's like, kind of, what would you describe like, is it like superheroes and comics and anything that's kind of, yeah, it's, it's basically pop culture. So anything from popular culture, but it could be pop culture from, like, the 60s, yeah, all the way out. So, like, it encompasses such a lot. I, for the first time in six, seven years, I went to OS Comic Con as a guest, like just, you know, a regular member of the public, as opposed to an author behind the stall. And I was Evie from the mummy, the Brendan Fraser, Rachel wise mommy, and I mean, she may be a slight part of the reason why I became a librarian.

08:49

I didn't expect to be recognized because it's one of the bare bones, basic costumes that I've ever done. And I had this guy who is dressed as Ken

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screaming out across the lines when we were all trying to get in.

09:05

Yeah, it's just like, it's silly little things like that. And it just like,

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it's just amazing.

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Anybody, books, movies, comics, there's a lot of anime, manga, all sorts of characters I can name about 60%

09:25

unless they're from an anime, and then I have no chance,

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which

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I think is actually an anime. But yeah, I'm sure I get pulled up. Yes, any, any of those listeners, gorgeous, you'll have to send it. And then well, and so the cosplay, like, is part of that, or is there another sort of cosplay, and totally be part of that. You can go as a regular person, like this weekend, I am cosplaying as a functioning adult, and potentially as an author. We'll see. I will be there as well.

09:56

You don't have to come in costume. You can come in.

10:00

In your cheap $2 store costume, or you came up costume, or you can go all the way up. And I know a guy who regularly goes around in one of the massive foam armor costumes. Yeah, he's like, 10 foot high, and he rocks around with minders so he doesn't step on people.

10:18

And I have no idea how much his costume make, like, cost to make, but he's done six or seven of them at least, and he's just phenomenal, like, people go all out, and it's totally worth it. But also, so very, very hot in those costumes, yes. Don't overheat if you're going this weekend. Please make sure anytime water is good, yes. So it's in the Gold Coast this, which is cool. I didn't even know. So I'm hoping to bring my son down, and this will probably come out after that, so we'll but they're on the like, there's a they gotta sort of go around, don't they? They're, yeah, is and so supernova Gold Coast is at 12 and 13 of April. I always get the dates wrong, so you may want to spot check me on that. It is you see

11:06

in Brisbane, gold, Brisbane, Nova,

11:11

I'll get my words right eventually. Is in November every year,

11:16

and I think oz Comic Con Brisbane is also in September, and both the Brisbane events are held at the convention center. So pretty sure both of the Gold Coast events are held at the Gold Coast convention center. But I'm not as familiar. I don't think there is actually a Comic Con, oz Comic Con, Gold Coast. I could be wrong. Yeah, a few years since I looked, well, my, my sister's into LA ping, and so they, I remember years ago, her and a now husband or boyfriend, and they went, and they were quite spectacular costumes. So they enjoy doing doing that. So I've seen that through them.

11:58

But you know how, when did you first, like, start writing? Like to to get to 50, like, 15 books. Like, when did you first publish your first book? The first book was actually kind of do a primary, because I haven't asked me. The first book was released,

12:18

um, seven years ago. So she turned seven in November,

12:23

and I'm actually doing a special edition for it, for the birthday, which I've always kind of planned on doing something special. So it'll have a different cover. It's got a different name. It's going to have oiling and sprayed edges and all the pretties. But this one took 17 years to write,

12:43

which is, you know, just a small chunk of change. I started when I'm 17. Well, started writing when I was 17. So you can do the math on that.

12:51

I am significantly older than I look, apparently.

12:56

But the last four novels took about seven weeks each. The last two was seven weeks from plotting to publishing, mostly because I'm an idiot and I didn't sleep. Yeah, like, wild i but, you know, like, my book took 18 years. Like, I say that, but people, I mean, I didn't, I wasn't, well, I don't know. I probably did write things down at times like I did, and I have put on podcasts, and I have put on stories and but you know that that seed planted was 18, yes, so and so I did say that on an interview today, and almost like, Yeah, but like, you know, these people are writing their books. I was like, one year then, but also, like, the writing was like three months. But then again, I said, but then there were bits that I pulled from other things, so like, door to door, I say, from the time I committed, to the day that it came out, was a year. So that's the process. But I, you know, I've just decided, as you do my second, you know, like, oh my god, that people like, think I'm crazy doing my second book, and I'm like, Yeah, let's just talk to Rebecca over here. Okay, you can do Yeah, she's the benchmark now. Oh no, find a middle ground. But I'm talking about a release date of it's currently the ninth of April, and I'm talking about October or November, but that's because I know that I can write a book in three months. And again, I know that I've got a bunch of material. So I'm sort of in the gathering stage, and I'm like, Just gonna gather it and put it all in a big, posh and I need to, I can't. I've run a little bit of writing, but I know I need to get it into the pot. Otherwise I'll write something. And then I've sort of written it elsewhere. I have it said somewhere. So it's like, get it all into the pot. And like, I think, like, um, remember that movie in Minority Report, and he had the big screen, and he was like sweeping things around. That's how I think about my putting the book together, and then I can sit and type your type. But there's a really great program that some authors use. I don't use it for that reason, but I do use it for other things, called Scrivener. I.

15:00

Yes, and you use that one? I've heard of it. I haven't used it. I couldn't bring in any more tools at the time. It was like, just use what you wonder to serve.

15:09

I do think that scuba might be a good thing for you, because it actually has a capability of having little like, almost post it notes on the screen, and you can change the background, I think the default is like a cork board. And you can move them around and adjust them and put them where you want. And it helps a lot of people stay organized. Yes, I kind of

15:33

my plotting. I'm a think they call it a plant. So I'm halfway between a plotter and a panther. I'm actually doing a course at the moment to learn how to be a bit more of a plotter. It's not going very well. It is. The course is amazing. I'm just being a little bit slack.

15:53

I put down four bullet points per chapter or per scene, and it usually ends up as those four points will make the entire chapter. And I just, I know what I want to write, so I might write a sentence or two around it, but sometimes it's like

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Shari goes patrolling, will be one of the points, because I know that she needs to go off real or do whatever she's doing. And occasionally it was Shari gets stabbed in the last couple of books that was always interesting.

16:25

Oh yeah, it's just incredible. Like, I think, I still think it's incredible. And then the so you've got a really great team obviously, like, you've got, I think that's the hard thing, also the first time, like, getting to know your editor and you know where to print. And that's the thing I'm having meeting tomorrow with the publishing company. And it's just like, you tell me a realistic time frame, because I don't do that. So you tell me, and we'll work our way back. And I think we can have double the time we did last time. We had like seven weeks to work together. I think we're gonna have way more than that. But we also from the time I finished the manuscript till the publication date, I think we're going to have double or triple that time. So

17:06

that's good.

17:08

Time is good, you know, like, so you're sort of using the same editor, same publisher, printer

17:15

I use creating ink for my editing team. Anna has been working with me, the poor lady. She's so lovely.

17:25

She didn't work on Book One originally, but we have gone back and re edited that, so that will be the special edition one that comes

17:35

out. She puts up with all of my quirks. I'm actually dyslexic, so spell check is my best friend. But occasionally she'll pull me up and go, like, Hey, did you win this one? I'm like, oh, yeah, look, I fucked it up again. Cool.

17:50

But no, she's just phenomenal. And her turn around time like rake miss is my biggest book at 400 and I have it written down somewhere 430 450 odd pages.

18:06

She did that in two weeks, like, that's 110

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112,000

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words. And she did it in two weeks. And she was like, spot on. I had a

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lady who proofread and edited Lynette noni's work at the time, actually proofread over mine and make sure and pull us all up on the things that I had screwed up, not and because, you know, know what it's like when the second pair of eyes goes over it, it changes, and then the third pair and yeah, it's

18:41

been a lot, um,

18:43

I usually get my covers ahead of time. All of the ones on the current series have been done by a lady in Bulgaria, amazing, Vanessa COVID. She's just stunning. If you write fantasy, you need to check her out. Also, if you write romance, because she's gotten into romance covers, and they're just phenomenal. She's so easy to work with, and she knows the characters so well, and she's she's just lovely. I'm working with a bunch of artists at the moment because book nine will be coming out in November, and that's like the bestiary type

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dictionary, almost, um, it's the handbook that goes along with the series. So lots of things, lots of moving parts happening. It's great, but so lovely when you know the people to work with. And I think that does, there's so much unknown the first time. So I think once you do know that, then you can, I just started the process today. I mean, I've wanted to, but it's just, I mean, the time goes, but I'm gonna do an audio book, and it's so cool, I know, but I had to do a sample. And then they, like, they didn't give me any guidance. And then I did the sample, and then they were like, Oh, this, this, this, this, this. And I was like, and they're like, You need to prepare by doing this. And I was like, why didn't you send me the the preparation stuff before I sent you this song?

20:00

Example. You're like, now go away and practice for a week and then come back and I'm like, Okay, well, that would have been helpful maybe before, but Okay, so I'll learn that now too, that it was very interesting, sort of just, I'm just like, oh gosh, okay. But I'm like, we need to do this before I get too deep into the next one, because I need to.

20:22

I they will work together, like and bundle together, but it's still that, like, I want this sort of and then now, knowing all the pieces, it's like, ideally, that audiobook. So we'll do this process. And then I know that that comes before, and it meant to come before. It just all got a bit haywire. And,

20:44

not audio books I haven't stepped into yet. That's something else that I want to do this year in my copious amounts of spare time,

20:53

as in I have known Joanna Penn has a fantastic sample guide of, well, a book about how to do audio books about how to

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record them yourself. I think Dave Chesterton does as well.

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And write down to the equipment that they use, the programs that they use, or all the things that you need. So I'm trying to set up a COVID vacuum with all the heavy blankets in the house to, like, soundproof it and not sweat enough that it drips onto the microphone. Oh, you're brave. Yeah, I'm doing a studio. But then obviously, so mine everything today. I was doing the audio, yeah, and I know that they're like, and they you could do a book for this many $1,000 and I was like, or you could do it for a lot more, like, the way I did it, but I was very much for, like, pay everybody else. Like, I'm at this point where I'm like, No, I need to. And obviously we're in a different position to yours, though, have a financial benefit. Mine have a direct business, you know, benefit. So yeah, I like, you know, yes, I'm making money from book sales, but also people might be coming on my events or speaking or by paying for a retreat, which is a lot larger sum. So I can lay down that money knowing that it's going to come back in a different way. So absolutely, and I haven't seen of them, so

22:22

mine is more like

22:24

again, because I'm dyslexic, I spell words weird. So there's a word in my stories that is curiosity.

22:33

Nobody else knows how to say it first up, which like Bear, because it doesn't look in my head it does. I've lived with this word for, like, what, 25

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odd years now, so it's like, oh, yeah, that's, that's, that's how it said, That's how it's spelled. What are you talking about? Yeah, that that's more why I'm trying to do it myself, although I probably should book a studio.

22:58

That was something they brought they did say was that, like, look up pronunciations before, and then even, like, you're breathing, and then, like, where commas they were, like, you don't, because I was trying to read it with the commas and full stops, because I don't really pay attention to grammar in my writing. I'm like, That's the editor's job. That's mummy or proofreader, and then I'll do it. I'm just like, slabs of text, and I'd write how I talk, but then, which is so probably, if I read it how I talked, it would be fine, but I was trying to follow the grammar. And they're like, the then in an audio book, you don't follow the comments. And I was like, That seems a bit like redundant. Like, why do we put them there then? But you read into your head differently to the way you narrate. So I'm like, Okay, this fun,

23:44

and I have podcasts. I'm like, I talk all the time. It'll be fine, but I'm talking conversationally. Is different to and we wanted to do it to a quality that we don't have to do it again.

23:57

But then saying that I'm at a point where we're like, we have to. There were ideal ideas of, like, bringing in other voices or bringing in like, I don't know, one guy's got, like, scribble, like, writing sounds like, and I was like, I don't want that. Um, I didn't like, actually, I was very distracting. He would do it as, like, a like, this is like a quote, so it's like, scratchy scratch,

24:18

like the pen is writing the quote. But I was like, it's distracting, because then I figured out what it was, and I was like, okay,

24:26

my little person has come to say hello. We are recording a podcast, Finn. This is Hey Finn author, and she writes wonderful books that you can read one day. Okay, when you're a bit older, do you have you take mommy's pen, you go and write your book. You have goals at all to write, to have screenplay, or do you like to go into movies or TV shows, or that would be the ultimate.

24:53

I would love a TV show, mostly because it's so complex, and I know that I.

25:00

Like,

25:02

I'm pretty sure that all authors think that their books are complex. So, yeah, I think it would be great as a TV show.

25:11

I would love it set in New Zealand, mostly, so I can visit again. But we also have such great,

25:19

I don't know, biospheres in Australia that we could totally set up here. So, like, if anybody's watching,

25:28

well, and I wouldn't, though, you know, in saying that, and maybe I'm, you know, this is sort of my, I guess, fantasy knowledge. But, I mean, there are a number of, like, great movies and books, but like, least of which, speaking of New Zealand, is lord of the rings, and The Hobbit, which was this whole, I mean, he probably had multiple worlds as well. But, you know, with a new language and new words, worlds and all those things so and then in this time, in this day and age, what they can create, I mean, using the natural landscape is so phenomenal, but what they can create is just the possibilities. And you know what I mean?

26:04

So I also want my book to be a show. So we made the host, of course,

26:11

so going around and seeing people who who do it, who are doing pleasure so, and it's based off other people have done shows like that. But you know, screen, Australia and TV is like, they're trying to increase production here. And COVID was wonderful in that respect for that. So people are like, just pitch it. Actually. When we were at House of pros, when we were at the day where I met you, the guys who did the filming were like, This could be a movie. And I was like, You're lovely, very kind. I was also like, but I was like, but I really wanted to be a Netflix show first. And I was like, Yeah, I'm already on that dream, don't worry. But then they said, just pitch it like, waiting. That's how it works. Yeah. No, I should totally do that. I want to see this series ended.

26:55

I am starting a new series as well at the end of the year, because I don't have enough happening,

27:03

so it's going to be an interesting time to try and get things going. But yeah, definitely seeing it happen as a TV series would be amazing, and Netflix special would be phenomenal.

27:17

Now, one other thing that was amazing about you and we met and then I followed you your Tiktok. And Instagram is awesome. Thank you. And I don't know, so you get the librarian, like, novels in the corner, reading kid, and then you just come out of this, like, total badass on Tiktok. I was like, this doesn't really stack up. Like, I was like, you're like, you're so on it. So where does that come from?

27:42

I actually have a severe phobia of being in front of the camera.

27:48

Yeah, I know, right. So I was down in Brisbane for a family event, and I set myself a challenge while everyone was out that I was going to start on tick tock, because I think it was like, 2021 2022

28:05

and I'm like, just, just do it. Just, you know, film a couple of things while you're in this hotel room by yourself, and see how you go. And then it became a challenge, because I

28:19

may have fainted while I was there by myself. Like, that's how badly my favor affected me. I've passed out multiple times from being in front of the camera, and so it became this challenge. Like, it's like, what can this thing actually do to me? It cannot hurt me. I'm the one in control, and I'm making them because I can turn the camera off, or I can walk out of the scene at any point in time. So it became this real challenge. And then, because I did the cosplay, and I've done it for years, before the books were out, it became this, okay, well, how can I incorporate that? Oh my gosh, these people are doing these amazing transitions. Let's you know, we'll try the transitions, and I'm pretty sure I've pulled it, but the first transition I did was

29:09

it

29:10

was so if you want to scroll back, because I've been on there for years, and this year, my challenge is to post every single day. A lot of my content at the moment is recycled because I also have a chronic condition. I have about six, I don't know, I've lost count invisible illnesses, one of which I dislocate everything, and that's been flaring up in the last couple of months. And then I've been too busy writing, so I haven't been able to make any new ones, which is also my goal for next weekend after supernovas, to make a bunch of new tiktoks.

29:48

Last year at Fraser pop, I got all of the authors involved, and we did. Do you remember it might have been on your for you page, I don't know there was a sound going.

30:00

Around everybody was kung fu fighting.

30:03

Yeah, I got all of the authors to do that. It was hilarious because they've been watching me and Jody do all of these stupid trends that it was just fun to do. And I think that's been the thing, like, have fun with it. If it becomes a chore,

30:24

then you need to take a break. I don't even think it's that you're doing it wrong. Just take a break. Yeah, you definitely need to take a break. And I found last year I was taking multiple breaks because it was becoming a chore, and especially, I work full time. I have a family. I'm looking after elders. I'm doing all the things and writing and having a social media presence. I don't have a PA. I would love a PA, but I don't have time.

30:55

Things in the past, it hasn't always worked out, but also, then I wouldn't have the joy of filming, but, you know, but what you're doing is smart, like, repurposing is smart and recycling is smart because I've only been in your world since October, so I haven't seen all those earlier ones. And I love seeing the like, you know, don't compare yourself from someone's day one to day 1000 or more like, you know, the that's, that's cool to see, even that would be so great to bring up, like, cringe, but it shows us an insight to you, and then the fun. And that's what like with people like you did so much marketing, you do this stuff. And I was like, That's my joy. Like me getting to shine, getting to do all the media, that's the fun bit, and the speaking is the fun bit. And be like, so exhausting. It's like, well, do what's fun for you. And if you do, you do, you know, it just becomes like a muscle. You had to work it a little bit, but then you, then you did it, and you're, you're great at it, and then I just, I think there's no harm. That's just smart giving yourself that break. And there's time, so you'll see me using more photos than videos. It's because I just don't, I can't show up on camera at that time. So, and that's okay, like, but we have all these fabulous photos, or we have our book covers, or we have, I don't know, quotes and testimonials from other people that will help. It's okay then trying to get into my book cupboard

32:15

as you do,

32:17

this is, this is the life, this is the Juggle. And, like, I think that that you are just doing, showing up however you can, in whatever way, despite

32:28

various challenges. The fact that even you got to this point, and I just loved, you know, like, you know, just showing other people, and that you're sharing this story with us is I'm so thankful that other people, whatever their life circumstance, whatever they've gone through, you too, could, could write a book or 15

32:48

exactly, just don't burn yourself out doing it. Yeah. Like have a have a sleep in between, and find and find your rhythm and find your pace. Um, but you know, before you know it, like you're writing that first one. It took a long time for both of us. The next thing you know, this is what you do. You're an author. Yeah, I have a quote that I actually used in the last novel, mostly because one of my beta readers begged me to

33:15

if I don't write, I bleed ink. It just drips from my fingertips, and one of my characters

33:23

surprised me, and was this author that I've been talking about through the series. I

33:29

my characters are really weird. They're like a totally separate little person that lives inside my head, which probably makes me sound a little bit crazy,

33:38

but it's like I'm watching a play. I'm not actually the one directing it, and I spoke about plot points before, after the time, they don't work because they go all scripts, and they'd like do their own thing, and I'm just playing catch up. And then he became this, like favorite author of a different character that he'd been having all this strife with. And yeah, it was a whole thing, but, yeah, it is very much. Do what you enjoy, and if I don't write,

34:08

I'm not happy. Yeah, exactly you found your joy. Now do tell me my final question question, baby is, how do you live a life you love? Now,

34:23

that is such a good question, and one that I do struggle with a little bit, because it is that give and take and push and pull, I would get more sleep,

34:34

but I write, I light a candle, I put on a playlist called fantasy tab of music, and I sit down and I just write for an hour in the morning before everybody gets up, and that leaves me feeling settled and ready for the day, and I can go about the rest of my world until I get to sit back down in the chair and write some more.

34:59

I love it.

35:00

Today is when somebody has a joy and a passion, and I picked that up from you straight away. And I just love when there's like, some diff like, there's differences in some things, but then there's that commonality of just loving the writing and having a passion and doing it no matter what. And so I'm so grateful that I got to meet you, and I'm loving following your journey. I hope I see you Sunday. I'm going to put it there that we can and I hope you have a fabulous time where people find you. Where's the best place to find you? I'll put all the stuff in the show notes, but just tell us, because I think they should come and see these fabulous things. Shall we have a look? It's at the say.com, l, i, s, s, A, E, because it's another one of those wonderful ads.

35:42

All of the links are there. There's a reading list. You can get all of the books direct through me if you want them signed. Otherwise, they're at all major retailers. They're also physical copies at the Mulaney bookshop,

35:54

the bookshop, not one of the other two bookshops in Mulaney, it's very confusing.

36:01

Yeah, definitely come along and say hi. If you are at the Gold Coast, we'll be upstairs. For some reason, they put all of the indie authors upstairs, which is going to be really interesting, because I did not know that there was an upstairs, um,

36:16

but I'll also be at Brisbane supernova and a bunch of other events, and they're all on the website as well. So yeah, if you see me, come see

36:24

thank you so much. And congratulations on your first ever podcast. Thank you.

36:31

Thank you. Thank you for listening lovely one. I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life you love today. If you love what you're hearing, don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify and rate review and subscribe on iTunes. It helps other awesome people to find this podcast and get motivated and inspired as well. Want to stay connected, come and join the live a life you love. Group on Facebook or connect with me on Instagram. Emma lovell.au the same as my website, but all the details are in the show notes. Lovely. I'll see you next episode for more inspiration, motivation and freedom seeking. Now go out there and live a life you love. You.