Magic Thursday: Writing a Prequel with Leisl Leighton

Earlier this year I was asked to write a novella for the upcoming Fantasy Realms: Warlords, Witches and Wolves Anthology. The other authors involved are a group of amazing Aussie romance authors I admire, so of course my answer was ‘hell yes!’

Then came the panic. I’d never written a novella before. I’m known for my large, sweeping

tales with multiple characters and subplots underlining the larger narrative. How could I write
something so much smaller? And what story would I write? All my other story ideas were
full-blown 100k+ word ideas. Quite the dilemma.

Then I remembered some of the romances I’d hinted at that had already occurred in my award
nominated Pack Bound Series. I’d always meant to go back and write their stories as prequels
to the series - laying out some history for those who’d read the series but introducing the
world and characters to those who hadn’t as a possible lead into the series.

This would be the perfect way of doing just that.

And I knew exactly who to start with: Skye and River’s parents, werewoman Ivy McVale and
warlock Paul Collins.

I was filled with enthusiasm and dove right in. It was a joy to be back in my Pack Bound
world again, exploring earlier narratives suggested at in the main series. But writing their
story wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. In Pack Bound and Moon Bound, it is revealed
that they died trying to save Skye and River from an evil coven and there is a covenant in the
romance world that you break at your peril: Thou Shalt Not Kill off Lovers from an Earlier
Book.

Of course, this was happening the opposite way around - I’d written of their deaths before
attempting to write the prequel story of their love, but it still meant I had to step very
carefully. I very quickly fell in love with Ivy and Paul - characters I’d only mentioned briefly
in the main series - and wanted the very best for them. It helped that the story of their love
occurred in their early twenties, this giving them a good twenty years of happiness before the
death that is remembered by Skye and River in their books. But, with some careful writing,
some deep emotional searching, and a hint of a HEA possibility despite what had already
been written, I think I have managed to pull off this most difficult of dives into the pool of
romance rules. So far, the feedback has been positive and I can’t wait to hear what you all
think.

Witch Bound

One Fate, one mate, a bond too strong to deny …

Paul Collins, duty-bound Pack Warlock and seer, must marry a strong witch for the good of
Pack McVale. But his hidden feelings for his best-friend’s sister, maternal wolf Ivy McVale,
make this a more difficult pill to swallow every day. Especially when they begin to mate.
Then Paul has a vision: If they mate, Ivy will die. Desperate, Paul uses his powers to change
destiny and make Ivy think she’s always hated him. He can deal with any punishment the
Fates make him pay for tampering with destiny, as long as Ivy lives.

After recovering from a bewildering month-long illness, Ivy notices her nemesis, Paul, is
tormented by something. And strangely, she is the only one who can feel it. Unable to endure
such unhappiness—even if he does call her Poison Ivy—she is determined to help him, no
matter the cost. Because Pack McVale cannot survive without him, and curiously, neither can
she ...

Witch Bound appears in the Fantasy Realms: Warlords, Witches and Wolves Anthology
coming out on November 9th.

Warlord, Witch, or Wolf: what’s your poison?

Whatever your fantasy, dive into 11 original stories from bestselling and new Australian
authors for a limited time only.

Featuring rousing action, sizzling or sweet romance, and journeys to far-off lands, the heroes
and heroines of Warlords, Witches and Wolves will keep you on the edge of your seat and
conjure your darkest desires.

What are you waiting for? Unleash the beasts, summon the magic, and conquer new worlds
today!

Contributing authors are:
Michelle Diener, Lana Pecherczyk, Claire Boston, Daniel De Lorne, Shona Husk, Leisl
Leighton, TJ Nichols, Demelza Carlton, M.J. Scott, Cassie Laelyn & S.E. Welsh.

Pre-order now and get your copy of these thrilling paranormal and fantasy novellas for only
99c. This price will only be on offer until release date, so don’t miss out.

Amazon | Amazon Aus | Kobo | Apple | Barnes&Noble | Books2Read

Win a free Advance Reader Copy of Fantasy Realms: Warlords, Witches and Wolves

There is a free ARC of the anthology up for grabs every day at the Fantasy Realms Anthology
Readers Group . Sign up now and follow the post of the day to go in the running to win your copy of this amazing anthology.

About Leisl:

Leisl Leighton is a tall red head with an overly large imagination. As a child, she identified strongly with Anne of Green Gables, and like Anne, is a voracious reader and born performer. It came as no surprise when she went on to a career as a performer, script writer, script doctor,
stage manager and musical director for cabaret and theatre restaurants.

After starting a family, Leisl stopped performing and began writing the stories plaguing her dreams. She is addicted to Sci-fi and romance books and DVDs, she sometimes sings in a choir, loves to ski and horse ride, and was President of Romance Writers of Australia from 2014-2017. When she’s not writing, she helps other writers make their manuscripts shine.

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