Seven Story Publishing

Written Interview

Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do outside of writing. What is a day in the life like for you?

Well, I’ve been writing since I was a kid and in the last ten years, I’ve had a little bit of luck publishing short stories, essays, and now novels. For my day job I work as a caregiver; I’ve often worked in some form of healthcare. At my current situation, the whole atmosphere is relaxed, so I do have time to write while I’m there. My life is pretty routine, probably even boring. Get up, eat breakfast, go to work, write in my spare time, go to bed. For fun I love to watch period dramas, go to museums, and go antiquing. 

What inspired your first novel? What was the thing that got you into writing in the first place?

I’ve been interested in the Holocaust since I was twelve and after doing years of research, my novel “The Judgment of Solomon” (which is to be retitled, though I don’t know how to refer to it at this point) took root in my mind. I toured Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow in 2015 and about six months after the trip, I started writing it. The whole premise was very much inspired by history. You know, I was a kid in the 90s, we had to find ways to entertain ourselves. Sometimes that was playing with dolls, or board games, reading, or writing stories. I wrote a story when I was eleven and my aunt, who was an English Lit major, took me in hand. She critiqued it and invited me to join a writer’s workshop for senior citizens that she was to lead – though everyone was welcome. I’ve been writing steadily ever since.

How do you come up with characters? Are they spontaneous or meticulously planned?

History is often an inspiration for me and has influenced me in creating a number of my characters for various stories and novels. I try to plan my characters out, but as a story or novel progresses, my plans for my characters change. 

What are some of your favorite genres to read? Are there any books you’d recommend to first time readers or people looking for something new? 

I gravitate to classic literature and non-fiction. I’d recommend “The Diary of Anne Frank” as one of the best books that was ever written. It’s life changing. Jane Austen – I adore anything that she penned. Other authors I love: Isabelle Allende, Margaret Atwood, and Harper Lee. 

What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer? 

Probably the rejections. I’ve received thousands in my publication journey and will face many, many more. It can break a writer’s spirit, but it’s part of the business. You learn from it, grow, and hopefully develop a thick skin.

What is your process to completing a novel from outline to final product?

I start with pen and paper and outline a whole book scene by scene. After that, I transfer my notes to the computer and begin the painful process of writing a first draft. I print that off, show it to my beta readers, and after they critique it and I tear it apart, I rewrite the whole thing. Then I do a couple more drafts before sending it to a publisher.

What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve written in your novel? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.

It was probably a little unhinged of me to write about cultures that were not my own. And maybe it wasn’t very wise either. I mean, my novel takes place in Holocaust/Poland during WWII and I can only hope to God that I got everything historically and culturally accurate. The last thing I want to do is misrepresent something or be offensive. Time will tell, I guess. 

What’s one thing about being a writer that absolutely drives you up the wall?

When I think I’ve gotten all of the typos and grammatical issues, and after sending out my short story or novel, I discover all of my gaffes. That’s happened more times that I can count. In my cover letters too. 

What does being a successful writer look like for you? What type of life do you want to live as a writer?

For me success is having an audience who likes my work, whether it’s a short story or novel. I’d like to have a steady, respectable writing career for as long as possible, and write in a variety of genres.  

Describe your writing journey. If you had to write a story centered around it, do you think you could pull it off?

For many years my writing journey was a failure. Like I said, I have received thousands of rejections. And that’s not an exaggeration. I realized I had to do everything wrong before I figured out the right way of doing things. I feel that I probably wouldn’t be able to write about my journey now because I’m still on it. Some years down the line, it might be something I could attempt, when I’m older and wiser.

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About

Veronica Leigh has been published in numerous blogs, anthologies, journals, and magazines including: The Saturday Evening Post, Hoosier Noir, After Dinner Conversation Magazine, ParAbnormal Magazine, Starlite Pulp Review, The People’s Friend, Black Cat Weekly, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine. For over twenty-five years, she studied the Holocaust and had the honor of touring Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow with
the CANDLES Museum. She aspires to be the Jane Austen of her generation and she makes her home Indiana. Her first novel, set during the Holocaust in Poland, will be published in June of 2025.

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