Lighting the 'White Lantern:' An Inside Look at Leslie Alexander's New Book
The following is a contributed piece from Leslie Alexander. Leslie — who, with our own Caitie Thompson, is one half of the Lucky Penny Sisters — is celebrating the release of her first novel, ‘White Lantern,’ today. Read for the inside scoop, and continue to the bottom for a complete synopsis of the book!
Growing up, I was obsessed with reading. I loved books, but I never had the focus or patience to even think about writing my own. It seemed a worthwhile endeavor—but, there was my four different choir classes (and subsequent performances), community theatre, modeling, swim team, French class, keeping my GPA up, and, oh yeah—a job. Writing a book was never an idea I latched onto with any permanence. I did have a few poems published in some amateur compilations when I was 19, but that was as close as it got for me. My moniker was “follow the dopamine.” If it sounded fun and my interest was piqued, I was jumping in with both feet.
Fast forward to adulthood. I was married and pregnant with my first child when I had the most incredible and exhilarating pregnancy dream that knocked me breathless. I dreamt about a girl who was a gifted medium and could see ghosts, but she kills someone in self-defense. Now, rather than face seeing them in the afterlife, she completely shuts down her gifts and retreats within herself
What would that be like? How devastating would that have to be? Who was this girl? I had to meet her!
I wrote it all out. The next day, I gave it to my mother and told her about my dream. She insisted that I finish the story, because she needed to know what happened… and though I love making my dear mama happy, I initially resisted. I thought of every excuse not to write.
“I’m a musician now! I’m a singer, not a writer!”
But, the storyline kept chewing on the edges of my brain, until I relinquished and started writing with no real plan in mind. I spent years on it; while I was home raising two small boys during the day, I would write while they napped or once they were down for the night. On the weekends, I was singing and gigging with my band, and writing when the mood hit me. I finished it after eight years and began to look for a publisher and an agent, but I had no luck. Then, my marriage ended, life completely shifted for me, and I forgot the endeavor all together.
That was until TikTok weaseled its way into my life, and I fell down an indie author hole — and loving every minute of it. I got really excited about one book in particular (which I will never ever list publicly), and the author was a raging success, as far as numbers. She had quit her job, and her book sounded AMAZING.
It was NOT amazing—it was crap.
I was shocked at how badly written it was, because she continued to sell like a beast — and I kind of realized in a hurry that I was now fully out of excuses. If she could do that, so could I!
So, I edited my rear-end off, had at least two strokes, several heart attacks, and one night where I nearly threw my laptop out the window— but, I did it. My book, “White Lantern,” is now available on Amazon as of June 15, 2022. I am really excited to share the story of Audra Sullivan with the world. Check the synopsis below for a fun little teaser!
Thanks Music on the Move for letting me spotlight my book!
SYNOPSIS:
Audra Sullivan is a level-headed, tough as hell, grown woman who is haunted by several things — including parents who don’t understand her, self-loathing, trauma, a love life riddled with disaster and trust issues, and let’s not forget the ghost of the man she killed when she was only 17...
It’s been eight years since Audra had seen a ghost; not since the night she killed someone who used to mean a great deal to her... Then, a demon shows up to warn her that she is the target for a blood sacrifice. Now, she and everyone she loves are either targets or suspects. Audra tries to decode the demon’s riddle while piecing together clues as they fall into her lap. Being a White Lantern comes with a lot of death and darkness, but it also just might be her saving grace...
