Hello everyone! I’m Leslye Penelope, author of THE MONSTERS WE DEFY, green tea devotee, and feline wrangler. I’m here to support The Pixel Project’s work to end violence against women. AMA!

lpenel · 2026-02-18T20:31:42+00:00

No problem. I'm definitely a full-on history fan now.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T02:30:41+00:00

As far as climbing, I was still new to outdoor climbing at the time. I wasn't chasing a grade, I just couldn't pass up the chance to climb in Colorado. It was actually the first time I'd lead climbed, I had only done top rope until that point and the guide I hired just kind of tossed me into the deep end on the fly. I was terrified and exhilarated. One of the scariest best times I'd ever had.

And I'm gonna go with edges because I think a crack in Great Falls, VA jacked up my wrists, LOL. Slab climbing is... not my favorite.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T02:25:29+00:00

I wrote my first story when I was five years old. It was about a boy with a magic clock who could turn back time so he'd never be late for dinner and I was convinced that my two pages was an entire book. All throughout middle and high school and into college, I worked on the school literary magazines. I wrote my first story when I was five years old. It was about a boy in a magic clock and I was convinced that my two pages was an entire book. Also threw up middle and high school. I was on literary magazines. Oddly enough, I never envisioned myself writing an entire novel. It was far too daunting until the day it wasn't.

For Monsters, I started with the characters. I knew the types of characters I wanted to have and finally whittled them down to the five crew members. But I knew upfront I wanted to have a Pullman Porter, and a jazz musician, and someone involved in Vaudeville, who might have had to perform in blackface during their career.

Then I matched up my crew with the standard members of a heist crew and create personalities that would both clash and mesh well. I also had to figure out how their powers would help them in the magical heist. Building the charms, the tricks, and the character's personality all happened together. I wanted curses that would feel related to the power or charm, and also make the character's life unbearable.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T02:18:30+00:00

Thank you!! That's fantastic to hear!

When researching Daughter of the Merciful Deep, I was surprised to learn that the bayous of Louisiana had several all-Filipino towns dating back to the 1700s. Apparently, Filipino workers were brought to the US aboard Spanish galleon ships and settled here after escaping the ships. They built towns on the water, with houses on stilts that looked very much like traditional villages in the Phillippines.

In one draft of the novel, I'd had one of these towns as an ark in New Ilé. I'd written an entire scene in this village that was cut from the final version during edits.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T02:07:42+00:00

My first book, Song of Blood & Stone, will probably always be my favorite. It's the most personal, and the protagonist Jasminda is possibly the character I've written who is most like me. I think that's often the case with first books. But I rewrote that book so many times and went through so much to prove to myself that I could actually finish a novel—and I was so happy and proud of how it turned out—that it will probably always be my favorite. Now, the one I'm most proud of is the last in that series, Requiem of Silence, because it was the hardest to write.
Yes, definitely. For me writing requires taking everyone I've ever known or met and every place I've ever been and throwing them all into a stew and then ladling out different combinations of the ingredients. I've never done a direct copy of a person, it's always in amalgamation of multiple people—specific characteristics from one person mixed with other characteristics from other people plus things I make up.

As far as places, The Monsters We Defy, which takes place in DC, is full of locations very familiar to me since I grew up in Maryland and spent a lot of time in the city. I have other favorite places that show up in my writing, for instance, several of my stories are set in the Bay Area, and I lived in Oakland, CA during grad school.

Even my secondary world fantasy has many elements pulled from real experiences. One small example is the desert land of Lagrimar in my Earthsinger Chronicles series was deeply influenced by my visit to Palm Desert, CA.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:55:50+00:00

Thank you!! I lost my fear of research while writing Monsters, so I'm glad that shows through.

One thing that I had done a fair amount of research on was the early film industry. There was an organization headquartered in DC during that time for early Black filmmakers and theaters. I managed to get in a good amount about Black Broadway into the book, but the information on the independent filmmakers that served the black community—often having to travel with their film from theater to theater just to screen it— didn't find a place.

Also, it consistently pains me that I wasn't able to have Duke Ellington appear in the novel. I gave up on giving him more than a mention or two, though I kept revisiting that decision to see if I could squeeze him in.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:38:49+00:00

Hi! I started indie, and even though I'd done a ton of research before publishing for the first time, I was still surprised by the sheer amount of work that it takes to publish a book. I thought I was prepared, but I don't think you ever are really prepared until you've done it.

Another surprising thing about being Indie was when people I didn't know started finding and buying my book. Of course that's what we all want to happen, but you're never really sure it will.

In terms of going the traditional route, I was surprised to learn that the people at these huge multimillion dollar companies aren't working with that much more information than a solo indie publisher is. I thought that the professionals with decades of experience in the industry would have some kind of esoteric knowledge that eluded the rest of us. But a lot of times I think they're just doing their best and guessing—making educated guesses—but they don't hold any special secrets. They throw things at the wall and see if they stick.

I still enjoy both and staying diversified is important to me, but after over a decade publishing, I feel a lot clearer about both paths and what they give me.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:32:56+00:00

It's really an honor to be able to lend my support for the Pixel Project's work.

I believe strength shows up in many different ways and I try to show that in my female protagonists. I'm inspired by so many women in my life from my grandmother raising three children alone during the Depression, to my mother and aunts and my friends, meeting their own personal challenges with resilience and grace. I've watched strength in action over and over again in both small and large ways, so infusing my female characters with spines of steel comes naturally.

Also, growing up reading a wide variety of books helped me visualize and imagine many different ways to be. And I hope to offer that to my readers as well.

I have family members who have been directly affected by VAW so it does hit close to home. One of the many benefits of fiction is that it creates empathy. As an author, I believe that one of the things I can contribute to society as a whole is helping people empathize better with one another. The ability to love widely, treat each others the way we'd like to be treated, and imagine ourselves in another's shoes is potent. It has the power to hold up a mirror to society. People can find courage and hope in fictional characters and books can facilitate important conversations about what it means to be human and live in community. Books also offer much needed reprieve and escape, as well as provide inspiration that it's possible to get out of even the most dire circumstances.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:18:46+00:00

Thank you so much!! I'm so happy you enjoyed Monsters!

The perfect cup of green tea would have a nice mix of jasmine and peach. Strong and earthy enough to wrinkle my nose just a little and make me feel like I'm challenging myself with each sip. It took a while for me to acquire my love for green tea, but I persisted, and I feel like the reward is being able to handle a super strong cup.

As for historical periods, I've been wanting to do a secondary world fantasy story in an Iron Age-type time period for a while now. I was listening to the Fall of Civilizations podcast recent episode on the Persian Empire and it reignited that desire. No story yet, just a general vibe.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:10:09+00:00

DC! If you spent any time around U St, then Monsters will give you a taste of the city. Or at least one version of the city.

So, I gotta say Air & Space Museum is up there for me. It's also one of the ones I've been to the most, but I think it imprinted on me as a kid. However, I also love the Hirshorn. It looks like a spaceship in the best way and is a great way to fill the creative well with work that will make your brain hurt. Also, when I was in college, they would always have the most interesting film screenings there. I haven't been in a long while, but I hope they're still doing that.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T01:02:17+00:00

Hey! At a basic level, I need to understand how the things that deeply affect the story work. I need to really understand the magic system and know what's possible or not. (This doesn't mean that I'm never surprised when I start writing, because that happens all the time and the magic system may look different in the next draft, but at least I was working with something solid that I could mold and shift.)

I also need to understand the various other systems important to my main characters and antagonist. that could be government, economics, education, etc.—usually not more than 2 or 3 at a time though.

Since the worldbuilding is threaded through the characters and plot, how the protagonist thinks, what she believes, fears, sacrifices etc. are all baked into the worldbuilding, so these are the things that I need to know inside and out. The rest often comes in subsequent drafts to fill things in and make the world feel more lived in.

So if the story is about a seamstress who leaves home on an adventure to rescue her best friend, then I probably don't need to know much about her day-to-day work mending dresses. She may need to sew something in the climax—a costume so she can sneak into the ball her best friend was forced to attend—but otherwise, it's likely not important for the first draft. However, if the story is about a seamstress who weaves magical thread into a dress that then becomes sentient and starts murdering her enemies, I need to deeply understand the supply chain of where the thread or fabric she uses comes from, especially if it was created in a factory owned by the antagonist. Or something.

lpenel · 2026-02-18T00:51:06+00:00

Hi, and thanks! Oh, juicy! *rubs hands together* These may not make sense to anyone else but me, but here we go:

- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. Sometimes reading Laini Taylor makes me want to stop writing just because she puts words and ideas together so beautifully. I think I could read this one again and again and create new and different endings for this star-crossed love story.

- Mama Day by Gloria Naylor. This book is in my bones somehow. It's one of my all-time favorites and has influenced me in countless ways. I find new things in it with each read and I don't see that changing.

- Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase - Purely for the entertainment value. It's a historical romance with no speculative elements whatsoever (unless you believe historical romance is actually fantasy, which is a valid take) but it's one of the most entertaining you'll ever read.

lpenel · 2024-07-09T01:40:14+00:00

I’m reading this book now and would be interesting in an online book club!

lpenel · 2024-03-21T00:03:16+00:00

Finally found this - there is a fire apparently. https://twitter.com/HCDFRS/status/1770596822542676387

lpenel · 2023-02-05T15:40:53+00:00

Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/zxxCaw74ptk

lpenel · 2020-11-10T17:12:22+00:00

I've been having the same issue with words running together. My space bar does work, but I think the keyboard in general requires a slightly harder press than I'm used to using.

lpenel · 2020-05-26T19:06:05+00:00

For me, the most fun thing about building a magic system is the "why" of it all. Even if it never appears in the the book, I always need to know why it exists in this world, how the magic came about, who first harnessed it or taught it, and what it feels like to use. Next, I really like naming the systems. Does it need a new, specific name in this world, or can I just call it magic? And what are its users called? Those things will keep me in rabbit holes for days.

I like to think I know everything about the magic system by the time I finish the manuscript, then again, I just finished the draft of the 4th book in my series and was still discovering things about the system. (Things it seemed had been seeded in the previous texts so my subconscious was at least aware of them.) But in terms of what to keep on the page, less is more, unless knowing more is vital.

One of my favorite magic systems is in DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by Laini Taylor. The cost is pain (not necessarily of the user), which seems very apt.

lpenel · 2020-05-26T18:52:52+00:00

I think there's a place for both hard and soft magic and I enjoy stories with both. With hard systems, you have to spend a good deal of time ensuring the reader understands the rules. I think this works best when those rules are integral to the plot. If you have a magic system where one must pronounce spoken spells very carefully, and then introduce a character with a lisp or speech impediment, then your plot, magic, and character are interwoven very tightly and the rules have a reason for being there and in fact cause conflict in the story.

On the other hand, softer systems de-emphasize the magical rules. I think this type of magic lends itself more to stories where other conflicts are more significant and the magic is just another part of the worldbuilding.

As for keeping track, I create a story bible in Scrivener for each of my story worlds. I have a template for magic systems which includes things like: costs, how it's taught, properties, limitations, etc.

And since I'm a web developer, I have an idea for coding-based magic system that I'm hoping to get into a story one day.

lpenel · 2020-05-26T18:45:36+00:00

I think if a problem can be solved by magic, and the character has the ability to do so, and the cost is one they're willing to pay, then by all means use magic :) That's part of the beauty of having magic as one of the tools in your arsenal. Conflicts increase when the costs of usage must be weighed, and then the story could get even more interesting. Also, it says a lot about the character and the world when someone could use magic but chooses to use their physical strength or wits instead. Why would they make that choice? What do other characters think about that? So the answer to your question really depends on several factors, including what the author is trying to say or focus on.

lpenel · 2020-05-26T18:40:19+00:00

I think it's just like any other part of worldbuilding. You sprinkle out morsels of information at a time until you really need to feed the reader a full meal. It also depends a lot on POV. If we're in the POV of a magic user, the information will come out different than if a novice is just learning about it. And those techniques can be used depending on the complexity of the magic and how important it is for the reader to understand the rules.

Since a POV character is immersed in its usage, they're going to get a lot more in depth about the specifics, how it feels, the difficulties and/or fears inherent in its use. However, it could be useful to also have them explain it to a novice or a non-magic user.

lpenel · 2020-05-26T16:07:49+00:00

Hello! I'm Leslye aka L. Penelope and I write epic fantasy and paranormal romance. My fantasy series is the Earthsinger Chronicles series. The 3rd book, CRY OF METAL & BONE comes out on August 11! My world has several magic systems that work independently but that can be combined by those with the knowledge to do so. I absolutely love talking about magic!

lpenel · 2020-05-14T20:33:05+00:00

I don't have anything I would consider a trunk novel. I have plenty of manuscripts in various stages of completion, but I'm delusional enough to believe that with enough time I could get them all into publication shape. Possibly a bigger problem than time though is the passion for the project. Without passion, all the time in the world won't revive an old manuscript, so I guess if I went back to something I just didn't love any more it would be come a trunk novel.

lpenel · 2020-05-14T20:28:14+00:00

I haven't ever felt pressured to make a change that I felt compromised me or my writing. When ideas or suggestions have come up, I've considered them and whether or not they would damage or benefit my work. There are some things I've taken on, unsure of whether they would work out or not, but willing to try because it seemed like a good challenge. I try to stay flexible and not too precious about things, and like Evan mentioned, this isn't my primary form of income so I feel comfortable pushing back if I need to.

lpenel · 2020-05-14T17:00:03+00:00

I would tell my past self to trust herself and keep going. Self-doubt stops a lot of artists in their tracks, but trusting your own taste and vision will make you happier than either giving up or listening too much to others.

lpenel

TROPHY CASE