Interview with R. Leigh, Author of Fiercely Possessive (Fierce Legacies Book 1)

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Fiercely Possessive (Fierce Legacies Book 1)?

When I started writing this book, I wasn’t sure if I would finish it or publish it. It was something different, a challenge that made me push boundaries and open new doors for me. Regency romances have always been my go-to when I wanted to snuggle up with a book, but one day I branched out and started reading dark romances, mafia and crime romances, and from that day I was hooked. I enjoyed the danger, the possessiveness, and arrogance of the characters, as well as the varied plots that can be developed. Characters driven by lust and a thirst for power were exciting to create and after several months of anxious deliberation, I decided to share it with others in the hope that they would enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

That would be a toss-up. I read Regency romances for years, and I suppose those could be considered my favorite, but darker more dangerous romances have earned their place on my bookshelves as well. I enjoy writing both. Sometimes I feel like being transported back in time to the ballrooms of London, while other times I feel like taking a stroll down a dark dirty alleyway and immersing myself with dangerous and arrogant criminals that fiercely love and lust the women they have claimed as their own.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

A Sinner’s Promise by Kylie Kent. Florian’s Bride by V. F. Mason. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas. Reread list: The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I would have to say that my favorite scene to write was the scene where Eden was returning from a Yankee game after being on a date with a colleague from work, her life was just beginning to get back to normal after her passionate one-night stand with Alessio in Rome. While she had thought about him numerous times, she never imagined seeing him again. When she walked into her apartment to find him sitting in the dark waiting for her, I could just feel her heart leaping in her chest from both fear and excitement. That scene had a lot of tension and sexual energy as Alessio stalked her backward until she was trapped between the wall and his strong body. I’ll stop there and let you read the rest for yourselves.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

While I would enjoy writing in a secluded quiet library with soft classical music playing in the background, my sweet dog, Monster, lying at my feet begging for Cheetos, and a cup of hot English breakfast tea steeping before me, that is not my life. Instead, I find myself squeezing in writing time between my dogs barking constantly, my kids visiting from college, and my husband inquiring about the next book’s progress.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Striving for perfection is ok, but don’t let yourself get so hung up on everything being perfect and being successful that you don’t take chances, or you pass up on an experience because you are afraid of failing.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

When I write it’s like being transported to a different world or a different time, it’s my escape and that is what I would want for my readers, to have an escape from their everyday lives. Maybe even find a new book boyfriend.