Leah Braemel is the only woman in a houseful of males that includes her college-sweetheart husband, is the mother to two grown sons, and three grandsons. She loves escaping the ever-multiplying dust bunnies by opening up her laptop to write about sexy heroes and the women who challenge them. She has been published by Harlequin’s Carina Press, Samhain Publishing and Quarry Press, though now she self-publishes her books.
But who am I really? I’m a former nurse, former computer instructor, mom to two grown sons, grandmother to three grandsons (see? More testosterone!) and wife to my college-sweetheart for the last four decades (OMG has it really been that long? That can’t be right. I’m feel like I’m still 26. Okay, well, my body doesn’t feel 26 anymore, but my mind does. When it remembers what day it is.)
I’ve always written stories, either in my head or on paper. But I’d never really shown anyone since I was a kid. (Long story, don’t ask.) It wasn’t until I was in my mid-40s before I even showed my work to my family. And then I met Becky Sue online in a reading group. Sue was already on her own writing journey, so when I finally admitted to her that I liked to write too, she encouraged me to get serious about my writing. To aim to be published. Sue nudged me. Harassed me. Slapped me up the back of the head. And got me taking writing seriously. I joined online critique groups, and a local writing circle. When an editor AND an agent both asked me for more of my work, I must admit I freaked out, though not in a good way. I walked away from writing for a year. When yet another editor contacted me suggesting I submit to one of her publishing house’s lines. At that point I was standing in the family room, reading the email to my husband, when my eldest son, who was then in college, said “you’ve always told me to follow my dreams. I’d say it’s time for you to put your money where your mouth is.”
Wow, talk about an “out of the mouth of babes” moment. And okay, being eighteen he hadn’t been a baby for a long time, so it wasn’t technically fulfilling the old adage, but I realized if I expected him to take my advice I needed to follow it too. After a very quick eighteen months, and a trip to a major authors’ conference in Dallas, several meetings with agents and editors, as well as finally getting to meet and go horseback riding with Becky Sue, I signed a contract for PRIVATE PROPERTY.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since.
Leah does not hire ghostwriters or use AI to produce her stories.
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