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Introduction
Eri Leigh brings her wildest daydreams to life through her writing. Her debut novel, A Queen’s Game, launched the Aithyr Uprising Series, full of court intrigue, dark secrets, and a touch of anxiety to keep things real. The series continues with New Worlds Wake, and Eri’s imagination is always brewing up something new.
Eri’s Books
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Interview with Eri Leigh
Q: Let’s get started with an introduction. Can you tell me a little about how you first got into writing and what it felt like publishing your very first book?
A: I wrote my first “book” when I was in elementary school. It may have essentially been a very poor knockoff of a very popular wizarding series, but I did share it with a few friends who also liked to read. I then moved on to weirder and darker fantasy books and didn’t try my hand at writing until college. I had been working on a project for years, but in 2020 an idea popped into my head that I couldn’t quiet, thus my debut was born.
Publishing was a bit chaotic. I was learning as I went, and one major mistake was releasing the book a month before my wedding—definitely not something I’d recommend.
Even with that stress, the most memorable part was holding my book for the first time. It’s a feeling that every author knows—it’s like stepping back from a wild dream and realizing it was real all along.
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies (other than writing)?
A: Besides writing, I’m a huge reader. Outside the world of books, I play video games and make cosplay. My cosplay efforts have slowed down since becoming an author, but I’ve made some Monster Hunter armor that I’m very proud of.
Q: What book are you reading right now, or recently, that you’d recommend to someone?
A: I’m currently reading a few books! I’m working through Godkiller by Hannah Kaner for a book club with my sisters. I’m also diving into A Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan for research on a new project. Plus, I’m alpha reading a debut romance novel by a friend (and it is SO good).
Q: What is your favorite strange food combination?
A: I feel like I don’t have any strange food combinations, but I have weird combinations I can’t stand eating. For example, I love coffee—I drink it all day every day. However, as soon as it’s in a beer or baked into something, I can’t stand the taste.
Q: If you were to ask your friends or family, what would they say your greatest “Superpower” is?
A: They’d probably say my superpower is my positivity. I have a “stuff happens” attitude and try to stay upbeat even when things are inconvenient or annoying—like plane delays, my dog getting skunked, or unexpected traffic. I try to keep the mood light for those around me.
Q: If you could be any fictional character (cartoon, movie, show, book, etc), who would you be?
A: I’d pick Tress from Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Her world can be a bit intimidating, but she’s made a cozy space for herself that allows for adventure and a safe retreat. Plus, I respect the mug/teacup collection.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your writing process? Note taking; favorite place to write uninterrupted; etc?
A: My writing process varies depending on the stage of the book. During first drafts, I use a basic outline that gives me some structure but leaves room for exploration. I can write with almost any background noise and in different places.
For later drafts, I need minimal distractions and only ambient music—usually the Oblivion soundtrack by Jeremy Soule. I stick to my desk, with headphones on and a fidget toy in my hand.
As for tracking ideas, I have so many notes apps dedicated to stories I’d love to get to one day.
Q: Tell us a little about what inspired your debut release, A Queen’s Game.
A: Like many people, I suffer from anxiety. And like many people, my anxiety struggled in 2020 when COVID was surging and we didn’t know what the future would hold. One night, I was laying in bed next to my now husband and trying to remember if I locked our doors before going to sleep. This had been my latest “anxiety hyper fixation,” so I was trying to resist the urge to get up and check. That created a spiral of thoughts on what if my ex broke in, what if he kidnapped me. Then came the spiral of what ifs as I applied it to a fantasy scenario (a form of self soothing when I’m anxious).
The next morning, I stopped working on another writing project and wrote the first few chapters of A Queen’s Game, which are strikingly similar to that stream of anxious thoughts.
Q: What scene or moment from your debut release stands out to you the most that you love to tell people about?
A: The ending of the second chapter stands out to me. Readers start with Marietta happy and in love, but then she’s abruptly abducted in the next chapter, completely changing the tone. It’s where the story really takes off. I also get a lot of reactions about the last chapter—often with readers yelling at me about that final line!
Q: What advice would you give to a new writer just starting out?
A: Keep going and keep writing. Everyone doubts their story at some point. The great thing about writing is that you can always edit and improve. Don’t quit before you’ve had a chance to make your work shine.
Q: You have 50 words or less to convince an audience why they should read your books. Go!
A: To dismantle the elven court, Marietta must marry her abductor—a man she once loved. Choosing retribution over freedom, she wields their fractured past as a weapon. Game of Thrones meets The City of Brass in this high-stakes story of love, betrayal, and politics.
Follow Eri
Eri Leigh brings her wildest daydreams to life through her writing. Her debut novel, A Queen’s Game, launched the Aithyr Uprising Series, full of court intrigue, dark secrets, and a touch of anxiety to keep things real. The series continues with New Worlds Wake, and Eri’s imagination is always brewing up something new.
When she’s not plotting her next twist, Eri is with her D&D group, which has been going strong for nearly ten years. A former cosplayer who brought Fire Emblem and Monster Hunter characters to life, she now channels that same creative spark into her writing. Her husband even built her a custom bookshelf, packed with fantasy novels from authors like N. K. Jemisin and Sabaa Tahir, who continue to inspire her. And through it all, her loyal dog Bella is always close by, usually curled up under her chair while she writes.
With a style that combines whimsy and depth, Eri Leigh is carving out her place in the fantasy genre. Her worlds offer rich, immersive escapes, perfect whether you’re seeking epic adventures or simply curling up with a gripping book.
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
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