Why do you write the genre that you write?
I’ve always loved mysteries. From Nancy Drew to the gothic tales of Victoria Holt to more modern writers, I love trying to figure out a good “whodunit.”

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Gia, from An Eyre of Mystery, speaks directly to the reader. Especially when something confounds her, she breaks that fourth wall.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I’d written the embroidery mystery series for Berkley under the pen name Amanda Lee. When they wanted another series from me, I couldn’t use Amanda Lee because that was tied to the embroidery series. Gayle Leeson kept me right beside Amanda Lee on bookstore shelves. Later, I kept the pseudonym because it was easier than going back and forth between names all the time.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I started taking my writing more seriously when I was in college, and a teacher encouraged me on a story I’d written.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I’ve been a receptionist, secretary, an administrative assistant and bailiff to a judge, and a freelance nonfiction writer.

Where do you write?
I write in my living room mostly. I sit in a comfy chair and plot/outline, and then I move to the desktop to do the actual writing.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Chocolate—anything chocolate.

Who is an author you admire?
I’ve just discovered Fredrik Backman. (I know, I know! How late to the party am I???) I’ve just finished one of his books, bought the audiobook of that one for my daughter, and ordered two more of his books for me.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mystery/thriller

What are you reading now?
I just finished My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. It made me laugh and cry, and I simply fell in love with Elsa, the almost-eight-year-old narrator.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Water

What is next for you?
I’m currently at work on my next book in the Literatia (portal fantasy) series, A Tale Of Two Enemies, which takes place inside the world of Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities.

Where can we find you?
Please visit me online at gayleleeson.com.

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate

Cake or ice cream
oooh, that one’s almost too tough to call, but I’ll go with ice cream

Fruits or vegetables
Fruits

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch

Dining in or dining out
Dining in

City life or country living
Country

Beach or mountain
Mountain

Summer or winter
Summer

Short story or full-length novel
Full-length novel

Extrovert or introvert
hmmm…does introverted extrovert count?

Early bird or night owl
Night owl

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
That’s hard too because there are so many. But given the time of year it is, I’m going to say A Christmas Story.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
A house with electricity, a mall with a food court and a bookstore, and a Bible. I figure even if it IS deserted, those three things should keep me going for a while, right? LOL

My bio:
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee and Gayle Trent. Please visit her online at gayleleeson.com to learn more about her cozy mysteries and portal fantasy series. Check out Terminated: He Won’t Be Back, the first book in a new movie memorabilia series at Prolific Works. Simply scroll until you see the book cover. Incidentally, at the Prolific Works site where you’ll claim this book, there are 59! other books offered for free by cozy mystery writers. Happy holidays, everybody!