Leigh Evans

Leigh Evans was born in Montreal, Quebec but now lives in Southern Ontario with her husband.

Her newly released novel The Trouble with Fate is the first book in her Mystwalker series.

Not so long ago I asked Evans about what she was reading.  Her reply:

It’s always fun to fib. And truly, I did entertain the thought of telling you that I was re-reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace just for sheer devilry, but then someone might ask me a penetrating question about the plot and I’d have one of those unfortunate deer-in-the-headlight moments. So, I’ll be honest. I’m slogging my way through deadline hell which means I’m only going to read something guaranteed to entertain me.

Thus, no Tolstoy. On my bedside table right now is this anthology: An Apple for a Creature, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner.

Now, Charlaine and Toni have quite a few of these anthologies under their belts and they’ve really perfected the recipe for combining authors of interest. Which is very, very good—there are a variety writing styles to enjoy. However, I have a major beef with these women. They keep slipping new authors into the mix. Which—no matter how you slice it—is an essentially evil thing to do to a person with book issues. Have a heart, girls. One day, it’s entirely possible the fire department is going to find my desiccated body buried beneath the collapsed tower of my TBR stash.

Despite that worry, before I toddle off into the land of nod tonight, I’m going to read Amber Benson’s story, “Callie Meet Happy”. Between you and me, I’m really, really looking forward to it. First, Ms. Benson is a good writer with an engaging voice. Second? My inner-geek is going to come out for one, long, protracted squee.

For those of you who somehow missed the ‘90s, Amber played Tara on Buffy, and in my list of the ultimate cool, that’s way cool. I’m not sure but it might even quality for six degrees of separation because (a) I’ve watched every episode of Buffy and (b) I’ve read Amber’s story. See? That’s an obvious connection. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll change my twitter name to ImAmbersbuddy.

You know what else I love about anthologies? Each story is like one of those fancy chocolates that thin women eat. You know—the type of bonbon that comes wrapped in gold foil?

Theoretically, that means you’re supposed to consume just one per day.

Just one.

Ah, the hell with it. Who eats just one chocolate anyhow?

Visit Leigh Evans's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: The Trouble with Fate.

--Marshal Zeringue