Episode 33: Leanne Treese

Leanne Treese, debut author of Their Last Chance

Key Topics: What inspired her to write this unique novel, a complicated love story about a struggling marriage– which is told from four points of view (the divorcing couple and the two divorce lawyers), along with writing advice and her recent reads

Interview Notes:

We talk about what inspired Leanne to write this unique novel about a struggling marriage– which is told from four points of view (the divorcing couple and the two divorce lawyers). The most popular words showing up in the book’s reviews are absorbing, must-read, entertaining, page-turner.

Inspiration -wise, Leanna shares that as a practicing attorney for 20 years, she wanted to show how divorces can quickly get out of control, without the couple meaning to. And the fun part of this novel (the seed of her idea) is it culminates with a reality TV show for divorcing couples on a tropical island- with the question beings will our protagonists reconcile or throw it all away?

Plus we chat about how Leanne herself has demonstrated the kind of resilience we all need as writers with the challenges this novel had in its path to publication- (the small press that published her debut in 2020 went out of business) - resulting in a re-release with a brand new title and cover.

Leanne’s writing advice unsurprisingly includes don’t give up! But she also means don’t lose hope just because you’ve put off writing that book in your imagination for a long time – it’s never too late to write it! She also recommends writing every day because it helps you stay in the story. And at first just get the words down and don’t worry, because half of them will get cut anyway!

Reading- wise, she’s become a big Katherine Center fan – she just finished WHAT YOU WISH FOR, and Leanne hopes her books might appeal to the same readers – who enjoy a romantic storyline along with a serious issue.