Lubov Leonova Interview Published on: 30, Aug 2025

I can't recall the first book, honestly. I was too little when my parents read me bedtime stories. I only remember that it was a collection of tales meant for kids that I knew by heart, and those stories made me excited about learning how to read on my own. By the age of six, I was fluent in reading. Perhaps all the stories I ever read influenced my passion for storytelling.

Immigration was quite a challenge! My first year in Canada made me give up storytelling. I started writing in my native language, but switching to English felt impossible at the time. Realistically, I had to focus on improving my English, building a functional network, and finding a decent job to pay my bills and settle in a new country. Additionally, the cultural differences made me feel that topics relevant in Russia were something local women would never understand.

However, after three years of living in Canada and realizing that we all face similar problems, my perspective changed. My English improved as well, so I took a storytelling class in college and began working on bringing my stories to life.

It wasn't done on purpose. In fact, I would prefer to write feminist stories set in the past or in an alternative, non-magical reality, like "The Handmaid's Tale," as it would help me market my books to an audience interested in feminism. You see, the fantasy genre can be contradictory. It might be shallow if it's focused on romance or too deep when tackling politics, like "The Lord of the Rings" or "Game of Thrones."

Initially, I started by writing a romance set in a fantasy world, which pushed me to build this world, including developing a magic system and other elements. Once the world-building was complete, my creative writing coach suggested I incorporate feminist themes into the fantasy genre, as she hadn't come across many stories like that. Moreover, since fantasy is popular among teenage girls, I could use this genre as a bridge to introduce them to the origins of feminism set in a different realm. Back then, I loved this idea, and I still do. Surely, marketing it was a nightmare in the beginning, but I'm glad I gave it a try.

I’m still unsure whether it's a gift or a curse. I genuinely enjoy the beauty of storytelling and improving my skills as a fiction writer. However, writing isn’t exactly a well-paid or stable job, so I often find myself juggling two jobs to make it possible, which can be exhausting.

I’m not complaining—just stating a fact: not all writers can afford to quit their day jobs, especially if they have children to support and mortgages to pay.

Additionally, not all women have supportive or wealthy partners to afford pursuing creative projects. Modern women often have to choose between working toward their dreams and making a living. Those who find a way to do both and make the effort are my modern-day heroes!

Studying feminism has allowed me to see my own life from a different angle. I place my characters in situations that reflect the challenges many women face today, then provide them with the 'keys'—new knowledge and perspectives—that help them overcome these issues and even make positive changes in their society.

For example, women are often told to prioritize raising children instead of pursuing their dream careers, like becoming dedicated doctors who truly can save lives. Additionally, we’re expected to always be nice and positive, or even silent, instead of expressing how we really feel.

By the way, I realize I’m being a bit more honest in this interview than I might be expected to, but this honesty is what makes me a feminist writer—unearthing unsettling truths. However, I don’t share these truths to displease my readers or make them uncomfortable. Instead, it has the opposite effect: it encourages women to stop being ignorant about the issues that genuinely bother us and inspires the change we so desperately need. I believe we can work together and support each other to transform our world into a better place. Essentially, that's what all my stories are about.

By working hard and relying on discipline and intuition, I've learned to navigate my writing journey. Like many beginning writers, I was aware of the myth of the "creative muse," who supposedly arrives spontaneously to give us a magical nudge to write. Some writers even turn to substances like alcohol or drugs, which leads to the sad reality of creative geniuses who became addicted and left us too early.

I also believed in this myth, and like many, I had no idea how to harness my creative flow.

I’m really grateful to have met my creative coach, the woman who taught my first creative writing class in Canada. Through conversations with her, I learned so many valuable tricks and tips. Perhaps my most significant discovery in storytelling is the power of discipline. I set aside time for writing—usually a 2- to 3-hour window, four days a week. During that time, I just sit and write. Sometimes I work on outlines or develop the magic system, but mostly, I focus on writing the chapters of my story. With practice comes skill, and the story gets written.

In my fantasy world, everyone possesses a "Gift," a magical ability that usually aligns with their personality. For instance, let's consider Lana, my lead character from the Beginning Trilogy. She is a mind-reader, yet she is often told to suppress her Gift to avoid invading others' personal space. However, she uses her ability to track down a criminal and bring him to justice. Additionally, she employs her empathy to help a victim of rape begin to live again. Ultimately, she teaches the girl how to let go of her past by forgiving herself and managing her anger—and not by suppressing it but by using a handy technique.

The silver lining of the story is that everyone has a "Gift," a personality trait that makes us who we are. Often, we are told to suppress these gifts, especially women, but we can harness these natural talents to create a positive difference in our lives and the lives of others—whether it's in the fields of justice, health, education, or anything else that truly matters to us.

During my volunteer work, I met women who faced real issues. In fact, every woman I spoke with had her own story to tell. Their stories, often tragic but ultimately inspirational, deserved to be heard. So, I made them the characters in my stories. For example, Julia, the girl with the Gift of Healing, was inspired by a real woman named Yulia. She was the kindest person I ever met, and she had lost her child to a fatal disease. This heartbreaking experience led her to make a drastic change in her career and become a doctor.

Having witnessed so many stories of recovery from loss, abuse, and other life tragedies, I couldn't help but write about them. Each story I tell is a tale of resilience and hope!

That's a great question. The first story I started writing at the age of 25 was actually my own story. Although I finished Book 1 in my native language, I encountered writer's block when it came to Book 2. I don't want to say the themes were shallow, but the story definitely lacked depth. Then I immigrated and stopped writing altogether for about three years.

However, as I mentioned earlier, the stories of other women inspired me to try again, and I believe this time I’ve managed to reflect deeper themes in my books. As for my own story, I’ve come to realize that my life journey is the best material for my very first tale. Once my main series is complete, I plan to polish it. This new draft will surely include everything I have faced personally, such as the loss of someone I loved deeply and breaking free from toxic relationships.

Based on the reviews I receive, each woman finds something important for herself in my stories, often interpreting different aspects. Some feel inspired by Lana's dedication and courage, while others are touched by her relationship with her father, who loves her so deeply that he is ready to move mountains for her. Sometimes, it’s the spark of a passionate romance unfolding against the backdrop of a thrilling mystery.

What truly matters is that my stories help my readers learn something new and inspire them to pursue their dreams in an engaging way!

The world I built resembles our own, incorporating multiple elements drawn from my research on history and geography. Of course, I added a few magical touches, such as the hierarchy of Gifts, various spells, and, of course, dragons.

Initially, the process was intuitive, like deciding the colors of the spells my characters cast. However, when things started getting messy, I organized everything into an Excel table, which helped me see the structure of magic and gain more clarity about my fantasy world.

All my stories begin with an idea, usually centered around a mystery or a relationship challenge that I find intriguing to explore further. From there, I start building a conflict using my characters. Some of these characters have a good sense of humor, which I believe helps move the plot along and keeps it entertaining.

The social message often serves as an underlying theme that isn't stated directly but is shown throughout the story. This theme usually connects all the chapters. By not stating it explicitly, I aim to allow the reader to discover this message for themselves.

Resilience plays a key role. As Charles Darwin said, "It's not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most adaptable to change."

Darwin developed a theory of evolution, and as someone living in a hectic world that evolves before my eyes, I can assure you that being resilient is an essential skill for survival.

When we get stuck in our regrets and traumas, we are essentially living in the past, which disconnects us from the present and all its possibilities. It’s only when we learn to forgive ourselves and let go of pain that we can truly live our lives to the fullest.

Writing in English has become one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced in life, and I’ve faced quite a lot! What truly helped me was stopping the struggle to figure everything out on my own and instead getting out to meet other writers. It started with writing classes led by professional teachers, followed by joining critique groups with experienced authors. I currently belong to such a group, and chatting with others who share the same passion is incredibly encouraging and insightful!

So, don’t wait for the muse to kick in and stop drowning in a sea of chaotically written sentences. Get out, learn, and seek professional feedback to help you improve your draft. Creative writing isn’t a superpower; it's a skill built through practice!

I love working with AllAuthor for multiple reasons: the website is so user-friendly that even with basic marketing skills, I was able to create a compelling author page and promote my books. I also enjoyed making book mockups; they look professional and polished, and I use them across all my social media platforms. The support team is always available whenever I need assistance.

After years of working with the AllAuthor team, I wholeheartedly recommend this platform to everyone in my writing groups. It’s especially useful for authors with debut novels who are trying to figure out effective ways to promote their work!