Q&A: LeeSha Shay, Author of ‘Suckers’

We chat with author LeeSha Shay about Suckers, which is darker than Twilight and sharper than Euphoria, and this steamy vampire romantasy will have you thirsting for more.

Hi, LeeSha! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hello! I’m LeeSha Shay, mother to 4, and I live in Milton Keynes in the UK. I love gaming with my kids—Fortnite and Roblox mainly. I’m also the author of several books, all featuring powerful diverse characters, which I’m extremely passionate about. Representation is a big motivator for me, especially when it comes to my work. I truly believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and we all deserve to see ourselves in the arts.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Growing up, I wrote song lyrics, which is where my love of writing began. I’d spend a lot of time alone in my room listening to music, and I would write my own lyrics about how I was feeling. My desire to write love stories came much later in 2012 after binge-reading for a month. However, I didn’t see one character in those books who looked like me, and after a dream I had, my first book was born. Since then, I’ve used my own personal life experiences to teach others how to overcome many things, all wrapped up in romance. I love love!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Goosebumps!
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Darkwoods Trilogy by J. A. Redmerski
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

Your latest novel, Suckers, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Friendship. Angsty. Bloody. Steamy. Shocking.

What can readers expect?

To be taken on an adventure—especially with their hearts. Lots of twists and turns. Poor Gabrielle doesn’t have a clue about what she is, so we all go through that epic revelation with her. Then you add blood, lust, and boys to the mix, and you can imagine how messy things get! But I also love how you think you know what’s coming, but you really don’t. There’s lots of self-discovery and acceptance in the book, too. Oh, and be prepared to choose a side!

Where did the inspiration for Suckers come from?

Well, I was actually approached by my lovely editor with the idea for Suckers. She gave me a brief, and after I read it, I thought it was a brilliant idea. Diverse romance is so dear to my heart, and I loved being able to include so many different cultures in this book. The brief did change quite a bit, and I was given creative freedom to explore all of the characters and add ones. Once I started, the story really took on a life of it’s own, and I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to write it.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved so many of the characters, but I think Maria should get a special shout out because of how she supported Gabrielle. She’s such a girl’s girl, and their freiendship was so beautiful to me. I also loved diving into all the folklore. The legends of all the different types of vampires were so thrilling to explore. I don’t want to say too much, but there was a scene where one of the characters showed their true self, and I still think about it often.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I would say my biggest challenge was remembering that these characters are types of vampires, not actual vampires as many of us think of them. Research was a big part of this story, and although slight changes had to be made, I tried my best to be respectful to each culture I drew inspiration from.

What’s next for you?

More stories! I always have a new character trying to push themselves to the front of the queue of my never ending list of storylines.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’ve really slacked on my reading over the past few months because of how busy I’ve been, but there are quite a few I’m excited to dive into now things are a little calmer. Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron was an immediate add to my to-be-read list, and so was The Bell’s Toll by Tiya Rayne. I’ll be jumping into those two first.

Will you be picking up Suckers? Tell us in the comments below!