R. Leigh's novel, The Winds of Asharra, combines elements of fantasy, romance, mysticism, and philosophy. In this interview, the author talks about her inspiration for the book, the creative process, and her writing habits, among other things. Most interestingly, she stresses the importance of a writer's working environment.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What types of books did you enjoy reading?

Growing up. I read anything and everything, so favorites were changed as frequently as socks, making it difficult to answer. My favorite authors were really more like a variety of appetizers before a meal. My preferences for them would shift depending on my appetite or mood. One day, it might be the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs if my pulp adventure sweet tooth was calling me. The next day, I might be craving something inspiring like Lost Horizon by James Hilton. In general though, even with such a smorgasbord, my tastes ran toward the hopeful, the noble or the larger than life in the fantasy or science fiction genres. That having been said, it's not surprising I ended up with a focus on the positive, mystical, fantasy and philosophical elements and attempted to create my own literary delicacy that included all of these ingredients.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

My current novel is called The Winds of Asharra and it is a 600 page opus that is a bit difficult to classify. It has more than enough fantasy elements (intelligent trees, evolved felines, musical dragons, etc.) to be considered a fantasy, but enough raw sizzle to be seen as a romance (with multiple happy couples by the end). It also spends considerable time outlining a complicated yet positive alien philosophy and culture. Yet, apart from all of those elements, it is a journey of self discovery really, both for the characters, certainly for myself and perhaps for the readers as well. As far as inspiration goes, I spent many years studying a variety of diverse cultures, religions and societies. Frequently, I would rejoice over the discovery of some little “nugget” of wisdom or example that people could really be in harmony with their world and be happy. However, the more tidbits I amassed, the more I felt ultimately unsatisfied, since the result was a crazy patchwork that didn’t quite fit together.