We chat with author Mackenzi Lee about Lady Like, which follows two women who set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming enemies, they find themselves falling in love—though not with him.
Hi, Mackenzi! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey hi, I’m Mackenzi! I write fun historical fiction and nonfiction books that feature characters who do not usually get to be the stars of narratives set in the past. I live in Los Angeles, have worked as an independent bookseller for 10+ years, drink too much Diet Coke, and pet every dog I meet.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I loved reading as a kid, and being an author was an early career aspiration as a result (I recently discovered a bunch of childhood journals where I wrote a lot about not just wanting to be an author, but wanting to be ***famous*** so). But I thought I was bound for academia and a life of a historian. After college, I had to find my way back to reading fiction and reading for fun when I was traveling Europe and trying to entertain myself in airports and bus stations. The love of writing came back with it.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Jedi Apprentice series by Jude Watson
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Bloody Jack by LA Meyer, because I am always thinking about how I wish I could make a career writing Jacky Faber fanfiction
Your latest novel, Lady Like, is out September 9th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
- Regency
- Shakespeare
- Horses
- Duels
- Lesbians
What can readers expect?
Romance! Fun! History! Queer main characters but no homophobia! A giant dog with no spatial awareness! Balls! Banter! Sappho! Shakespeare! London!
Where did the inspiration for Lady Like come from?
Watching (and loving!) season one of Bridgerton with the rest of the world, but wondering why, in a world that played fast and loose with historical accuracy, sexuality seemed to be the final frontier. In a diverse regency England, why was everyone still overwhelmingly heterosexual? I’m hoping this will change in the show, since it’s the most visible regency property of the current moment, but until then, I thought I’d do something about it myself!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of the main characters, Harry, is an actress in a troop made up entirely of women who perform bad, bawdy Shakespeare. I love Shakespeare, and getting to incorporate so many references and allusions and jokes to and from his plays delighted me. It also created great parallels with Harry’s gender and the general gender fuckery of Shakespeare in general. It was a characterizing detail I initially threw in to amuse myself, and it ended up adding a whole new dimension to her character.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Writing any book is just a series of challenges. It’s hard and exhausting and consumes your brain and makes you doubt yourself and feel crazy. But for me, the joy of the work is what gets me through all the challenges. Writing is hard, but it’s so fun. And when it’s good, it’s so good.
This is your adult debut! Were there any shifts or new approaches to your planning and writing?
Honestly, no! I just didn’t have to edit out the jokes I usually make and then have to cut in my YA books.
What’s next for you?
I am working on an IP project for an upcoming film, a tv adaptation of a book I love, and a new YA historical fiction series. Maybe more adult historical romances in the future as well!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
There are a bunch of great queer regency novels coming out this year that I’m excited about – particularly Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vashti.
I just finished The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare, the second book in the Chronicles of Castellane. Giant fantasy tomes aren’t usually my thing but I have enjoyed the hell out of these and will follow this series where ever it goes.
