From author and body-positive activist Leah Vernon comes The Union, a daring dystopian novel that explores the power of friendship in a future society built on violence and division.
Hi, Leah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! So, I go by Leah V because it just sounds cool. Like a superhero. Other than being an author, I’m a body-positive activist, a plus-size Hijabi model, and an inclusive content creator. I basically get to create everything from visuals to written text for a living. A pretty cool gig if you ask me.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I’ve been writing Sci-Fi for a really long time now ever since Reading Rainbow captivated me at the tender age of 6. I fell in love with the art and power of storytelling. I knew that whatever I did in life, it’d have to encompass the art of story. My first book—which I still have the original of—was entitled “The Prince and the Princes”. Although it didn’t win Levar Burton’s writing contest, it sparked a flame in me that’s burned ever since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Ah! Great question. The first book I ever read was probably a book from the Goosebump’s Series by R.L. Stein.
The books that made me become an author were for sure those in the Harry Potter series.
The one that I couldn’t stop thinking about was the Chronicles of Narnia, and I will cheat a little by adding another—a book called Freak the Mighty.
Your debut novel, The Union, is out December 1st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
I couldn’t make a sentence, so I elected to use five separate words instead: raw, epic, uncomfortable, jarring, and gritty.
What can readers expect?
They can expect an epic journey from two sides of the class system. They can expect to be grabbed by the collar and jerked around a bit. This story blurs the lines of good and bad, right and wrong.
Where did the inspiration for The Union come from?
LV: I’ve always been an avid reader of Sci-Fi and dystopian novels. The issue was that I never saw people who looked like me in the future. I never saw authors of these worlds look like me either. So, I wrote what I wanted to see, to read. I wanted to be represented in the future, and I think other people, readers deserve to see that, too.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
LV: How much time do you have? Ha! So many challenges. The biggest was finding a home –publisher—for The Union. It was rejected quite a bit over the years as I tried to get it on shelves.
The second biggest obstacle was writing a story that hadn’t really been told in this particular way before. The themes and topics in the book are so big. It was painful to write at times because it hit home.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
My favorite parts are the fight scenes. I grew up practicing Tae Kwon Do, so I got to really add those elements to the scenes and make them pop off the page.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
It takes a lot of patience. A lot of waiting. Revising. Beta readers. Creative writing classes. Lots of adding and cutting and cutting then adding. The road has not been an easy one but one that has humbled me. I am grateful that I’m here and able to write stories that matter.
What’s next for you?
Turn something—a book or a script—into a movie! That’s what I’m manifesting as next for me.
Thanks for having me! Love this article.
Is there going to be a sequel?? 😁