All about the novel Marked, Book Three in the Morningstar Academy series
Who is L.R.W. Lee?
USA Today Bestselling author LRW Lee writes genre bending fantasy romance stories that address difficult topics relevant to readers in real life. While targeting YA, heavier topics and intricate world-building appeal strongly to adult fantasy readers.
What is Marked about?
Despite their best efforts, fallen angel Gladriel, her new fallen friends, and her former squadron mates have had limited success shifting the world ending prophecy and they feel increasingly helpless as war, famine, plague, and hyperinflation rage, killing millions of the humans they are committed to protecting.
With conditions worsening on Earth, celestial warriors are kept increasingly busy aiding humans, making Kessien less and less available. At the same time, Morningstar Academy forces Glad to do increasingly heinous things to humans,
and the distance stretches their relationship to the breaking point.
Glad and her fallen friends’ only hope for rescue is to throw themselves on the Almighty’s mercy and beg him to reverse their sentences. Trouble is, Glad will never be sorry for avenging her BFF’s honor, against his explicit orders. So when her friends promise to never abandon her for their own safety, she finds it unbearable to be the cause of their impending doom along with her own.
Interview
What was your inspiration for Marked?
Marked is book three in the Morningstar Academy series, of which there will be four books. My inspiration for Morningstar Academy is the news. I don’t about you but whenever I watch the news, it makes me anxious. I wrote this series to help my readers take a step back and get some perspective concerning what’s making everything feel upside down, then give hope that things will one day make sense again.
What can readers expect from Destroyed?
LOL. Didn’t Shakespeare ask, what’s in a name? Well, the title says it all. But as I alluded to in my answer to the previous question, hope endures despite calamity, in Morningstar Academy. The series will wrap up with a bow, concluding all those story arcs in a way I hope readers will find satisfying.
What drew you to writing?
C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. I was fascinated by Lewis’s multi-layered approach to telling stories. He wrote of 1) then-current day London, 2) the magical fantasy world of Narnia and coupled it with a 3) significant meaning layer under girding the whole. My brain latched on to this way of writing and took it in a myriad of directions beyond “normal” fantasy, applying it to writing about difficult topics in sensitive ways.
Because of this beginning, I write genre-bending fantasy romance stories that address difficult topics relevant to readers in real life. While targeting YA, heavier topics and intricate world-building appeal strongly to adult fantasy readers.
How did you choose which character to centre the story around?
I’m a story engineer so knowing how I wanted the plot of the Morningstar Academy series to unfold I thought about the types of characters that could create that. For example, pairing a character who is protective with someone who is more of a free spirit can create conflict which moves the action forward. So, Gladriel a free-spirited character was born from a need for her to defend good in the world despite the opposition of evil. She is paired with Kessien, her protective squadron leader, producing a few conflicts that make both of them grow and change throughout the series.
What was your process for writing Marked?
One pet peeve of mine is tossing words so I create a detailed chapter outline first. Plotting this way avoids tossing words for the most part. As well, it ensures each chapter has a purpose in the overall story arc and readers can see progress toward an outcome. That said, sometimes my characters surprise me as I’m writing—they get ornery at times—and refuse to go the way I envisioned. When that happens I give them some leeway and explore so they feel like they have some input into their stories. I’m no tyrant lol.
What is your approach to world and character building?
Readers rave about my world building as well as my character relatability.
“The world building is spectacular – I have never seen heaven/hell/angels/demons portrayed in this way and I was truly captivated by it.” – Michelle VanDaley, Amazon Reviewer
“The world building is amazing, so different from other books I have read; the plot is so mysterious and intriguing and the characters, awesome!!! – Nat Navarro, Amazon Reviewer
My approach is to paint vivid images of the world that I would enjoy spending time in with characters that I can easily relate to.
How would you describe Marked in five words?
Intense and vivid with sweet romance
Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?
I have to say it was when the love interests hit a significant conflict. I can’t go into detail or it will spoil things but yes. That moment was raw and vulnerable for both of them. These are the moments in a story where characters grow the most so it’s always my favorite.
What was your favourite book growing up?
Hands down The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis for the reasons mentioned earlier.
Do you have a favourite genre to read?
I enjoy reading fantasy romance so it makes sense that’s what I would enjoy writing. That said, I love bending genres to create my own unique stories. For example, the Morningstar Academy series is a blend of contemporary romance, epic fantasy, academy fantasy and apocalyptic fiction, with a bit of sweet romance mixed in.
What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?
I run on coffee! What more can I say??? LOL
Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favourite music?
I can’t write if there’s any noise in the background LOL. I get too distracted. And it’s even worse if there are lyrics in a song… oh boy! If that happens I’m singing not working ☺
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