From Pen to Print: Georgia Leighton on Maiden

The Book: From Pen to Print

What was the genesis of this book? Where did you get the idea from?

With my first novel, Spellbound, I reimagined the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty from the perspectives of five women, centering their agency and inner worlds. I enjoyed doing this immensely, building a fantastical world with which to weave in elements of the original fairytale. I wanted to do this again with my second novel, choosing a different country in the realm I’d created in which to set the story and a new cast of characters. I’ve always felt drawn to the Legend of St George and the Dragon, and I was excited about how this could be reimagined from the perspectives of women—lady knights! I grew up loving Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet and Robin McKinley’s Hero and the Crown, and I think these influenced what Maiden became.

How many drafts did you go through? How long did that take you?

I wrote the first draft in just over a year, while I was on maternity leave with my second child. I squeezed micro writing stints into naptimes and daydreamed about lady knights, cunning princesses and ancient dragons the rest of the time. In that first draft, I’d created a split time narrative that jumped forward and backward in phases… but with three points of view in the narrative already, my editor rightly pointed out that this wasn’t working. So we had to overhaul the structure and rejig scenes along the way. This was daunting and took a further six months, but then, finally, Maiden was ready for print.

Did you work with beta and/or sensitivity readers? How did you find them? How did you incorporate their feedback?

My family always read my work and give me gentle but very honest feedback. My mum likes to point out when a metaphor doesn’t work, my sister likes to tell me the narrative needs more romance, and my husband interrogates my fantasy lore with laser-like attention.

Once it was in the hands of your publisher, what was the process to get it ready for release?

From signing the publication deal for Spellbound to it being published took almost two years—things in publishing take time! I worked on the manuscript with the brilliant editor, Imogen Nelson, at Transworld for six months after it was acquired, then we went through the copy-editing process and proofing process before it was ready to make its way out into the world. Maiden was faster, but that still took over a year. 

And now your book is unleashed on the world! How are you feeling?

Nervous! I felt the same way about Spellbound. You passionately hope that readers will enjoy your story and feel as entranced and invested in the characters and the world as you do, but it’s no longer under your control.

What would you like us to know about this book?

Who’s the ideal reader for this one? What sort of things do they like to read about?

If you grew up reading the work of Robin McKinley, Tamora Pierce and/or Juliet Marillier, then I think you’d like Spellbound and Maiden. The legendary Juliet Marillier actually gave me an endorsement for Maiden! I still can’t really believe it. She said: “Maiden interweaves the stories of three very different women. Rich in folkloric elements and full of surprises, this is a powerful tale of women finding their true selves. Highly recommended!”

Your Writing Process 

Are you a plotter or pantser or somewhere in between? How do you do your first draft?

I think I’m somewhere in between. I’d like to be a proper plotter, but sometimes the characters/story take unexpected turns and you just have to go with it. 

How do you approach writing? Are you the type of writer who needs to treat it like a job? Is there a particular time of day you find best for you to write?

With a day job and small children to take care of, I just have to fit writing in when I can. That means writing in naptimes at weekends, in the evening after the working day is done, or during my commute into work. It feels a bit chaotic, but every few hundred words here and there eventually builds into a finished story. And I genuinely love writing.

Where do you work? Do you have a comfy, creative space at home or are you someone who has to grab the moment wherever it comes?

I write whenever and wherever I get the time—in the car with a sleeping child in the backseat, on the floor of my daughter’s bedroom while waiting for her to fall asleep, etc. One day I’d love to have a dedicated writing space, but that’s the reality for now. 

What’s your writing soundtrack?

At the moment, I’m writing book three (arh!) which is set in another country in the fantasy world I created for Spellbound and Maiden. The landscape is similar to the Scottish Highlands and Islands so when I need to get in the right headspace, I’ll listen to a selection of Celtic-inspired music.

Do you have a writing ritual?

I can write anytime and anywhere, but I prefer to have a hot beverage on hand. Particularly a strong cup of brewed loose-leaf tea.

Where can we follow you / find out more about your work?

You can follow me on Instagram @georgialeightonauthor where I make silly reel about books and writing. And you can find out more about my books on my website: georgialeightonauthor.com

Maiden is out now through Bantam