JLee Meyer utilizes her background in psychology and speech pathology in her work as an international communications consultant. Spending time in airports, planes and hotel rooms allows her the opportunity to pursue two of her favorite passions: reading and writing lesbian fiction.

JLee, her life partner, and Bo, the wonder dog, celebrate their lives together on the east and west coasts of the US. Her website is www.jleemeyer.com and Bo has her own blog.

What do you consider to be your biggest writing inspiration?

The field of lesbian fiction. I used to read mysteries non-stop, never a romance because they were straight and I couldn’t identify with the characters. Then I discovered a few mainstream authors with lesbian characters and read everything I could find. I searched Amazon for anything resembling strong female characters, preferably two who fell in love. It was so validating. I stumbled across Meridio’s Daughter by LJ Maas and followed her to online writing and I was on my way. I devoured anything I could find that talked about my community, my life. I read some not-so-good stuff, too, but I read it anyway. I wanted to add to the growing body of lesbian literature and I wanted it to be good. I started writing and found a new respect for anyone who tried to turn out a story, any story. It certainly wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

Which authors, past and present have had the biggest influence on you?

As a kid I browsed through my grandmothers books when visiting and used to read Betty MacDonald because she was so funny, even in the face of tragedy. I also liked Cornelia Otis Skinner, When Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (wow, was that prophetic). Charlotte and Emily Bronte were favorites, and Ayn Rand’s We, the Living. As far as lesbian works, Lisa Alther is wonderful. Have you ever read Kinflicks? Of course, Rita Mae Brown and Katherine Forrest. Curious Wine was a major influence when I was coming out. Now there are so many – Radclyffe, Nicola Griffith, Rose Beecham/Jennifer Fulton/Grace Lennox, J M Redmann, Rachel York, Karin Kallmaker, Gun Brooke, L J Maas, Kiera Dellacroix. I absolutely love a good read. Forgive me if I’ve left your favorites out.

What has been your experience so far with the publishing industry?

Very positive. Every person I have dealt with at BSB has been professional and supportive, and all seem dedicated to improving our works. I have been helped through my first editing experience by Jennifer Knight and all the women at BSB. I also have fellow authors with extraordinary talent, and, best of all, Radclyffe is my publisher. She is generous with her knowledge and strives to make everyone a success. She has high expectations for us and I will do my best to meet them. I feel Rad wants to raise the bar for reader’s expectations, benefiting the field in general. This experience has already made me a much-improved writer, and I’m hoping my second book, First Instinct, will meet or exceed the first. That said, I am also having a terrific time!

What about the romance genre holds special appeal for you?

You know, it’s an interesting question. I would have told you a year ago that I wasn’t interested in romances. Of course, I gobbled up every book by, Radclyffe, Kallmaker and Beecham, but I wasn’t interested. I thought I would write action adventure where the girl eventually got the girl but only after saving the world and going through hell to do it. I discovered that, in lesbian fiction, the romance was really the most important piece to me. To tell Dana and Keri’s story was such a joy. I was able to write a sweet love story, one that I am very proud of. It was a fantastic experience.

Your first book, Forever Found, was just released, and a second, First Instinct is forthcoming in November 2006. Had you finished both books before approaching a publisher?

Yes. Forever Found was written in a rough draft. Well, rough to them, I had been over it many times. BSB wanted a romance, so that’s what I gave them. I had also completed First Instinct and the edits are going faster now because of my experience with Forever Found. I am currently readying the sequel to First Instinct for submission. It’s also completed but in need of my own editing before I send it to BSB.

Most authors I know are terrible procrastinators—do you like to indulge in this activity yourself?

Ohhhh yessss. But not much with writing. My partner would tell you I will dive into my writing to procrastinate on other projects and she’d be right. Writing is what I most enjoy. As an example- It seems like I’m always waiting in line; at the grocery store, to get on a plane, etc. The time flies by when I turn my attention to a scene in a manuscript that I’ve been tinkering with. I have solved a lot of plot problems while waiting in line.

What's your writing space like? Do you have specific rituals you adhere to when working?

I have a writing room. I try to keep it uncluttered and free of distractions but I’m not always successful. To the left of the desk is a bookcase full of my favorite authors’ books. Now I have my own book on the BSB shelf – I’m still in shock. My desk is a roll top and in that is my laptop. The desk faces a window that looks out to our backyard, which is full of flowers and trees. I love it. I write best early in the morning before anyone is stirring. I have a cup of tea-I brew it-by my side. I particularly need the early quiet time and the ritual of the tea if I am writing a new scene, or in a difficult edit, because I have to drop completely into the manuscript. If I’m on a roll, I just keep going into the day, at least until the dog demands a belly rub or my partner announces an impending divorce if we don’t spend at least a short while together. But a few hours to write every day makes me feel happy and productive.

How do you think mainstream publishers relate to queer writers? Is there still a hesitancy to publish stories with GLBT characters?

If you mean GLBT main characters in fiction, I’m pretty sure they still don’t know what to do with us. They either think there’s not a big enough audience to make money off of our books, or they are afraid of backlash against them for daring to publish a book with gay characters. The day is coming when the writing is so good, that the fact the leads are women will be secondary. Once a publisher takes a chance and is successful, others will follow.

Tell us something about JLee Meyer no one else knows…

I love a really well made Manhattan. I don’t have them often, but do enjoy a good one. And I meditate. Not necessarily in that order.

If you were a book, what would its title be?

Do It Anyway.

What do you consider to be your best and worst attributes?

Best: Persistence and patience. Once I commit (that’s the catch), there is no turning back. I am also very loyal and trustworthy. My partner added those. Hmm. Sounds like a dog. Honey? Worst: Procrastination we’ve talked about. And I sometimes ask way too many questions. I’m curious, ya know? Another, the flip side of persistence, would be knowing when to cut one’s losses and move on. I am working on flexibility. Life requires it.

Does writer's block exist or is it just another fragment of an overactive imagination?

If writer’s block means a period where you aren’t inspired to write, yes, it exists. There are also times when I’ll write a scene and end up deleting the whole thing because it’s awful. But that usually leads to something better. The main thing is to write. The way I usually solve writing dilemmas is to take Bolero, our dog, for a walk. Or rather, she takes me for a walk. She’s always got good suggestions and isn’t afraid to share them.

What are you currently reading?

I just finished Turn Back Time by Radclyffe and Winter House by Carol O’Connell. I am beginning Sword of the Guardian by Merry Shannon. I had never read much Science Fiction or Fantasy before and a whole new world opened up when I ventured into Jane Fletcher’s work as well as Gun Brooke’s newest sci-fi, Protector of the Realm. I also have Gerri Hill’s latest (not fantasy) lined up to read.

What's the biggest challenge for you personally about being a writer?

Two things come to mind.

The first is improving my craft. I want each work to be better than the last. I want to make my editor’s job easier, not more difficult. I love writing, it gives me such pleasure and peace. And I really love learning more about it.

The second is finding the time. I write best in the morning. I try to be up by five thirty to make my tea and sit with my work and begin. Then the day takes over. I’m a consultant, so sometimes I have more time, and other days are lost to the real world. If I’m in edits, like now with First Instinct, I try to work through them as diligently as possible. If I get stumped, I leave the computer and clean or run errands or walk the dog and let it percolate. The answer is usually rattling around in there somewhere.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers trying to get their break in publishing?

Read authors from various publishing houses and pick the ones you admire and relate to. Go to their websites, both authors and publishers, and check them out.

Read the submission guidelines for the various publishing houses.

Attend a convention like the Golden Crown Literary Society’s con in Atlanta in June. If you can, go to the master classes taught by some of your favorite authors. I’m moderating a panel at GCLS titled “Famous At Last”. Four first time authors (from various publishers and one with self-publishing experience), Radclyffe (publisher) and Jennifer Knight (editor). It’s designed to address just this question.

Enter author challenges on some of the sites like Academy of Bards or Radclyffe’s group. I’m sure there are others, I just don’t know who they are.

Make sure your work is as clean as it can be. Get beta reader(s) to help you make it better.

Don’t be discouraged by a rejection. Some publishers will tell you why they are turning it down and then you can fix it. At the least you will know more than you did before.

Posting online might help but I never could get up the courage to do so.

Above all, don’t ever kid yourself that you don’t need an editor. You do.