This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author whose stories deliver swoony heroes and fierce heroines—Leslie Hachtel. If you love romantic suspense, you’re in for a treat.
Leslie Hachtel is known for writing strong heroines who are as tough as they are smart and passionate. Their latest release, Killings Most Notorious, is a romance between two very different detectives that will have you rooting for the couple from page one.
In this spotlight, Leslie Hachtel shares why she wrote this book and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Killings Most Notorious.
Whether you write love stories, devour them, or dream of doing both—you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it and give a warm welcome to Leslie Hachtel.💖
Let’s jump straight into the interview.
Leslie, what’s your typical writing routine like—do you write with emotion or outline first?
I am definitely a pantser, so I create the background and the characters and then let them take the reins.
What romance tropes do you love to write—and which ones do you avoid?
There are so many I love: historical, time travel, romantic suspense. But I do avoid Regency since that is simply not my personal favorite to read.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Don’t quit. If writing is your passion, then continue to write. It is rare that an author doesn’t face rejection and criticism, but if you have a story to tell, stay true to that.
Which books or authors have influenced you the most?
My first romance was written by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and I loved it. But now I read everything from small town to horror to historical to romantasy. I don’t think you can be a very good writer unless you read.
What are you working on next?
Right now I am working on a contemporary set in a veterinary hospital.
Do you have a dream project you hope to write someday?
I want to write a book about ghosts. I’m not sure about anything more than that right now.
How do you see the publishing industry changing in the next few years?
With the introduction of Indy publishing, the entire industry changed. That’s both good and bad. More wonderful authors have the opportunity to publish, but the guidelines are looser and sometimes less-than-wonderful books end up on the shelves.
Are there any genres you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?
I think I’d like to try horror and maybe an autobiography.
What do you hope your legacy as a writer will be?
That people read my books and they made them happy.
Thank you, Leslie.
BIO:
Leslie Hachtel has been working since she was fifteen and her various jobs have included licensed veterinary technician, caterer, horseback riding instructor for the disabled and advertising media buyer, which have all given her a wealth of experiences.
However, it has been writing that has consistently been her passion. She is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning author who has written twenty romance novels, including historical, time travel, and romantic suspense.
Leslie now lives in Maryland with her very supportive husband, and her writing buddy, Josie, the doodle.
Leslie loves to hear from readers.
I hope you loved getting to know Leslie Sachtel and learning of her latest release, Killings Most Notorious. If you haven’t added her books to your TBR yet, now’s the time—trust me, you won’t want to miss them. 💖
You can connect with Leslie here:
🌐 Website: https://www.lesliehachtel.com/
📧 Blog: http://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com
🛒 Grab her books: Amazon
Thank you for joining me in spotlighting a fellow author who’s giving us all the feels. Stay tuned for more author features, book talks, and behind-the-scenes romance goodness.
Until next time—keep reading, keep swooning! 💖