A. L. Lester

A. L. Lester likes to read. Her favourite books are post-apocalyptic dystopian romances full of suspense, but a cornflake packet will do there's nothing else available. The gender of the characters she likes to read (and write) is pretty irrelevant so long as they are strong, interesting people on a journey of some kind. She has a chaotic family life and small children, and she has become the person in the village who looks after the random animals people find in the road. She is interested in permaculture gardening and anything to do with books, reading, technology and history. She lives in a small village in rural Somerset and is seriously allergic to both rabbits and Minecraft.

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Reflections on a Theme

September 11, 2019September 7, 2019 by A. L. Lester

Last month’s blog post about My Creative Process™ has handily led me on to this month’s and an issue I’m having with The Flowers of Time, my main work in progress. Flowers is a f/enby romance between Edie and Jones, set in the Himalayas in the 1780s. This was a new historical period and geographical location for me when I started it nearly twelve months ago and it’s been extremely interesting to research. It’s also the first thing I have written with a trans MC and as such it’s been strange to write. Not in a bad way… but just… strange. Jones is AFAB and non-binary, or possible agender. She … Read more

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Creative Process. It’s a thing.

August 21, 2019August 15, 2019 by A. L. Lester

Apologies for being a bit late with my post this month- school holidays are really disruptive routine-wise. This is possibly why I’ve been giving some thought to my creative process over the past few weeks. I’ve got an amazing ability to take on too much and at the moment that means two active works in progress. (What were you thinking you fool? do I hear you cry? Or is that just my inner self?) I’m serializing one work for subscribers to my monthly newsletter and ko-fi and chipping away steadily at a second ‘proper’ work. They are both set in my Lost in Time universe, but are a hundred and … Read more

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Author Expectations Versus Reality

August 15, 2019July 4, 2019 by A. L. Lester

I’ve been writing one way and another since Miss Lowe told me off for using ‘again and again’ repetitively in my story about a man climbing a mountain circa 1978. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought of myself as ‘a writer’ or an ‘author’. It was always something I was going to become in my future. I’m nearly fifty now and my first book was published about eighteen months ago with JMS Books. My second was published this year, I have two ‘official’ works in progress in the same series and two more in my head. The future is here… but I still don’t really feel like a ‘proper’ … Read more

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Introducing Myself: Being Semi-Closeted in Rural England

August 15, 2019June 6, 2019 by A. L. Lester

Scott asked for writers to step up and do some blogging for the QRI site, so here I am – I can waffle for a good thousand words at a time on pretty much any given subject! I’d be delighted if people wanted to ask me things or give me a topic, so please leave a comment or email me if you have any questions or topics for me to work with. I reckon I have time to write once a month, give or take. Firstly, who am I and how have I come to be here? Well, I’m Ally and I live in the rural south-west of the UK, … Read more

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Summary: Autumn 1989 begins as a season of loss for Handyman Ed and his life partner Rick. Their dear friend Doug passes away after a losing battle with AIDS. Effie Maude, the longtime Penfield Manor housekeeper, announces her retirement. Ed and Rick are exhausted and mournful, and despite the advice of friends and family, determined to continue with their regular responsibilities. Little things suddenly become big deals as they struggle to cope with the daily activities at Penfield Manor, and the result is an unfamiliar distance between them. Unexpected houseguests, the trials and tribulations of their foster son Rex, and a new overbearing client of Ed’s with murky intentions complicate their lives even more as they struggle to deal with their loss and find their way back to each other. Fortunately, Ed and Rick do not lack for good friends and compassionate families. While Ed’s mother Norma is preoccupied with her new cookie enterprise, the rest of the family and their friends Gordy, Pete, Muriel, and Dr. Paul are always available for companionship, advice, and the occasional kick in the butt. Ed may be balding, Rick may be covering his gray, and they might argue about who has the worse eyesight, but the genuine love and respect they share for each other enables them to survive the surprises and storms both inside and out through the final months of 1989 and come through it all, ready to meet a new decade.