It is very exciting to have CressAndLeigh with us to feature their book »Once Upon a Lie« as our book of the month! Underneath you can find the next interview where we talked about the authors and their story!

AUTHOR BIOS

CRESS
Holland Cress is a modern-day fairytale-creating author who loves to sprinkle in romance wherever she can in her creations. Because who doesn't love Love? When not writing, Cress can be found standing in a foot of sawdust grooming her horses, playing "chase" with her German Shepherd puppy, singing Punk-Rock with her bird, or lounging around with a book in hand and cold brew in the other.

LEIGH
Madi Leigh is a multi-genre writer who loves experimenting with blending multiple genres into a single body of work. When not writing, she's searching for liminal spaces while hiking with her three dogs, cheering on the Atlanta Braves during baseball season with her husband, or lurking around local bookstores with some form of caffeine in hand.

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PREMISE

When best friends Claire and Jo wake up trapped in a fantasy romance novel, Claire thinks it's a dream come true while Jo knows it's her worst nightmare - especially after they are almost killed by a monster and end up on the wrong end of a handsome prince's sword. In order to pass through the mythical world of Larnwick, they must explain away their sudden and strange appearance by claiming to be royalty from another kingdom. Together, they must tackle the new fictional world they've found themselves in, which is currently in the throes of the Autumnal Festival, where tournaments and markets are held daily and elegant seasonal-themed balls are nightly. While Claire finally becomes the heroine of her own story, Jo might just become the villain when she makes a deal with the novel's antagonist to get back home.

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TEASER

"Oh my God," Claire whispered. Even more chills stuttered through me, forming goosebumps over my skin. She straightened up, her eyes wide. "Jo, we're not in South Carolina -"

"No way," I retorted, because now was the time to be sarcastic when she hurled out a statement like that.

"No, you don't get it!" she said. "We're - We're in Velein -"

"Vuh-what?"

"Velein!" she exclaimed. "It's - It's the place from my book. These mushrooms don't grow anywhere else. I looked them up one time..."

Leave it to Claire to look up fun facts about mushrooms, but that still didn't make things any clearer. "Um, Claire... maybe you hit your head -"

"Oh my God," she gasped again. She reached into her purse and pulled out the book in question. "The book! Right before we fell, don't you remember it lighting up and - and holy crap, Jo -"

Snap.

Claire froze. I spun toward the sound. It was only then that I realized it was easy to pinpoint because the birds stopped singing. It was dead silent.

Something moved from behind the trees.

"Jo," Claire uttered again. She grappled onto my arm as I stepped back into her, never turning my back on the sound. "Jo -"

A long limb planted itself out from behind a tree. It settled on the ground with a thud. I stopped breathing. Then it swayed out from behind the tree, like long grass blowing in the wind.

It was tall, towering over us, with veined skin covering a skeletal body. Moss draped from it in scraggly patches. Pale, unseeing eyes leered at us from a massive, triangular head.

I'd never seen anything like it before, but that didn't stop me from trying to figure out what it was. Maybe it looked closest to a deer, if its back wasn't arched so high, like a scared cat. And if it's head wasn't so big, or lopsided, or -

Claire gripped my arm tight, nails digging into my skin through my jacket. "Stay quiet," she hissed. The... thing shuddered, making both of us jump. Its focus settled on us.

Then it moved.

Like a predator, it tipped forward and down into a crouch, all its long limbs compacting and groaning with the effort. A raspy breath shuddered out of it, laced with something pitched higher, reminding me of my own lungs. They burned with the need to breathe - breathe! - that I had to lose my breath. It tore out of me raggedly. The... thing let out another airy breath. I realized it was supposed to be a hiss.

We were going to die.

The monster charged.

But someone else did, too.

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INTERVIEW

1. How did you start writing on Wattpad?

CRESS: I started off as a silent reader on Wattpad! I didn't know to vote and was scared at the idea of commenting, but eventually, I saw the impact it had on authors when readers took the time to engage with their stories. Eventually, on my individual account, I started leaving comment spams showing how much I loved the stories I was reading, eventually cultivating a sort of community because of my comments. I actually met Madi that way! Then, after gaining confidence on the platform as a reader, I wanted to share the stories I had locked away on my computer for my eyes only.

LEIGH: I've had experience writing on story-sharing platforms in the past, and ended up on Wattpad because I love how engaged you can be as a writer with your audience. I love the inline comments and how easy it is to connect with writers and readers just as passionate about storytelling as I am. I started here with an individual account, where I wrote a New Adult SFF novel called A War of Fate and Choice that was featured on Wattpad and was shortlisted in the 2018 Wattys. Most importantly, though, this is the platform where Holland Cress and I met, became friends, and now writing partners.

2. What was the inspiration for your book "Once Upon a Lie"? If you could describe your story in only three words, what would they be?

CRESS: The funny thing about this story is it wasn't going to be this story at all. At least, not at first. We had at least three other ideas that mashed our individual skill sets and beloved tropes as writers, such as adventure, romance, and the sunshine/cynical trope (just to name a few); but after I made a joke about wishing I could live in my favorite book, our eyes lit up over FaceTime, and we came up with the concept of two best friends literally falling into a book.

LEIGH: We wanted to write something that showed off our skillset as individual writers, and how we could create something new when we put them together. We were inspired by the idea of writing about best friends (because obviously) that were polar opposites, who use their differences to their advantage... until they suddenly can't. Then it just became about framing the rest of the book with all the things we like: music, autumn, and books.

3. Which details or scenes in "Once Upon a Lie" are most unique and interesting?

CRESS: I think what makes this story unique as a whole is the difference in reactions to the characters' environment. While my character Claire feels excitement for falling into her favorite book and getting to interact with it and be a more authentic version of herself, Madi's character Jo is the realist of the situation, is extremely uncomfortable, and wants to problem solve, which you'll learn is very different from their "normal" reactions in the real world.

LEIGH: I believe what's most interesting about this book is the fact that our main characters are so different. Their experiences and goals literally counteract the others' and makes this novel feel like two stories wrapped into one. We've enjoyed reading comments where readers feel torn rooting for one character, because they also realize that means they're rooting for the downfall of the other at the same time.

4. If you were a character in your story, which one would you be and why? 

CRESS: Claire. One-thousand percent Claire. While I love Jo and see a lot of myself in her passion, her loyalty, her wicked sense of humor, and even her cynicism, I ultimately am Claire. Besides, if I was [spoiler alert] getting courted by a prince, I'd be living my best life in my favorite book too.

LEIGH: This is a hard one. I'm the writer behind Jo's story, and I relate to how passionate she can be about her music and protecting the people she loves, but I'm ultimately going to have to go with Claire. I too would be living my best life if I woke up in my favorite romantasy novel.

5. Do you intend to write another book in the future? What advice would you give to other writers who wish to try writing as well?

CRESS: Of course! The writing world is stuck with Cress & Leigh Creations. We're so far from a one-and-done collaboration that we have several plans in the works along with our individual stories. Along with Once Upon A Lie, I'm working on a contemporary YA romance novel about second chances. As you'll see, even our individual projects somehow intertwine themselves from character names to themes and even location. And I swear, it's never on purpose! As for advice, read and write whenever you can. You'll learn a lot from fellow authors by reading and figuring out what you like or are captivated by, and find your own voice by constantly writing.

LEIGH: Abso-freaking-lutely. Holland can't get rid of me. Currently, only a sample of Once Upon a Lie is on Wattpad. We plan on finishing the novel and its sequel, and we've had talks about contemporary western-themed romances in the future as well. We're also working on individual projects. I'll be releasing an adult SFF second chance romance novel called Saving Declan on KindleVella 09/29/2023. As for advice... Above all else, just keep writing. Everything else will fall into place.

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And we end our amazing interview with CressAndLeigh here. Thank you for being with us this September. We all hope you all got to know the author like us and discovered some unique details about the story, »Once Upon a Lie«. We will see you next month with another amazing story.