Author Interview: CJ Leede

Another Friday, another author interview! This week I’m sharing my conversation with CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly and the recently released American Rapture. Now, American Rapture is a book that meant a whole hell of a lot to me, one that made me feel seen and heard in ways that feel extremely niche and specific. CJ and I get into this and other topics such as:
– Utilizing a strong sense of place to tell stories
– Cheese curds
– How American Rapture came to be
– The sense of freedom in writing
– Knowing endings during the writing process
– Ambiguity (of the Paul Tremblay variety if I do say so myself)
– Giving stories over to readers
– The dichotomy of shame and power within the human body
– Writing characters who embody themes of grace
– The dangers of repression and extreme shame
– How to confront death in way that feels elegant or meaningful
– The AMAZING trailer produced for this book (shoutout Slashtag Cinema)
– Writing books that “say something”

While this is mostly an American Rapture specific conversation, we still do mention some other books which include:
– Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
– Carrie and Pet Sematary by Stephen King
– When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
– Anne Rice (her books in general)
– Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman
– Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton
– Sacred Folks by Theodore Van Alst
– Pay the Piper by Daniel Kraus

Here are link to CJ’s book tour, where to order American Rapture, merch, and socials:
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceejthemoment/
– Website: https://cjleede.com/
– Order American Rapture: https://cjleede.com/book/american-rapture/
– Merch:
– Saint Cards: https://www.inprnt.com/collections/figbar/american-rapture/
– T-Shirts: https://cj-leede.printify.me/products
– Postcards/Stickers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KayleighCreatesShop?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1719462771&from_page=listing&section_id=51448663
– Tour Dates: https://cjleede.com/events/

So much thanks to CJ for her time and the very candid conversation. Like I mentioned previously, American Rapture is a book that resonated with me so deeply on multiple levels. It’s a book that covers a lot of ground and a lot of difficult topics so I recommend it with the condition of checking trigger warnings and being kind to yourself (as always).