Today we’d like to introduce you to L.E. McQuinn.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began writing at age nine, and quickly fell in love with the freedom of creating my own worlds and characters. That love carried into adulthood, even as I built a career as a freelance copywriter working with small businesses on their websites and social media. Fiction, however, was always my anchor. I continued writing and studying storytelling, launched a blog in 2016, and eventually began coaching other writers. In 2024, I brought that work to Substack, where I share my writing journey and publish short fiction. In August 2025, I published my debut contemporary romance novel, Reality With You.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. In my twenties, I began struggling with creative anxiety, which affected both my ability to create freely and my comfort with sharing my work publicly. In searching for support, I pursued coaching certifications to work through those blocks. The process was so transformative that it inspired me to help other female writers navigate the same fears through coaching.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write contemporary romance, fantasy, and science fiction. The common threads through all of my work are character-driven stories, layered world-building, high stakes, plot twists, and emotional resonance. They explore life’s darker moments of heartbreak and the beautiful ones that exist alongside them. The feedback I treasure most is when readers tell me the characters feel real. I want my stories to be a fun escape, but also a mirror that leaves readers feeling transported, understood, and a little less alone in the world.
My contemporary romance novel, Reality With You, is the first book in the Arden Beach series of interconnected standalone stories. It follows Lennon Young and Dylan Strickland, two childhood sweethearts who married at 18 and divorced within a year (but never got over each other). They reconnect 6 years later when both of their lives are imploding. She’s a struggling musician who just lost her dream record deal, and he’s a baseball star from a sports dynasty recovering from an injury and dealing with a major PR crisis. They agree to help each other by going on a documentary-style reality show in their home city, but the producers, co-stars, and a vengeful billionaire try to sabotage everything they care about most. It’s a story that examines the exploitative nature of fame, capitalism, and the media, while also exploring the quieter, more personal journey of self-identity and learning to make peace with your own path.
What matters most to you?
Self-expression is deeply important to me—not just on a personal level, but because of the freedom it represents. When everyone has the opportunity to share their unique ideas and perspectives, we all benefit. It begins with giving ourselves permission to fully express who we are, and it continues with the collective work of protecting, making space for, and supporting diverse art and voices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lemcquinn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemcquinn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lemcquinnauthor
- Other: https://goodreads.com/lemcquinn
