Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Suze Leonie, author of Ivan, Boris, and Me and Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre, for an author interview with The Reading Bud.
About The Author
Suze Leonie
Suze Leonie is a literary fiction and children’s fiction author and illustrator from a Dutch coastal town. She has a passion for literature and philosophy and when she isn’t writing or drawing, she’s usually found with a book in her hand. In the spring of 2024 Suze Leonie made her debut with the novel Ivan, Boris and Me, which is the first book in a collection of literary works that heavily focus on human psychology. When Suze Leonie is able to let go of her precious books she enjoys going to museums, good food, board games and long walks on the beach.
You can find author Leonie here:
Author Website | X | Instagram
Interview
Welcome to TRB! Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin. (We’d love to know beyond what your Author Bio says about you.)
I’m Suze and I live in a wonderful Dutch coastal town. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to become a writer. I also have passion for art and anything creative. Combining the two is a dream come true.
Beyond the official blurb, could you offer us a unique insight or a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your book?
Boris is a tribute to my grandfather and is based on one memory in particular. He bought us tickets for Olev Popov’s farewell tour and something wonderful happened there. The clown singled me out during one of his last performances and gave me a rose. Because of my grandfather’s great enthusiasm this is something I still think about often. It was such a special moment. If you want the full story, there’s a newsletter article you can subscribe to through the website of Fidessa Literary.
Every book has a starting point. What was the spark or pivotal moment that inspired you to write this one?
It was a conversation I had with a friend of mine. We were talking about our inner clowns and wanting to give them a kick back to the circus sometimes.
Is there a core message or theme in your book that you wish readers to discover?
Each story I write feels like a quiet conversation between me and the reader. I bring the narrative, and they bring their thoughts, their memories, their own way of seeing things. Somewhere in that space between us, meaning takes shape. What they find might not be what I meant — and I think that’s the beauty of it.
Of all the characters in your book, do you have a personal favourite? What makes them special to you?
There’s equal love for all of them, but I’ll give you a hint of what’s to come: Devon Harmel will feature in several future books. And that’s just one of the many easter eggs hidden throughout my work.
How do you approach character development, ensuring they resonate with readers and feel authentic?
There’s no plan, I just sit and write and everything develops naturally from there. I let them surprise me. I need to know what makes them tick and by getting to know them through and through, I’m able to tell their story.
What was the inspiration for this book? Was it an idea, an anecdote, a dream, or something else?
Besides the conversation with my friend, watching cycling in France. The athletes all have a story to tell and some of them are incredibly inspiring. While they were passing me by at high speed, I was thinking about how lightning fast such a career can develop but also come to an end.
How long did it take you to write this particular book?
The first draft took me a couple of weeks and then the hard work started. In total, it took me two years to finish.
Are you working on any other stories presently?
Definitely! I’m currently finishing a novel about Frenkie Puckerman — a quiet literary fiction story set in a small world where real friendship takes center stage.
Why have you chosen this genre? Or do you write in multiple genres?
Literary fiction has my heart. My world has become a better place because of it. I feel blessed I’m getting the chance to write my own. I also write children’s books. I love telling a story through both words and illustrations. Both are challenging and rewarding in their own way and I like the versatility.
When did you decide to become a writer? Was it easy for you to follow your passion, or did you have to make some sacrifices along the way? (Feel free to share your story; we love hearing author stories!)
I already knew when I was nine years old, which is also when my first poem was published in the school paper. I read a book of children’s verses written by Annie M.G. Schmidt and immediately knew that was what I wanted to do. I immediately started writing my own poems and later I moved my attention to fiction. This is a dream come true.
What is your writing ritual? How do you do it?
I see writing a book like building a house. I start with a foundation and then build it from the ground up. I love writing so much that I spend as much time doing it as I can manage. I’m a night owl. Mornings aren’t my forte.
Editing can be a gruelling process. How do you approach revisions and self-editing?
I love editing, especially the first edit, which I call my embellishment edit. I’m a lean writer, so as soon as the plot is solid enough, I can start adding details, which is one of the most fantastic parts of creating a story for me.
With the rise of audiobooks and multimedia experiences, have you considered exploring these avenues for your stories?
I have, hopefully my books will become audiobooks in the future.
Lastly, if you were to describe your writing style in three words, what would they be?
Ambiguous, absurd and artistic.
How do you prefer to write—computer/laptop, typewriter, dictation, or longhand with a pen?
Computer, because I keep changing everything I write over and over again. It takes a while until I’m satisfied.
What are your 5 favourite books? (You can share 5 favourite authors too.)
- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
- Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
- The Evenings: A Winter’s Tale
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Disgrace
How do you deal with Writer’s Block?
By recharging my creative batteries through other creative mediums like listening to music, looking at inspirational art, enjoying nature.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write without abandon. Enjoy the process, create what makes you happy and worry about the quality later. Everyone needs to edit, and most issues can be fixed. Perfectionism is the killer of initial creativity.
Thank you, author Leonie, for taking the time to answer our questions and for all your insightful answers!
About the Book
Ivan, Boris and Me
Illustrator Elodie Ginsburg and her spendthrift best friend, Boris, are inseparable. Taking care of an audacious yellow-haired clown in a red-and-white-striped onesie and oversized black shoes can be a challenge. However, Boris means the world to Elodie. He is a handful, but he’s her handful. Their symbiosis is disrupted when Ivan Lennard, a former professional cyclist with a closely guarded secret, moves into the house next door and becomes a regular occurrence in their lives. Each encounter is a catalyst for Boris to spiral more out of control and increase his outrageous demands, until Elodie finds herself at a crossroads and has to make the most difficult decision she’s ever made.
You can find Evan, Boris and Me here:
Amazon | Goodreads
Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre
When famous new media artist Eli Schmidt inherits a mysterious chest from his emotionally detached grandmother that he is instructed not to open, he can’t curb his curiosity. Inside, he finds a lost and lonely doll named Devorah, who begins to heartbreakingly scream for the love of her life, Yonah. Wishing he had obeyed orders, Eli has no choice but to go on a journey to reunite the pair. To his great distress, this means he must give up his treasured peace and quiet and do what he loathes the most: interact with other people. While Eli desperately tries to break free from this burden, Devorah amplifies her control, embroiling him in a battle that will forever change the course of his life.
You can find Yonah and Devorah’s Traveling Music Theatre here:
Amazon
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
The Reading Bud 
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