Fall Author Boutique Spotlight: Brenda M. Lee

An Author Q&A

As we count down to the Fall Author Boutique, I'm excited to introduce you to another of the talented authors you'll have the chance to meet!

Brenda M. Lee is an author, photographer, Navy veteran, and self-described creative explorer whose personal experiences inspired her to put pen to paper.

I had the opportunity to ask Brenda about the woman behind the books, what inspired her to become an author, and what she's looking forward to when she joins us in St. Augustine on September 26.

Let's meet Brenda M. Lee!

---

Outside of writing, how would you introduce yourself to someone meeting you for the first time?

I’d describe myself as a creative explorer. I’m a photographer, a Navy veteran, a

grandma, a “stay-at-home dog mom,” and a full-time college student. I also used to own

a custom cake business, and I love having new experiences. I think everyone should

travel, try new things, and embrace their curiosity.

What experience inspired you to write your first book?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 31, and I quickly realized there were so many

parts of the experience no one really prepared me for. Afterward, I knew there were

choices I might have made differently if I had been given more information. Years later, I

decided to write the honest, practical guide I wish someone had handed me when I was

first diagnosed.

Your book looks at the experience of having cancer through the lens of humor. What made you decide to take that approach?

I do embrace humor in the book, but more than anything, it includes moments I call

“inappropriate.” We talk about things that aren’t normally discussed in the grocery aisle

with a friend. My goal is to educate people while helping the patient feel less alone.

Cancer takes away so much of your sense of control, but being able to laugh and speak

frankly, especially during completely inappropriate moments, can give a little of that

control back. I never want to minimize how serious cancer is. It’s important to

acknowledge that sometimes things are terrifying, heartbreaking, and also strangely

funny.

Was there ever a moment when writing became emotionally difficult?

Absolutely. Writing the book brought up things I thought I had already dealt with but had

apparently just shoved down deep instead. At times, the process became emotionally

overwhelming and even caused panic attacks. It ultimately pushed me to finally begin

therapy, which has become an important part of my own healing.

What do you hope readers take away from your experience?

More than anything, I hope readers feel less alone. Cancer can be incredibly isolating,

even when you are in a room full of people. You can feel like nobody truly understands

what you’re going through.

I encourage patients to find a support group, and I want readers to feel informed,

understood, and a little more prepared for what may be ahead. I also want them to know

there is no right or wrong way to handle cancer. They are allowed to cry, laugh, get

angry, ask for help, and survive it in whatever way works for them.

You’ve recently launched a companion coloring book. What inspired you to create it?

Sometimes words are helpful, and sometimes words are simply too much. I wanted to

create something that offered encouragement and a calming creative outlet without

asking the reader to process another page of information. The coloring book became

another way to support people through the more difficult days.

As an added benefit, I feel that a coloring book can help when talking with children

about what is happening. People often avoid discussing difficult situations with kids

because they think the children won’t understand. Unfortunately, that can create even

more stress because the child’s imagination and fears take over. The coloring book can

provide a gentle opening for including children in conversations about what is

happening with someone they love.

How did you come about the illustrations for your coloring book?

Some of the illustrations were created from my own photographs and transformed into

coloring pages. For others, I developed ideas and used AI as a creative tool to help

bring them to life. As a photographer, it was important to me that the artwork felt

personal rather than like a collection of generic stock illustrations. It allowed me to

combine my photography with new creative tools in one project.

You’re currently working on designing a journal to accompany your series. Did journaling play a role in your own cancer journey?

Not in the traditional sense. While I was going through treatment, I maintained a private

blog that kept family members who didn’t live nearby informed without everyone feeling

like they needed to call every day. For the most part, though, I was focused on simply

getting through each treatment.

Writing the book years later became a kind of delayed journaling and helped me

process experiences I had never fully examined. I created the guided journal because I

want others to have a place to document what is happening, work through their

emotions, and preserve memories that can otherwise become blurred.

I’m sure our readers are as concerned as I know I am. If you’re comfortable sharing, do you have any updates on your cancer journey?

I’m very happy to share that I am still cancer-free. I was diagnosed in October of 2006,

so I am approaching 20 years since my original diagnosis. My recent screenings have

been clear, and although I never take that for granted, I am incredibly grateful to be here

and able to use my experience to help others.

Paint a picture for us. What does a typical writing session look like?

I wish I could describe a beautifully organized writing space and an elegant creative

ritual, but the truth is much less glamorous. It usually involves my laptop, notes

scattered in several places, and at least one dog wondering why I am paying attention

to a computer instead of them.

I began with an outline that contained only five or six chapters, but as I wrote, I kept

adding new ones whenever another topic came to mind. Even after publishing the book,

I continued thinking of things I wished I had included.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring authors?

Stop waiting until you feel completely ready. You probably never will. Write the

imperfect first draft, learn as you go, and remember that finishing something you can

improve is far more useful than endlessly planning something that never gets written.

What’s something readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Before becoming a photographer and author, I served in the United States Navy as a

parachute rigger. I inspected, repaired, and packed parachutes and other aviation

survival equipment, which is a very different kind of pressure from meeting a book

deadline.

You’ll be one of eight incredible authors at the Fall Author Boutique in

St. Augustine on September 26. What are you most looking forward to about this event?

I’m most looking forward to the conversations. Some of the most meaningful moments

since publishing my book have come from speaking with survivors, patients, caregivers,

and people who simply want to better support someone they love.

I’m also excited to meet the other authors, learn about their work, and spend the day

surrounded by people who love books.

Where can readers connect with you online?

Readers can visit me at brendamlee.wordpress.com, where I share updates, resources,

and information about my books. They can also find links there to connect with me on

social media and to purchase my books.

---

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, Brenda! I think I speak for everyone when I say how very glad we are to hear you are cancer free! You are truly an inspiration.

You can meet Brenda and the other authors at our Fall Author Boutique, coming to the Shanty & Co in St. Augustine on Saturday September 26th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm.

This event is entirely free to attend, but if you register on Eventbrite by Friday, September 25th, you can pick up a free raffle ticket at the door to be entered into our Cozy Reader Gift Basket give away, valued at over $275!

---

Author H.R. Burkett writes fiction about messy people, complicated relationships, and beautifully imperfect lives.

About Me  | Explore My Books  | Join My Reader List