Fall Author Boutique Spotlight: Meet Leslie Kirby DeVooght
Author Q&A
Our Fall Author Boutique author spotlights continue, and today I’m excited to introduce you to Leslie Kirby DeVooght, a Southern romance author whose stories are filled with heart, humor, faith, and plenty of Southern charm.
Leslie will be joining us at The Fall Author Boutique: A Cozy Literary Pop-Up Experience on September 26th, and before you meet her in St. Augustine, I wanted to give you the chance to get to know the woman behind the books.
From the experiences that shaped her as a writer to the inspiration behind her stories and what she has coming next, Leslie has plenty to share.
So grab something sweet, settle in, and meet Leslie Kirby DeVooght!
1. Tell us a little about yourself and what first inspired you to become a writer.
All of my life, I’ve loved writing and reading. As a student, I always hoped for essay questions on tests because I’m not great at multiple choice, and I figured out I could write a pretty great answer even if I was unsure of the answer.
As a lawyer, I focused a lot on research and writing, but I always wanted to write fiction. I started a lot of stories and didn’t finish them in high school, college, and law school.
One day about twelve years ago, while I was running, a story idea popped into my head. I sprinted home and outlined my first book. It was so much fun to write that book.
As I read more contemporary romance, I decided I wanted to write stories for Christian women like me. It’s important to me for my stories to be both entertaining and glorifying to God. I write what I love to read and hope the readers will too.
2. Your books focus on life in the South. What about the South inspires you?
It’s true that I’m inspired by coastal Georgia, romcoms, and fried okra. I was born, raised, and lived many years on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
The natural beauty of the Lowcountry, from sprawling live oak trees to the tiniest periwinkle clinging to a blade of golden Spartina, inspires me. Not to mention the authenticity of Southerners. We don’t hide our eccentricities—we claim them and share them and celebrate them.
I love the diversity but also the unity of the culture. I hope my stories honor this love of people that I’ve experienced in my life. The way we support and encourage each other is something I don’t think most people know about Southerners.
Someone once said you can’t write a book set in the South without mentioning faith, football, and food. Around these things we center so much of our lives, and I’m easily inspired by the stories that emerge from living in this world.
3. Where did the idea for your latest book come from?
I got the idea for my latest book, A Girl’s Guide to Having It All, from the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding. For years, I’ve wanted to write this story with a twist because I don’t love the ending. Julia Roberts’ character in the movie doesn’t get a happily ever after, and every romance needs a happy ending. It’s the part of the genre that we love.
The idea of giving my main character, Carleigh, a happy ending seemed simple, even easy, until I realized how terrible the character’s goals are. Seriously, no one likes the person who breaks up a wedding, but I worked with Carleigh’s story until I found a way to make her both relatable and ready for a major transformation.
John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, really helped me develop Carleigh’s character in a way that I hope also helps the reader. This story has a lot of me in it and was actually really healing to write. It was also so much fun!
Recently, I watched the movie with my family, and I was so thankful that I worked mostly from memory when I wrote the book. There are some similar scenes and ideas, but a lot of what’s in the movie about the groom, I’d forgotten. Carleigh, Spencer, Lawson, and Willa’s story is so authentic to their characters. Of course, if you watch the movie, you’ll catch glimpses in the book, but they are very different stories with a much different ending.
4. What’s something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
Most people are surprised to learn that I was once a judge. They often wonder why I don’t write suspense stories. However, I do love when my main character is a lawyer.
In my most recent book, A Girl’s Guide to Having It All, the main character is a political lobbyist who went to law school. The Christmas book, The Heartfelt Formula, that I’m releasing in October has a subplot that revolves around a court case, and the main characters are lawyers.
5. What is your favorite part of being a professional writer and published author?
My favorite part of writing is all the people I’ve connected with over the years—from writers to readers to agents and editors to bookstore owners.
While I’m an introvert, I love to share my passion for story with others. It’s such an amazing place to connect with people, and I love to encourage and support writers.
6. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring authors?
Do not give up, but while you are waiting, work on your craft and support other authors. Being teachable is so important to being successful.
My community of writers has become some of my closest friends. Without them, I may have given up.
7. What are you most looking forward to about participating in the Fall Author Boutique?
The Fall Author Boutique will give me the chance to meet new bookish friends who live near me. I’m really looking forward to creating new relationships with writers and readers in North Florida.
I love how I always leave these events with new connections that we can continue to grow through the book world.
8. What are you working on next?
My newest book, The Heartfelt Formula, will release October 22nd.
A couple of years ago, one of my author friends suggested I write a book about a girl who loved Hallmark movies and decided to use the scripts to help her find love. Right away, I started researching, which meant binging Hallmark movies and taking notes on the common parts.
We all know that one of the main parts of a Hallmark movie is the small town, so I decided to use my hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia.
9. Where can readers connect with you online?
I’d love for readers to sign up for my newsletter. They can join with the link on my website or any of my social media pages.
Newsletter members get access to lots of freebies, including my novella, Perfectly Imperfect, a Magnolia Bluff book and the prequel to A Girl’s Guide to Having It All. They also get my novel, If Only, and the Southern Sands Cookbook.
Website: https://lesliedevooght.com/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieDeVooght
A huge thank-you to Leslie for taking the time to share a little about herself and her writing journey with us!
You’ll have the chance to meet Leslie in person at The Fall Author Boutique: A Cozy Literary Pop-Up Experience on Saturday, September 26th, from 3–6 PM at The Shanty & Co. in St. Augustine. Stop by her table, say hello, and discover which of her Southern stories might be your next favorite read.
And stay tuned—we still have more Fall Author Boutique interviews lined up before the big day!
Author H.R. Burkett writes fiction about messy people, complicated relationships, and beautifully imperfect lives.
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