Meet Leslie Rasmussen, award winning author of After Happily Ever After. Her new book, When People Leave has already won first place for Book Club Fiction – Firebird Award and a Gold Medal Literary Titan Awards.
Leslie is a Los Angeles native and UCLA graduate, has written TV comedies for stars like Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, and Drew Carey, as well as shows including The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. She’s been published in the Huffington Post, speaks on female empowerment panels, and is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Women in Film, and the UCLA Alumni Association.
From Amazon – When People Leave:
“Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, readers will identify with the tale of personal growth and take hope in the message that it’s never too late to find oneself.” –Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write and Behind Every Good Man
“Rasmussen tiptoes through family dynamics, laces realizations with humor to make the most of comic relief, and entwines love and life into these efforts, creating a thoroughly engrossing, realistic novel filled with thought-provoking truths. Its riveting revelations, captivating characters, lives touched by tragedy, redemption, and novel realizations makes for a novel that is a page-turner—hard to put down and filled with food for thought that can also power book club and women’s reading group discussions.”
-D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review“Leslie A. Rasmussen’s When People Leave is a poignant and compelling story narrated with an intriguing touch of irony. Rasmussen adds sparks of humor to the twisty narrative and ends it on a satisfying high note.” –Readers Favorite, 5 stars
“With emotional depth and dynamic storytelling, When People Leave is a moving testament to resilience, redemption, and the enduring bonds between mothers and daughters. A Powerful story of the hidden choices that can shape family.” –Booklife Review, Editor’s Pick
Thank you for visiting us, Leslie!
You’ve had a successful career writing for hit TV shows like The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. What made you transition from TV writing to fiction, and how different is the creative process?
When I graduated from college, I wrote for several TV sitcoms and thoroughly enjoyed my job. I cherished the camaraderie and the friendships I formed. I thought I would work in the industry forever, but after having my second son, I realized the hours were demanding, and I wanted to prioritize raising my children. After a few years, I missed writing, so I began again by penning numerous personal humorous essays for The Huffington Post. During that period, I also started working with a writing coach. Through that experience, I discovered I was developing a fictional character that had come to life, and that character became the protagonist in my first book.
Your novels explore the complexities of women’s inner lives. What draws you to these types of stories?
As a television writer, I gravitated toward shows about families and the issues within them. One of my favorite shows that I wrote for at the time was Roseanne. I love a strong female character who is not perfect and isn’t afraid to show her flaws. When I began writing books, I wanted to address the numerous challenges women face throughout their lives. My first novel, After Happily Ever After, tells the story of a woman in her mid-forties who belongs to the sandwich generation. She has a daughter about to leave for college, a husband who has disconnected from life, and a father facing serious aging-related issues. My second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, revolves around two women in their mid-thirties dealing with infertility and complicated pregnancies. My third book, When People Leave, explores the lives of three sisters and their single mother, highlighting what happens when they uncover a major secret that has shaped their entire lives. My friends and I have experienced many ups and downs, and I wanted to share our stories with a readership that could relate.
You write with humor, heart, and honesty. How do you strike that balance when writing about difficult or emotional subjects?
Humor is a part of my daily life, it’s what keeps me going when things get difficult. If you can’t laugh when things aren’t going your way, the only other option is to fall apart. In my novels, I strive not to be glib but to lighten emotional scenes, even if it’s just for a few moments. Some scenes are easier to manage than others, but once the emotions are on the page, there always seems to be a way to add a funny line. Life is messy and sometimes crazy, and my characters’ lives should reflect that truth.
Has your background in comedy helped shape your voice as a novelist?
Since my first foray into this business, aside from the angst I recorded in my teenage diary, I’ve loved watching and writing comedy. I’ve enjoyed watching and learning from skilled comedy writers and actors who can turn a sentence into witty repartee. They have helped me refine my craft and learn how to write humorous, realistic dialogue. One important aspect of writing humor is making sure that a joke doesn’t stand out as if it doesn’t belong. Characters should speak and act in a way that is consistent with how real people behave in everyday life.
What’s your writing routine like? Are you an early riser with a cup of coffee or a night owl with a glass of wine?
I am very much a creature of habit. Every morning during the week, I wake up at 7:00 a.m. and leave my house to attend a workout class. I get home around 9:45, clean up, and my husband makes me a cup of coffee. His coffee is far better than mine. I take the coffee to my desk and sit down at my computer. Some days I mainly promote one of my books, while on other days, I work all day on the next book. If I’m writing, I take a break for lunch and finish around 4:30 or 5:00, so I can read the book I’m currently enjoying. I don’t often write on the weekends unless I’m in the middle of a chapter and want to push through. For me, time on the weekends is meant to be spent with family and relaxing.
You’re active in several writers’ organizations. How important has community been to your journey as an author?
As a TV writer, you are always surrounded by a community of fellow writers. In contrast, as an author, much of your work is done alone. When I began writing books, I felt a sense of emptiness. I joined various writing Facebook pages and started connecting with other authors online. Not only did these communities help me feel less isolated, but they also linked me with others who shared my goals. In my experience, authors have been quite generous with their time and less competitive than TV writers. I’ve made many good friends, many of whom live in different parts of the country, and I’ve been fortunate to meet a group of these women and men in person. Several of them attended my last book launch, which was wonderful.
What advice would you give to women in midlife who want to pursue writing or another long-held creative dream?
Over the last few years, I have participated in panel discussions and conferences about empowering women in midlife. Age doesn’t matter; if you have a dream, pursue it. You don’t have to say, ‘I want to write a book,’ and then simply sit down to write one. Starting small by creating short stories or personal essays is an excellent way to ease into writing. If your goal involves another creative pursuit, identify small tasks you can do within that field. If you want to be an actor, enroll in an acting class; if you want to write songs, start by writing poems. There are many ways to embark on something new that can feel less daunting. The most important thing is that as long as we are alive, we should set aside our fear of failure and take steps forward. I was never one to take risks, so when I began my first book, I didn’t tell anyone. I took it one chapter at a time, and one day, four and a half years later, I had a complete manuscript. As women, we tend to prioritize everyone else in our lives. Midlife is the perfect time to stop nurturing others and dedicate that time to yourself and your dreams.
As an aging lover of this lighthearted good feel fiction genre myself, could you be a little open with the label “HenLit?” After all, we are older. Smarter. And still fun.
I am also a fan of HenLit fiction. Being over fifty, it’s difficult to connect with characters in their twenties. When I was that age, I thought my mom, who was in her fifties at that time, was old. I was sure she wouldn’t understand me. Now, I’ve gained significant life experience. I’ve been married for many years, and my two sons are now in their twenties, having grown into adulthood. Another reason it’s hard to relate to young protagonists is that I want to yell at them for making the same mistakes I did. Chicklit can, however, be a great reference for younger women because part of growing and changing involves making those mistakes yourself. Stories about women in their forties, fifties, and sixties reveal the experiences of those who have endured a great deal and can laugh at their foibles while moving forward with an extraordinary life. I may not be chronologically young, but I have a lot of energy and just as many dreams, and I enjoy reading about characters who are more like me.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I have many favorite authors, and they often change depending on my mood. Jennifer Weiner was my first favorite author, and she inspired me to write books through her extensive body of work. Currently, my favorites include Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, JoJo Moyes, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. These authors write stories about women’s issues that span various periods throughout history and the present.
For your loyal fans, is there anything in the pipeline you can tell us about?
My newest novel, When People Leave, has recently been published on
May 6th, 2025. I am participating in various podcasts and interviews, including this one, to raise awareness about my novel, as well as my other two books. When People Leave has already won first place in two categories at the Firebird Awards, so I’m thrilled about that. I’ve also been involved in numerous book clubs, both virtually and in person. If your book club would like me to visit, please reach out through my website below. I’m currently working on a new novel that will be more of a romantic comedy.
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https://www.lesliearasmussen.com
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