Madison Leinen: Writing Her Own Story

Madison Leinen may only be a sophomore at the Early College Academy in Broken Arrow, but she’s already a published author. At just 14, Madison began writing When Gods Fall, a 450-page fantasy novel inspired by her love of Greek mythology. When she’s not writing or working on her next story, Madison enjoys drawing, reading, spending time outdoors and learning about wildlife and farm life. We loved talking to her about her book—and we ordered a copy to read ourselves!

TK: You’re already a published author! When did you first start writing?

Madison: I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but none of them really stuck with me. I would average stories that were 30,000 to 40,000 words before dropping them, but When Gods Fall just felt special to me.

TK: Tell us about your book, When Gods Fall. What is it about?

Madison: When Gods Fall follows the story of two deities on opposing sides of a rivalry. One is the god of death, and the other is the goddess of vengeance. They fall in love while working against each other and have to choose between one another and their loyalties.

TK: Where did you get the idea for the story?

Madison: I’ve always been a huge Greek mythology nerd, so I thought it would be fun to create my own version of it! I’m not sure there was ever one specific moment when I came up with the idea, but I can partially credit my dad for getting me into Greek mythology in the first place. This was also the last story he ever heard me talk about before he passed, which became a huge reason I wanted to finish it. In a way, completing this story felt like carrying something forward that he had been there to see the beginning of, and that made finishing it even more meaningful to me.

TK: How old were you when you started writing the book, and how long did it take for you to finish it?

Madison: I was 14 when I started writing the book, and it took me around seven months to complete. I definitely wouldn’t have finished it in seven months if it wasn’t for my teacher, though!

TK: What was the hardest part of writing an entire book? What was the most fun?

Madison: The hardest was definitely the beginning. The first five or so chapters took me weeks because I just didn’t want to commit to the story, and it felt so daunting. Some of my favorite chapters to write were the ones that had a one-on-one with the king, Rhimhir, and the main character, Vyrilk. I enjoyed writing their dynamic, and I think the king was just a fun character overall.

TK: Do you have a favorite character in the book?

Madison: My favorite character is Rhimhir. I really enjoy the concept of a Machiavellian villain, and I tried my best to portray that in him. Another character I really liked to write, even if he only showed up for a few chapters, was Talen, the main character’s best friend. He was enjoyable to write, and I thought it was fun to write the banter he had with other characters.

TK: Your teacher Garret Jensen and the Creative Writing Club helped encourage you. Can you tell us about that?

Madison: When I first went into the Creative Writing Club, I expected this story to be something I just kept quiet, but it changed when Mr. Jensen gave me the encouragement to publish it. He is an incredible author, and it inspired me to do the same with my own work. I highly recommend his books!

TK: What was it like the first time you held a real copy of your book in your hands?

Madison: Surreal. It’s always been a dream of mine to write and publish a book, and it was just insane to me that I actually did.

TK: What has the reaction been like from your friends, family and classmates?

Madison: A lot of people don’t believe me at first, and they often expect it to be something like a 50-page book, only to be surprised when they find out it’s actually 450 pages. Seeing all the support I’ve received has been incredible, and I’m so grateful for how many copies I’ve been able to sell. I was even able to schedule a book signing, where dozens of people showed up to support me. I appreciate every single person who has encouraged me and supported me throughout this journey. It truly means more to me than I can put into words.

TK: What kind of books do you like to read?

Madison: I’m a big fan of reading fantasy romance! I really enjoy The Night Ends with Fire by K. X. Song, which is a Mulan retelling.

TK: Has being a student at Early College Academy influenced your writing or your goals for the future?

Madison: I think it’s definitely given me the motivation to do something that would make me stand out. Even if I didn’t realize it was happening, getting to that point where my book was completed was influenced by being in ECA.

TK: Are you working on another book or story now?

Madison: Yes! It’s not connected to When Gods Fall, but it’s a lot more fleshed out with the worldbuilding. I’m extremely excited for this book, and I hope it gets just as much recognition, if not more than When Gods Fall. Writing will always be an intense passion of mine, and I plan on writing for as long as I can.

TK: What advice would you give another kid or teenager who has an idea for a book but doesn’t know where to start?

Madison: The first thing I did was plan my book out chapter by chapter and get a general idea for how long I wanted those chapters to be. My chapters would average 3,000 words, and it just got easier as I kept writing. The beginning is hardest, but I swear you’ll only start writing faster and faster. I wrote the last 10 or so chapters in around a week and a half, as opposed to taking a whole month for the first five.

TK: Do you have any plans for after high school?

Madison: Ideally, I’d love to be an author full time, but I would also really enjoy a career relating to art or wildlife. My dream in life is to have an animal rehabilitation center, so fingers crossed I can make it to that point!

TK: What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?

Madison: I’m a big horror fan. October is my favorite month, and Halloween is hands down the best holiday. I also work at the Haunted Plantation in Coweta during October as a scare actor for fun, so if you’re nearby or passing through, come by!

Natalie Mikles is a mom of three and editor of TulsaKids Magazine. She writes about food, sharing recipes for busy families and picky eaters.