When Characters Talk to You: The Writer's Creative Process with Leslie Rasmussen

What happens when the kids leave home and you're left staring at your husband across an empty table? For Leslie Rasmussen, that question sparked her debut novel After Happily Ever After, a story born from her own experience of rediscovery and the real-life journeys of countless friends. A former sitcom writer turned nutritionist turned novelist, Rasmussen shares how her characters literally started speaking to her in the middle of the night, how she overcame imposter syndrome to finally call herself an author, and why there simply aren't enough books with protagonists our age navigating life's next chapter. From the voices in her head (she assures us it's normal for writers!) to the moments of doubt that nearly kept her from pursuing her passion, Leslie opens up about the messy, beautiful process of creating art after years away from the craft. Whether you're an empty nester, a writer finding your way back, or simply someone wondering what comes after the fairy tale, this conversation will remind you that every soul—and every story—has the power to inspire. Tune in for laughter, wisdom, and the reminder that chocolate is a complete meal.

0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Leslie joins the conversation
2:54 - Is Leslie actually Maggie?
3:41 - Where Maggie came from
5:42 - When characters speak to you
7:53 - Growing alongside your characters
9:59 - Becoming an author vs. being a writer
12:55 - From TV writing to nutrition
19:05 - Social media friendships
21:15 - Nutrition practice and teenagers
25:21 - Why write this book now
28:56 - Three things Leslie is grateful for
32:56 - Outro

• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
• Website: daralevan.com3
• https://bookshop.org/p/books/after-happily-ever-after-leslie-a-rasmussen/22c397bf54786de3?ean=9798200925513&bkshp-astro=t

QUOTES:

"I really didn't know what I was doing. So writing this novel, as I was going along, you finish the first draft and sometimes you look at it and you think, who's ever going to buy this?"
– Leslie Rasmussen

"I've learned so much from my characters where I say, my gosh, like I'll write something and step away from it and say, did I write that?"
– Dara Levan