Hickory author pens spicy romances about fighters, fairies, secret agents (2024)

Leslie Dover said her passion for writing started with poetry and journals.

“I would borrow my grandfather’s video camera,” Dover said. “I would write a poem and I would say it into the camera. That would be the (Christmas and birthday) presents to my parents.”

That interest in poetry morphed into a full-time job writing adult novels under the penname L.P. Dover. Dover wrote her first book, “Forever Fae,” in 2012. “Forever Fae” is part of a four-book series.

Dover, 42, of Hickory, has since written 75 books. Most of Dover’s novels are sultry romances with covers featuring muscular men.

“Most of my stuff is sexy stuff, but my Christmas book is clean, and my beach series is clean,” Dover said. She said her main genre is suspense romance. Dover’s favorite stories to write are romances with undercover FBI agents or MMA fighters, she said.

“I’ve always loved MMA fighting. My husband and I watch it all the time,” Dover said. “I just knew I wanted to do a bunch of books on fighters. I have, I think, 12 novels with just MMA fighters.”

Dover spoke of her passion for writing, including her process and character inspirations. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your first book?

“Forever Fae” was my first published book. It was published in 2012. It’s fantasy. The people look like us, but you know, they’re fairies, just not with wings. They do have magical powers. They do live in a different realm. It’s called the Land of the Fae. They can cross the plane into our world. Of course, there’s a villain. You’ve got the dark sorcerer in there. He’s in all four books. This is a four-book series that follows four different princesses. The first one is Calista and she’s a princess of the Summer Court right now. Whenever she vanquishes her part of the evil, she becomes queen of the Fall Court.

How did you feel being on a best seller list?

It was really shocking. The first book to make it was called “Meant for Me.” It was my first book to ever make a bestsellers list. It was so strange, because I remember, it was right before New Year’s (Eve). I was at home and my husband had friends over. I remember checking my ranking and saw that I was in the top 100 on Amazon. I was like, “Oh, my gosh.” It was just crazy how it happened. I mean, I was paying for advertising on it, but I mean, it wasn’t that much money. I don’t know what happened to make it get out there. Luck, I guess. But it was a great feeling.

I’ve written 75 books and only five have made it on a best seller list, but one book did make it for two weeks in a row which is nice.

Making the New York Times best seller list

The book was called “Silk: An Anthology.” It was a collaboration I did with other authors. That was in 2014. It was a combination of all the authors’ styles. My story was called “Trusting you.” Everybody else had their own stories.

How do you come up with your stories?

Things that happen in life. I don’t know why. For instance, yesterday, I was walking my dogs in the neighborhood. I ran into some of my neighbors, and they were like, “What are you working on?” I just had this feeling that I want to do another Christmas book. I don’t know, I guess I’ve just been in the Christmas spirit. I just get these urges. Most of my stuff is kind of sexy stuff, but my Christmas book is clean. My beach series is clean. It just hits me at different times. Like right now, I want to write another Christmas book because I’m ready for Christmas.

What’s your writing process?

Usually, I’m in my office and I usually work on the characters first. I like to have a visual of my main female, my main male and some of the side characters. Usually, the other side characters just kind of come as I write. I like to start with the main characters first to get an idea of their personalities, how old they are and get into them before I start on the story. I usually have an idea of what I want the story to be. Like, do I want it to be heavy on the suspense? Which is what I love. It usually just comes to me. I’ve never had writer’s block yet, thank God. And I hope I never do. I’ve been lucky to have the ideas just keep flowing.

Why do you like sports romance themes?

I guess my love of athletes. I’m not an athlete, but I do play golf. That’s why I have my golf romance series. When I started writing my football romances, it was back when the Panthers were doing amazing. I was all into football, so, I was like, “Yes, football romance.” I’ve always loved MMA fighting. My husband and I watch it all the time. I just knew I wanted to do a bunch of books on fighters. I have, I think, 12 novels with just MMA fighters.

What do you like to read?

I really love young adult fantasy and paranormal. I don’t particularly read what I write.

Quinn Loftis is one of my favorite authors. I remember the first time I met her. I was at a book signing back in 2013 and I thought I was going to go insane. She’s a self-published author. She writes about werewolves, and I fell in love with her series.

Shelly Crane is another favorite. She’s another self-published author. She writes more fantasy, young adult. As far as adult books, I like paranormal and vampires. Laurell K. Hamilton and Jeaniene Frost are some of my favorites.

What motivates you?

My quirkiness motivates me. I just like to get my own stories out there. I just like stories. I like books. I like seeing them. One thing I do love is the cover process. Whenever I’m thinking of a book, I want to see the cover. Once I get the cover, that really motivates me because I’m like, “Yes, I’ve got to put a story to the picture.”

What are you you’re happiest?

When I finish a book. I just finished the one I was working on. I sent it to my editor. She already sent it back. I’m happy now that it’s done. Now I have to go through the edits, which is kind of a tedious process. You’ve got to look at what the editor wrote. She’s wanting you to add and delete. That’s what I’m working on now. But yeah, that’s my happiest, because I feel accomplished. When I first start a book, I’m excited about it, don’t get me wrong. It’s a process. I have the story in my head. I just want it done, but it takes a while to get it done. It’s a relief when I finish it.

Struggles in an AI-saturated industry

As of right now, my biggest challenge is probably getting exposure. Back when I first started writing, it was a lot easier. Now people are using AI to write books within like two or three days and publish them. Instead of there being 100 books on the new release list, there’s thousands. That’s every week, so it’s hard to get noticed now. I do miss how much easier it was 10 years ago. You don’t want it to get you down, but it is harder. The book sales haven’t been as great as they were.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Being able to use my own creativity with it. My husband is very witty and so is my youngest daughter. They’ll say something and I’m like, “Oh my God, that’s perfect for my character.” I’ll write down what they said and I’ll use it in my books. Using people that I know in my books is probably my favorite thing to do. I have a neighbor. Her name is Linda. She is in the book I just finished. She plays a big part in the story. She’s not a main character, but she’s the main side character. It’s funny because my neighbor knows this and she’s dying to read it. Being able to use her was really fun. She’s such a good character. My neighbor is so funny, and I love her to death. She’s a neighborhood gossip, so she’ll call me she’s like, “I’ve gotten news.” Hopefully, she finds it funny.