Leia London (the pen name of Lawyer Jasmine Daya) has recently released her debut novel Law Girl’s Bump in the Road, painting a gritty but engaging portrait of a career woman dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. We had an opportunity to chat with Leia about her novel. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Leia! Thank you for granting the interview. You recently released your debut novel Law Girl’s Bump in the Road. Tell us more.
Law Girl’s Bump in the Road is a chicklit based on my real-life story. I learned that I was pregnant during my last semester of law school which was not my plan. I had dreams of working at a downtown law firm, wearing a suit and heels with a goal of getting a corner office one day. I had thought that children were part of the plan in the years ahead. Life threw me a curveball. In addition to concerns over my career, there were additional struggles due to culture clashes with my in-laws. The book has been fictionalized slightly for entertainment value.
What inspired the novel?
The novel didn’t start out as being a novel. In fact, it was really just a journal that I had started to occupy my mind from the unknown that faced me. I had never been a journal writer but found that it was helpful at that point in my life. I thought that maybe I would share my pregnancy story with my son one day but two weeks before he was born, I looked at what I had written and realized that it needed to be a book one day.
What should the readers expect?
Listening to Indian old wives’ tales such as drinking warm milk with melted butter in hopes the baby slides out easily as well as not looking into the mirror too much to avoid the baby growing up to be vain will keep the readers thoroughly entertained.
Pregnancy can be taxing, but when you have a career it can be a challenge.
I have three children and each pregnancy was a challenge. Physically I was exhausted with all the changes that your body undergoes and hated the clothing situation. When people would tell me to “enjoy” my pregnancy or say that I had that “pregnancy glow”, I wanted to ask what they were talking about because there was nothing enjoyable about my pregnancy other than the end result. Instead, I just held my tongue and smiled. Emotionally I didn’t fare well either. With my first pregnancy, it was unplanned and I was deeply concerned about what this meant about starting a career. Getting a job after law school is hard enough. With my second pregnancy, I had just built a stable practice and was concerned about how I would service my clients with an additional child. With my third pregnancy, I was on my way to making partner and concerned that I would lose that opportunity.
In the end, after each child, I was motivated to work harder to ensure that my career would not suffer, and I honestly believe that each child brought me good luck. I learned true love when my children were born and I have a supportive family to go home to. Pregnancy is not easy and will certainly present challenges for a career woman but there is that saying – whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger! If you want children and a career, it’s doable and well worth it.
Why do you write under a pen name?
I am so proud of transforming my initial story to a manuscript and finally to an actual published book. I would love to have my real name stamped on it, however, as a practicing personal injury lawyer, I was concerned about how my clients and those within my profession would react to “Jasmine Daya” as a chicklit author. Legal drafting is far more serious (and quite a boring read). I decided it was best to use a pen name to differentiate between my voice as a lawyer from that of a chicklit author.
You continuously hone your craft. What keeps you inspired?
I am really enjoying everything that I am working on and each project results in more ideas for another project which is what keeps me inspired. I love getting up in the morning, excited to take on the day and I thrive in a fast-paced environment filled with positive energy. I wish there were more hours in a day and I also wish that I didn’t need a solid 7 hours of sleep at night so I could accomplish more. The one task that I have failed at is trying to get less sleep. Who are these people that only need 4 to 6 hours and claim to still be productive? I’m wondering if they just say that.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the publishing industry?
By far, the best experience has been the people that I have met. I had two editors for Law Girl and the first one, in particular, worked really hard to help me transition my work into the finished product. She helped me see where I needed to fill in areas and she provided constructive criticism in a productive manner. I have been in contact with incredibly creative book reviewers, bloggers and people in media. I have also been able to discuss my story and in particular, inspire women of all ages to pursue their passion. I never thought of myself as a motivational speaker until this book was published. I realized that if I can overcome the obstacles that came my way, so can others. I want to be the one to tell them, to motivate them, to inspire them, to just go for it!
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
My first cookbook, Indian Appetizers and Chutneys just finished the editing stage and is moving on to layout and then publication. I am thrilled to see this project materialize as it has been a collaboration with my mother. We have been able to spend quality time together in the kitchen testing recipes while chatting about life in general. It’s been a special experience for us both and perhaps more time than we have ever spent together during my adult life. Without the Indian cookbook series, the time together would never have happened.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
Exactly what I’m doing! Wouldn’t change a damn thing.
Connect with Leia:
Website: www.firemanlawyers.com
Follow Leia London on Instagram
Follow JD In the Kitchen on Instagram
Follow Jasmine Daya on Twitter
Like Jasmine Daya on Facebook
About Author
