Finalist #5

 Our fifth finalist is Lee Kelly


Tell us about your book:
MANHATTAN SAVAGES is about two sisters, prisoners of the war camp once called Manhattan, who attempt to escape after discovering devastating secrets about the island.




Why do you want to attend Backspace?
I can’t imagine a better weekend than one filled with three days of writing, critiquing and listening to professionals talk about the craft.




Are you afraid to eat lunch with a Shark?
I’d be honored to eat lunch with a Shark! The closest I’ve come is swimming with one in Hawaii. Seriously, I would be beyond thrilled.


West Side Story: Jets or Sharks?
I have to go with Sharks – I tend to root for the new kids in town. Plus, I kind of had a crush on Bernardo.



If you could save the life of any one fictional character who would it be and why?
Ned Stark (Game of Thrones): it would save an honorable man, dethrone an imposter and prevent a war.





Is there a book that makes you think “If I could write one thing like that, I’d die happy.”
If I must pick one, it would be “The Phantom Tollbooth” – I read it 25 years ago, and it’s still my measuring stick for excellence.



What's the most terrifying thing you've lived through?
Dealing with a serious family illness while billing a 350-hour month at a law firm. It was a terrible time.



When you're published, what will you do to Pay It Forward?
I’d love to work with young kids that aspire to write, maybe through a foundation (in a dream of dreams) or on a smaller scale.