Episode #142
Addam Ledamyen on The Legend of Leanna Page | Fantasy, Identity, Hope & Changing the World
What if a fantasy story could do more than entertain? What if it could challenge the way we think about power, prejudice, identity, connection, and the possibility of a better world? On this episode of Bold Book with Dr. Denise Nicholson , we're joined by actor, playwright, novelist, and nonprofit founder Addam Ledamyen , author of the newly debuted literary fantasy novel The Legend of Leanna Page . Set in the mystical World Within the Woods , the novel follows Leanna Page , a servant girl with mysterious powers who becomes a threat to the ruling royals when she begins questioning the beliefs and social structures around her. Addam shares how this extraordinary story unexpectedly came to them and became a five-to-six-year creative journey. They also discuss their background in musical theater, political science, storytelling, and their commitment to using the arts to create meaningful social change. In This Episode, Addam Ledamyen Talks About:✨ The inspiration behind The Legend of Leanna Page ✨ The mystical World Within the Woods ✨ Why Leanna Page becomes a threat simply by questioning the status quo ✨ The relationship between fantasy, prejudice, and power ✨ Why Addam chose an archaic writing style for the novel ✨ The fascinating decision to credit fictional character Cedar Flight as the author ✨ The importance of connection, family, and challenging societal roles ✨ Addam's journey of discovering their identity as a non-binary trans person ✨ Representing queer identities without relying on modern labels ✨ Why writing about hope can require more courage than writing about despair ✨ Using storytelling to imagine realistic paths toward a better world ✨ Addam's nonprofit For Elenvia and its mission to use the arts for positive change ✨ The possibility of bringing The Legend of Leanna Page to the screen Addam also shares their vision for making literature accessible regardless of someone's financial circumstances, including plans for a free digital library through For Elenvia. This is a powerful conversation about storytelling, identity, courage, creativity, hope, and the responsibility artists can have to imagine something better. If you're a fan of literary fantasy, meaningful storytelling, fantasy worlds, queer literature, philosophical fiction, or thought-provoking author conversations , you'll want to hear this episode. Connect with Addamand get their book - https://www.addamledamyen.com/ or https://forelenvia.org/ Connect with Dr.Denise Nicholson go to www.denisenicholson.com or email her at authordnicholson@gmail.com LIKE this episode COMMENT with your biggest takeaway SUBSCRIBE to Bold Book with Dr. Denise Nicholson SHARE this conversation with another reader or author #BoldBook #AddamLedamyen #TheLegendOfLeannaPage #FantasyBooks #LiteraryFantasy #AuthorInterview #QueerAuthors #LGBTQBooks #Storytelling #Hope #ForElenvia Watch. Listen. Share. Be Bold.
