Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite read. Today I’m talking to Janeen (Landry) Leese-Taylor about their book, Dot.Exe.

Rachel: Tell our readers a little about yourself and your work!

Landry: My name is Janeen (Landry) Leese-Taylor (They/them and She/Her, non-binary AFAB), and I have self-published 6 books so far on my writing journey. I write mostly fantasy with a touch of science-fiction, with the majority of my current works set in the UK and Ireland. I love writing about places that I have visited and enjoy creating works that are urban, authentic and represent a wide range of people and cultures.

I currently have several works in progress that I am hoping to publish before the end of 2026, including a fantasy romance based on my adventures in Japan.

My most recent release is called Dot Exe and it was released on 27 Jan. 2025. It is a standalone m/m romance about a computing engineer who rescues an Android that has become sentient. Set-in dystopian version of Dublin City, this action-adventure novel follows the pair as they try to reveal the evil corporation’s secrets to the world and save the Androids while they’re at it. Initially having been the very first novel that I wrote, it was held back due to a publishing scam. Once I finally got the rights back (after several long years of battling for them) I rewrote the book from scratch and cast a very familiar name as my new villain. 

Rachel: That sounds really cool! What are some of your influences?

Landry: I have always been inspired by the notion of magic hiding just out of sight and wanted to tell stories that blurred the line between the real world and fiction. Stories such as Derek Landy’s Skullduggery Pleasant and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl showed that sprinkling magic over real-world locations could make even the most insane tales feel strangely possible. Though I like to let my settings speak for themselves, the character’s have always been what drive my stories forward. Creating characters that feel real and have real-world flaws is essential to any story, I think.

Rachel: Can you give some examples?

Landry: My favourite fictional characters tend to be from video games, such as RPGs that lend themselves to more character-driven narratives. Lately, I’ve been drawn to wizards and mages in fiction such as Gale Dekarios from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Emmrich Volkarin from Dragon Age Veilguard. These have definitely had influences on the stories I am currently working on.

Rachel: Among your own characters, which are your favourites?

Landry: Trying to pick which of my characters is my favourite is a tricky task, because I feel like all of them live in my head and can hear my answer! I think, if I had to pick just one, it would have to be Officer Theodore Night from Strays/Fetch because writing grumpy characters is way too much fun! My husband is a big help when it comes to creating good characters, because he helps me to shape them and give them realistic flaws. It keeps them grounded and makes them feel like real people. If I write a scene that feels out of character, he is quick to get me back on track again!

Rachel: Where can readers find your latest release?

Landry: The book is available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dot-Exe-Janeen-Leese-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0DV7DZ9YL?ref_=ast_author_mpb