Epic Fantasy With Heart: Simi Valley Hosts Local Signing by Leslie Anne Lee
Sylvie Belmond 
Enter the Vale: Meet Leslie Anne Lee at Open Book Events in Topanga and Simi Valley
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Step inside a world of fantasy, magic, and fierce female leads this July when author, speaker, and lifelong storyteller Leslie Anne Lee brings her Legends of the Vale series to life with two special book signings. On Saturday, July 26 at Open Book Topanga and Sunday, July 27 at Open Book Simi Valley, readers can meet the imaginative mind behind Child of Dawn, Silken Waters, and her newest novel, The Ashwalker. Both events run from 1 to 3 p.m., with giveaways, signings, and a chance to ask questions about the series and its darker turns.
According to her website, Lee is a master of emotionally rich fantasy—layering romance, danger, and self-discovery into stories that resonate far beyond their magical borders. Fans describe The Ashwalker as “a sweeping, emotionally intense epic,” and it’s easy to see why. Set in the perilous realm of the Vale, Lee’s novels weave together ancient rivalries, forbidden desires, and questions of identity with world-building that rivals the genre’s greats.
And yet, for all her myth-making, Leslie Anne Lee’s real origin story is almost as captivating. As stated in a 2024 article in DeMode Magazine, Lee has been writing “almost as long as she’s been walking.” Her first book came at age six, and her second-grade mystery tale—featuring a ghost and a snowstorm—earned her runner-up in a young authors contest. The second-place finish stung, but it sparked the drive that still fuels her storytelling.
Lee’s love of literature was shaped early by her mother and grandmother, who filled her childhood with Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie, and Anne of Green Gables. She later devoured Dickens, Brontë, Lewis, and Uris, and began her first novel in high school. Today, she lives in California’s Central Valley. In addition to novels, she writes poetry, op-eds, and literary essays, and also performs as an actor and dancer.
“I never set out to be an author who just writes books. I wanted to tell stories that make people feel seen, brave, heartbroken, hopeful, and wildly alive. Every page I write is a thread connecting me to you, the reader. And that means everything to me. These characters, these worlds, they carried me through some of my darkest moments. If they can do the same for you, then we’ve already shared something beautiful,” Lee told CLAIR.
The settings for these meet-and-greets are equally meaningful. Open Book Topanga and Open Book Simi Valley aren’t just shops—they’re small-press independent bookstores known for championing local voices and bringing authors and readers face to face. They’re part of a rare breed: community hubs where conversations, discoveries, and inspiration unfold over shelves of stories. These bookstores host events, uplift underrepresented authors, and carve out space for creativity in a screen-saturated world.
That matters. Studies show that reading improves mental health, expands empathy, and builds lifelong learning habits. In-person bookstores make that possible in ways algorithms can’t. According to the American Booksellers Association, independent bookstores spark curiosity and offer a vital human connection—especially for young readers or new authors hoping to find their tribe.
Lee’s events offer just that kind of moment: a cozy, intimate chance to step into the world of the Vale, meet its creator, and maybe even rediscover your own spark for storytelling. For those who’ve followed the Legends of the Vale from the beginning—or anyone curious about writing, fantasy, or how to begin a novel when you’re still in grade school—these events are a portal worth stepping through.
More details can be found at www.leslieannelee.com.
