About Gwyneth Lesley
Modern Greek myth retellings about love, power, grief, and the human stories beneath the gods.
I don’t write about the myths you were taught.
I write stories where ancient gods collide with modern lives –
not as distant figures of legend, but as something ... more human.
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Why these stories
I write Greek myth retellings where gods aren’t the point.
They’re reflections – literary devices – flawed,
emotional mirrors wearing divine skin, sure.
But I like to focus on the part of the myths
that are the most fascinating:
the humans.
Greek mythology was never just myth to me –
it was a way of understanding people.
Why we love the way we do.
Why we stay.
Why we leave.
Why we break.
In a way, to understand the questions
of our humanity that don't have clean answers.
What you’ll find in my books
No easy gods. No tidy endings.
Love stories that hurt (and heal).
Stories meant to be felt – not skimmed.
Characters shaped by power, grief, and impossible choices.
How I approach myth
I believe stories belong to their time
and still have something to say now.
I write them with that in mind.
With respect for where they came from
and curiosity for what they reveal about us today.
Across my books, you’ll find:
Literary myth retellings that linger
Cozy, myth-infused fantasy rooted in found family
Epic romances shaped by war, longing, and fate
A little more about me
I’m based in New Zealand, where I’m building a slower life –
writing, reading, playing with my two miniature dachshunds (Kel & Penny), cooking something elaborate in the kitchen, and working on our family lifestyle block.
I love stories that linger, characters that feel real enough to argue with, and books that stay with you long after you've finished them. I'll happily dog-ear a book and crack a spine if it keeps me in the story, and I don't mind 'eyes that soften', 'letting go of a breath you didn't know you were holding', or the main male character 'growling' at his love when she does something that grates on him.
I don't think there's anything better for inner turmoil than a good cup of tea and a long walk. I believe in a good cup of coffee to start your morning and a chapter of your book before bed is the best way to start and end your day. And I think if the Olympic gods had smartphones, we would be so SO screwed.
If you found yourself nodding along to any of that, welcome.
You're in the right place.
