Meet Lei Edrada
I write because there are worlds I want to explore, people I want to connect with, emotions I want to experience, adventures I want to preserve, and impossibilities I want to live. I write because I want to share the beauty of life with others.
Hello! My name is Danielle Jeune Edrada Solomon, born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. If you're a reader, you can call me Lei.
When choosing an author name, I thought of when I first fell in love with reading. A memory came to mind of my little brother mispronouncing my name to Lei-Lei.
In Piddig, my lolo and lola would tell me legends, my ma would read me fairy tales, and I was nicknamed Butawtaw (talkative). When I came to the United States at the age of seven, my voice was often silenced and reading became my comfort. I soon found my passion for writing in high school when poetry allowed me to express myself. I self-published a poetry book (currently off-market) and wrote a contemporary romance novel that will never see the light of day; this was how I started.
As a zellennial (too young to be a millennial, too old to be a Gen Z), career choice was a tribulation. I followed the path of Yoga and have been teaching since 2019. In the year of 2024, my career was devastated; and though I continue to teach, I no longer do it full time. This personal tragedy led me to re-ignite my passion for writing. From the pieces of myself that brought me to where I am today, my debut fantasy novel (Sea of Blood) was born.
To pay homage to my Filipino roots, American experiences, and Yoga (which has brought me so much joy as an adult), I decided to finally write the story that has been itching me for years. Through the ups and downs of life, I have learned a plethora of lessons. And with my writing, I share my ken. I hope to entertain, inspire, and create a feeling of connection for my readers.
Favorites
We find little pieces of ourselves scattered throughout so many of the stories that we read. Combine someone's favorite stories, and you figure out who the person is.
BOLD indicates a banned book
Classics
The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
Mystery/Thriller/Gothic/Horror
Tender is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica
My Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russell
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride - Roshani Chokshi
A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness
If We Were Villains - M. L. Rio
Historical Fiction
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens
Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys
Non-Fiction
Anatomy of the Spirit - Caroline Myss
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Night - Elie Wiesel
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Blood Over Bright Haven - M. L. Wang
The Hunger Games (trilogy) - Suzanne Collins
The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern
Six of Crows (duology) - Leigh Bardugo
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Weyward - Emilia Hart
Contemporary Lit-Fic
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong
Looking for Alaska - John Green
Okay for Now - Gary D. Schimdt
Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
It’s Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini
The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Poetry and Graphic Novels
Inward (trilogy) - Yung Pueblo
Milk & Honey - Rupi Kaur
Saga (ongoing) - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples