Told entirely through the diary of a female vigilante killer, Diary of a Damsel Dame is a psychological horror-thriller about a woman unraveling under grief, obsession, and her own warped sense of justice. Lee Stackhouse wrote it in the wake of real loss, and beneath its dark humor and its nods to Dexter and Gone Girl lies something heartbreakingly human: a story about loneliness and the desperate ways we try to feel seen.
Content note: this book and the discussion below reference grief, an abusive upbringing, and violence.
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Q&A with Lee Stackhouse
Q: What is Diary of a Damsel Dame about, and what was going on in your life when you wrote it?
A: I actually wrote this book in the wake of losing my own mother, and while facing the dissolution of a twenty-year career at the hands of an abusive, narcissistic boss. So while it’s wrapped in horror and dark humor, it’s also deeply rooted in grief and identity. I think that may hit differently for readers who’ve navigated motherhood, loss, or both.
Q: When did writing become part of your life, and why was this the right debut?
A: I started writing at a young age as a creative outlet and an escape from an abusive upbringing. It was a way to process my big emotions filtered through my tiny child mind. As I grew older I won many awards and actually became a published poet in my teen years. In the depths of grief and in search of a new career path, I decided to follow my dreams to be an author, and this was one of the first novels I wrote. It’s weird and experimental, including prose, poetry, made-up words, and bizarre line cadence to lean into the main character’s psychotic rants. It felt right as my debut, as it’s a little too human to have ever come from a machine.
Q: Which character was the most challenging, and the most rewarding, to write?
A: The main character, Lilah, was both for me. She has a troubled past, a damaged mind, and a sarcastic soul. I found myself laughing with her, laughing at her, and crying for her all at once.
Q: What do you most hope readers take away from the book?
A: I’d really like the main takeaway to be a reflection on the cycle of abuse, and how monsters are more often made than born. Every villain has a broken heart underneath their evil exterior, and if the world were a little softer to that fact, I believe fewer of them would be out there spreading suffering.
Q: How much of the story is drawn from your own life?
A: My own personal life story and childhood had a great influence on the story; however, it is ultimately a work of fiction.
Q: Is there a question about the book you wish readers would ask?
A: I’d love if they were curious about whether there will be more of the story and what the planned series progression will be. And the answer is yes: there are 3 planned books to come in the series, and readers can visit my website or Amazon for more information on what they’ll be about.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from the book?
A: My favorite quote, from chapter 1: “Loneliness was never meant for the living; it was especially designed for the dying by Satan himself. Whether we’re surrounded by loved ones or not, it’s only the one slipping into the next world that is experiencing death. Dying is the loneliest moment of anyone’s life, and everyone seems hell-bent on getting there as fast as possible.”
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: Getting the word out there through self-promotion on social media. There are mostly only blockages in the way, and not many communities or areas that are supportive.
Q: What is next for you as a writer?
A: 3 books in the pipeline, plus 3 more planned in this series.
Author Bio
Lee Stackhouse is a creative director turned author who channels their fascination with morality, control, and the human psyche into dark, character-driven fiction. Diary of a Damsel Dame was written in the wake of personal loss and professional upheaval, inspired by a lifelong curiosity about how trauma shapes identity, and how the same boiling water that hardens the egg softens the potato.
Buy the book here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble · Website: leestackhouse.mailerpage.io
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