Lee Winter is a writing name used by an Australian journalist and novelist. The person was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and writes stories that focus on lesbian characters.

Biography

Lee Winter grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland, before her family moved to Brisbane. She had a 30-year career in journalism and won awards for her work. Later, she became a novelist, writing books about lesbian characters. Her stories include mystery, thriller, and romance genres.

In 2015, she released the novel The Red Files. Marisol Cortez of Lesbians on the Loose called it "a great read by a promising debut author" and praised the writing and characters. She noted that the book was inspired by Winter’s journalism experience. In 2016, she wrote Requiem for Immortals. Tara Scott of Lesbians on the Loose said the book allows readers to enjoy a different genre without leaving lesbian fiction. Both novels were nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery and won the Golden Crown Literary Society Award for Mystery/Thriller: The Red Files in 2016 and Requiem for Immortals in 2017.

In 2017, she wrote Shattered, which won the 2018 Golden Crown Literary Society Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy. In 2020, she wrote Hotel Queens, which won the 2021 Golden Crown Literary Society Award for Romantic Blend.

In 2023, Winter started a new book series called The Villains, with The Fixer as the first book. Christina Tucker of Autostraddle said The Fixer is ideal for readers who enjoy slow-burn stories. The book set a record for the most preorders at its publisher, Ylva Publishing. That same year, she released Chaos Agent, which Tucker said combined smart ideas about morality with a heartfelt ending. Claire Heuchan of AfterEllen described The Villains as a political thriller similar to Scandal if the main character was lesbian. She noted the romance between the main characters, Eden and Michelle, as a strong example of opposites attracting. Winter was one of three winners of that year’s Alice B Readers Award.

In 2024, Chaos Agent won the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) Award for best Romantic Blend and the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award (Gold). In 2025, her book Vengeance Planning for Amateurs won the GCLS Award for Romantic Blend and earned a Silver prize in the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award.

According to Heuchan, Winter’s novels show a deep understanding of media, politics, and how power is structured. She works as an editor part-time.

Works

• The Red Files. Book 1. (2015) 2nd edition. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2021. ISBN 978-3-96324-534-3.
• Under Your Skin. Book 2. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2018. ISBN 978-3-96324-026-3.

• The Fixer. Book 1. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2023. ISBN 978-3-96324-746-0.
• Chaos Agent. Book 2. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2023. ISBN 978-3-96324-749-1.
• Number Six. Book 3. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2025. ISBN 978-3-96324-982-2.

• Requiem For Immortals. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2016. ISBN 978-3-95533-710-0.
• Shattered. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2017. ISBN 978-3-95533-563-2.
• The Brutal Truth. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2017. ISBN 978-3-95533-898-5.
• Breaking Character. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2018. ISBN 978-3-96324-113-0.
• Changing The Script. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2019. ISBN 978-3-96324-296-0.
• Hotel Queens. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2020. ISBN 978-3-96324-457-5.
• The Awkward Truth. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2021. ISBN 978-3-96324-583-1.
• Vengeance Planning for Amateurs. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2024. ISBN 978-3-96324-865-8.

• Love is Not Nothing. E-Book. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2017. ISBN 978-3-95533-872-5.
• Sliced Ice: Lee Winter's Iconic Ice Queens. Ylva Publishing, Kriftel 2021. ISBN 978-3-96324-530-5.