Meet Leslie
Her books have been translated into eleven languages.
Her essays have appeared in more than 50 publications including Orion, The Atlantic, Christianity Today, Best Essays Northwest, The Christian Science Monitor, CT, The Alaska Literary Field Guide and many others.
Writing & Teaching
Leslie has three graduate degrees (in English, Journalism, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction) and has taught in undergraduate and graduate programs around the country. She’s worked many years as a professional editor. Her online Memoir Masterclass program has over a thousand students around the world. Many of her students have gone on to publish their manuscripts, which makes her incredibly proud! In addition, she is a professional narrator who narrates her own audio books and contributes regularly to Our American Stories.
Workshops & Retreats
Leslie leads three annual writing workshops. Every September The Harvester Island Writers’ Workshop convenes on an island in Alaska where she and her family live. In June, she leads the Write Your Story: Kodiak Retreat on Kodiak Island. In the spring, she heads south to teach the Palm Springs Writing Retreat. Each gathering features lively instruction, excursions, and deep community.
Traveling & Speaking
Leslie travels and speaks on a range of topics at conferences, universities, retreats, and churches throughout the U.S. and the world. Some of her favorite places are Mongolia, Slovakia, South Africa, Moldova and France. (Her speaking schedule is here.) When not traveling, she returns home to Kodiak Island and Harvester Island, where she and her family work in commercial salmon fishing. She’s usually found hatching her next book while kayaking and smoking salmon.