Roger Leslie (1961–) Biography

(Roger James Leslie)

Personal

Born 1961, in Lincoln Park, MI; Ethnicity: "White." Education: University of Houston, B.A. (English education), 1984, M.L.S., 1997; Antioch University, M.A. (creative writing), 1995. Hobbies and other interests: Spiritual studies, cinema, swimming, dachshunds, travel.

Addresses

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bayou Publishing, 2524 Nottingham, Houston, TX 77005-1412.

Career

Freelance writer, book reviewer, editor, writing coach, and public speaker. Galena Park Intermediate School District, Houston, TX, teacher, 1985–96, librarian, 1996–2000, 2002–. Guest on media programs. School Library Information Science Alumni Board, founding member, 1997–.

Member

Association of Authors and Publishers, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Texas Library Association.

Honors Awards

District Teacher of the Year, Galena School District, 1989; Teacher of the Month, North Channel Chamber of Commerce, 1989; Outstanding Teacher in Texas Award, University of Texas, 1992; winner of one-act play-writing contest, Scriptwriters Houston, 1993, for Pardon This Interruption, Teachers; special citation, City of Galena Park, TX, 1993, for Galena Park: The Community That Shaped Its Own History; Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, Project Hope of Houston, 2001–02; Galena Park, TX, City Council declared April 1, 2004 Roger Leslie Day; Ben Franklin Silver Award, and Bronze Award, Foreword magazine, both 2005, both for Success Express for Teens.

Writings

(With Sue Elkins Edwards) Galena Park: The Community That Shaped Its Own History, privately printed, 1993.

(With Patricia Potter Wilson) Premiere Events: Library Programs That Inspire Elementary Patrons, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 2001.

(With Patricia Potter Wilson) Igniting the Spark: Library Programs That Inspire High School Patrons, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 2001.

(With Patricia Potter Wilson) Center Stage: Library Programs That Inspire Middle-School Patrons, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 2002.

Drowning in Secret (novel), Absey & Co. (Spring, TX), 2002.

Isak Dinesen, Gothic Storyteller, Morgan Reynolds (Greensboro, NC), 2004.

Success Express for Teens: Fifty Activities That Will Change Your Life, Bayou Publishing (Houston, TX), 2004.

Author of Pardon This Interruption, Teachers (one-act play), published in English in Texas magazine.

Work in Progress

Five Minutes from Home, a young-adult novel; a motion-picture history book; coauthoring a travel book; children's and adult versions of Success Express for Teens, for Bayou Publishing.

Sidelights

Roger Leslie told SATA: "Since I was thirteen, I knew I wanted to be a novelist. When I write fiction, the creative process provides me with the unparalleled reward of digging deep into my emotions and bringing forth an array of characters who can express what I believe about the goodness of this world with richer, more diverse nuances than I ever share in everyday interactions. As I wrote stories and even my first novel during my teens, I thought that only through fiction could I reveal the depths of who I am and strive to be.

"It came as a great surprise to me when, in an effort to help a friend, I began writing nonfiction as an adult and ignited a different yet equally riveting creative fire. Since that time, I've maintained the practice of writing fiction and nonfiction books simultaneously, and the combination has made my creative life an eclectic, compelling adventure. One type of writing complements the other, and my openness to accepting offers to write books in various genres nurtures me with a thrilling career.

"As an author, public speaker, librarian, editor, writing coach, teacher, and book reviewer I am often asked how I'm able to keep up with so many professions, and to do them all at the level of excellence to which I always aspire. I am a firm believer in abundant energy. When we set our minds to any task, opportunities immediately surface, and with them come all necessary resources and support. Best of all, as we pursue any projects that we believe will add value to this world, we won't need stamina to complete hard work, for the excitement of discovering and fulfilling our destiny navigates us through every obstacle and carries us to successes we otherwise could never even imagine. Every moment that we stay alert and strive for excellence we become part of the magic of life that surrounds us all the time."