I have been in Ojai at our orange grove for the past two days with Ray and granddaughter Luna. We returned this evening, taking Luna home to be reunited with her mom, dad and 3 1/2 month old brother, Nico. I had the pleasure of doing absolutely nothing but tending to three-year-old Luna while we…
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Luna with Us in Ojai
Luna is asleep beside me here in the Airstream as I write this. She had just five minutes ago said she didn’t want to go to bed yet so I suggested she sit with me on the couch. Alas, she was asleep three minutes later. We have had a busy day. Lots of playing games…
Saying Goodbye to One of My Graduating Seniors
I just had my last session with a boy with whom I have worked since he was in middle school. He is graduating from high school in just a few weeks and going off to college. He will be going to school locally so it is highly likely that we will continue to work together…
First Painting Class Ever at the Barnsdall Art Center
Liz, Ray and I went to our art classes tonight at the Barnsdall Art Center in Hollywood. Ray is back in ceramics class and Liz and I are taking acrylic painting. This is quite a stretch for me since I have never painted anything in my life beyond elementary school art class where I don’t…
Moving Weekend
Two of my three daughters moved their residences this weekend; the third one has been moving around the country on business and pleasure. Sarah and Gregorio moved from Highland Park to Sierra Madre (about the same distance from us – 40 minutes without traffic) so they could be closer to Luna and Nico’s nanny and…
Last Days of My “Writing Short” Class
10:22 pm. I have been working on the final critiques and line editing for my Story Circle Network “Writing Short” class, which is on writing Flash Fiction and Flash Memoir. The class officially ends on Monday. I had the special treat of meeting three of my students in this class at the Stories of the Heart conference…
Eli Aminpour: Heading to Stanford for a Summer Research Fellowship
I am very pleased to announce that my writing student Eli Aminpour has been awarded the highly competitive Dr. Michael P. Fischbein Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery Research at Stanford University. Eli, a Beverly Hills High School junior, will head to Stanford for 8 weeks this summer to learn research techniques and conduct research projects in…
Repost: Memory of Mom
I am reposting this piece that I wrote a few years back because today is my mother’s birthday. While this is only one of many memories I have of my mother, it remains one of the most salient. Whenever I hear the word individuation, I immediately think of this conversation she and I shared. ***…
Unexpected Freedom = Heaven
Ray, Liz and I are supposed to be at Barnsdall Art Center tonight for the beginning of our new classes. Ray is taking pottery and Liz and I will be exploring painting with acrylics. However, none of us is there. Liz is leaving early in the morning for a conference in Cleveland and sounded instantly…
When Life Presses In
I have been playing catch up all evening, communicating with the Story Circle Network online teachers about the upcoming term and responding to reading comments and writing submissions from my current online flash fiction/flash memoir class. This week has been a whirlwind of activity centered around students, family and church. I had two solid days…
20 Minutes a Day 