Background & Upbringing
Leslie grew up in Boise’s North End, in a family with deep Idaho roots. Her grandparents farmed potatoes in the nearby countryside, while her parents ran a small craft brewery downtown, reflecting Boise’s blend of agricultural tradition and burgeoning creative scene.
Education
She attended Boise High, active in debate club and the school newspaper. Leslie then studied Journalism at Boise State University, participating in its thriving literary community. A later fellowship at a national magazine took her briefly to Chicago, where she honed her investigative writing skills.
Professional Background
Starting out as a local reporter for the Idaho Statesman, Leslie quickly gained recognition for her in-depth features on the region’s shifting demographics and tech start-up scene. Her foray into creative nonfiction led to a book-length exploration of Idaho’s cultural transformation, weaving family stories with broader societal trends. Now, she balances freelance journalism with memoir-style essays.
Places Lived
Mostly Boise, with a year in Chicago for her fellowship and subsequent short reporting stints in Seattle and Denver. Boise remains central to her identity—its evolving downtown, the foothills, and the Boise River frequently appear in her work.
Influences
She admires the incisive commentary of Joan Didion, the frontier spirit of Wallace Stegner, and the down-to-earth poetry of Mary Oliver. Musically, Leslie is partial to indie rock and local Boise acts, finding in them a reflection of her city’s youthful, evolving energy.
