Leslie Gentile

Leslie Gentile always wanted to be writer and a musician and constantly irritated her family by singing loudly and telling stories. They encouraged her to pursue her dreams, mainly so they could get some peace and quiet. Leslie Gentile’s debut novel Elvis, Me and The Lemonade Stand Summer (DCB Young Readers, 2021) won the 2021 Victoria Children's Book Prize and The Jean Little First-Novel Award for 2022. Her books have been nominated for 15 awards, including The 2025 Washington State Library Award. Leslie is also a singer/songwriter & has written songs to accompany her readings, making for fun, dynamic presentations. Though not connected with a specific nation, Leslie is of Indigenous and settler heritage, and has Salish, Tuscarora and Scottish ancestry. She lives on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people with her husband and a German Shepherd who is totally convinced he is a lap dog. Leslie is having fun dabbling in podcast stories for kids and has created The Agatha Crispy Detective Agency series, now found on all streaming platforms. Leslie loves fish & chips, beading, camping, splashing around on beaches, and hanging out with her three grandchildren.