Lesléa Newman was born on November 5th in Brooklyn, New York, and lived on Long Island as a child. She began writing at age eight and was first published as a teenager in Seventeen magazine. Ms. Newman received a bachelor of arts degree in education and taught preschool for a number of years.

Her book Hachiko Waits is based on a true story. It has won numerous awards for its story of a faithful dog.

Ms. Newman writes for both children and adults and teaches in the Stonecast MFA program in creative writing at the University of Southern Maine.

She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.

Today, she lives in Massachusetts. Her newest books are Daddy's Song and Skunk's Spring Surprise. To read more about Lesléa Newman . . .