“Leslie Gould’s gift for creating compelling characters never ceases to amaze and delight! She raises the bar with every book she writes.”
— Mindy Starns Clark, bestselling author of Echoes of Titanic and The House That Cleans Itself
My strongest memories from childhood include stories of hope and grace—and how those stories connected me to family and friends. I also soaked up stories of redemption in the small-town churches we attended.
Even though I knew I wanted to write fiction by the time I was in the sixth grade, as I grew older I pursued other things, such as majoring in history and communications, working as a museum curator, then as a public relations specialist, and finally as a magazine editor. Once I finally started writing fiction, it was another ten years until I sold my first novel. Soon after, I received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which allowed me to teach writing at a local university besides writing novels full-time.
I’ve written a large collection of Amish, dual-time, and contemporary novels, set in a variety of places—from the Pacific Northwest to Amish Country to France to Vietnam.
My husband, Peter, and I have been married forty-one years and have four adult children and two grandchildren. We live in Portland, Oregon and enjoy traveling, urban hikes, and hanging out with family and friends!
Official Bio
Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of forty-eight novels, including the Amish Memories series and the Plain Patterns series. She’s sold 800,000 books over the last two decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and communications and an MFA in creative writing. Leslie enjoys research trips, church history, and hiking, especially in the beautiful state of Oregon where she lives. She and her husband, Peter, have four adult children and two grandchildren.
Awards:
- ECPA Bronze Sales Award for 100,000 sold, 2022, The Amish Midwife (co-written with Mindy Starns Clark), Harvest House
- Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Award, 2020 for A Faithful Gathering, Bethany House
- Carol Award Finalist, ACFW, 2018 for A Plain Leaving, Bethany House
- Oregon Christian Writers’ Trailblazer Achievement Award, 2013
- Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Award, 2013 for The Amish Bride (co-written with Mindy Starns Clark), Harvest House
- Christy Award Winner, 2012 for The Amish Midwife (co-written with Mindy Starns Clark), Harvest House
- Finalist, Tom Doulis Graduate Fiction Award, Portland State University, 2008
- Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Inspirational Novel of the Year Award, 2006 for Beyond the Blue, Random House