Leslie Kohler is a professional writer whose work has been published in several magazines and newspapers. She has had both fiction and nonfiction articles appear in such publications as Highlights for Children, Skipping Stones, Listen, Winner and Positive Teens.

As a native Californian and current Arizona resident, Leslie has witnessed the social and economic complexities of immigration, which is pivotal to the plot of SINS OF THE BORDER. At 14, she took her first job working in the dry yards in the countryside of northern California. Preparing fruit to be dried in 100 plus degree heat proved to be a difficult and extremely unpleasant way to make extra money. But what was troubling to Leslie were the Hispanic families who toiled at this job for full-time employment, from mother and father, down to their young children. This experience made Leslie cognizant of the difficuties immigrants face, which has been reinforced by the intense and almost daily local news coverage of the Mexican border issue.

Leslie is active in organizations which serve to enhance the lives of women and children. Some of her affiliations include No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths) and Chances for Children-AZ.