More About Me

As part of a nomadic navy family, I grew up singing and telling stories in the backseat of the car, so it was only natural that I became a writer and musician. I was the youngest of seven kids and can remember watching my siblings talk about their favourite books and authors. This was long before I could read, and I remember feeling left out of this amazing club they all belonged to. Even as young as four years old I could see the power of books and desperately wanted to be an author. 

Fast forward to the early 1990s  when as a singer-songwriter I performed with two of my sisters under our maiden name as The White Sisters across Vancouver Island and beyond.  I now perform with two of my adult children  as The Leslie Gentile Band. 

Being a musician has its own rewards and I’ve had some great experiences through the years. 

But all the while, in the back of my mind was that niggling idea that I wanted to write a book. So, one day, I sat down at my computer and gave myself permission to write. Out of that came my first middle-grade novel, and I haven't looked back. 

When I began doing readings of Elvis, Me and The Lemonade Stand Summer, I was asked to perform some music. In the end, I wrote songs to go along with the book, and discovered that it's a great way to explore themes like empathy and kindness. 

When my second book was released, I had four songs ready, written from a dog's point of view. 

Now I’ve found a way to blend both worlds as I perform original songs with my readings.  

While I'm not connected to a specific nation, I have Scottish, Tuscarora and Coast Salish ancestry.