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Author, Publisher, Motivational Speaker

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Bowerbird Publishing

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HELLO

My name is Crystal Leonardi and I am an Author, Motivational Speaker, Publisher, wife and mother to 4 beautiful children. My lifelong dream of becoming an Author was fulfilled in September 2021, with the publication of my first book, Boy of Steel.

Past. Present. Future.

I was born in 1982 and raised in Cairns, Queensland Australia.

My love of literature and writing began at High School as I became more involved in performing arts and school theatre productions. I particularly enjoyed studies in poetry, drama and Shakespeare so decided to follow my passion with the commencement of a Bachelor of Creative Industries in 2000. After a semester, I transferred into a Bachelor of Secondary Education, Dance (major) and English (minor) at the University of Technology, Brisbane.

It was at university that I was inspired to ‘write’ with the guidance of several positive role models and mentors who nurtured my natural talent to document historical events and develop them into authentic and compelling stories.

Now, a mother of 4, my home is perched high above the green acres and rolling hills of the Leonardi farm in Julatten, Far North Queensland. Surrounded by virgin scrub, rainforest flora and fauna and an abundance of fresh air and views of the Great Dividing Range. Our farm is also home to my husband Sam and children; Antonia (11), Josie (8), Alyssa (5) and 4-year-old Sebastian, our brain cancer survivor.

My professional writing journey began in 2020, when journaling became my creative outlet during a horrific year for our family. Aside from Sebastian's brain cancer diagnosis in January 2020, we navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic, isolated from home and away from our loved ones.

Today, I love to write nestled in my comfy, well-worn armchair whilst watching over the children, who blissfully play in a carefree, safe home - a lifetime away from the trauma their minds and bodies endured in 2020.

After publishing Boy of Steel, I have spent my time promoting the book and its cause – to raise awareness and funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Furthermore, I have enjoyed being interviewed for TV, radio, magazine and newspaper and feel very blessed to be an advocate for hope and a voice for sick children. I am involved in many Writers Groups and organizations, including the QLD Writer’s Centre and the Australian Writer’s Centre and hope to continue developing my writing skills through these avenues.

Looking to the future, I hope to continue to grow my audiences through motivational speaking and editorial writing and hope to receive recognition for my writing through the various Australian Writers Awards.

My second book, ‘My Brother Sebastian’ is currently at editing stage and I look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter in my professional writing career with you soon.

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Crystal

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My Books

Boy of Steel

Little Sebastian's Big Miracle

Boy of Steel

LITTLE SEBASTIAN'S BIG MIRACLE

Published 4th September 2021

Self-Published by Bowerbird Publishing

Distribution & Printing by Publicious Pty Ltd

The pages of Boy of Steel are filled with raw emotion as Crystal reflects on Sebastian’s unimaginable brain cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delicately retold using Crystal’s intricate journal entries, each chapter draws the reader into a beautiful story of hope, love and resilience.

Boy of Steel has a far-reaching message of how the strength inside of us is just waiting to shine. Written by a mother who shares her struggles with guilt, mental health challenges, loneliness and trauma, makes Boy of Steel an engaging page-turner. Using vivid imagery and an honest recount, Crystal has created a heart wrenching, unforgettable memoir.

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