Official Website of Author

CRYSTAL LEONARDI

Book Launch
Smithfield Library
Friday, 15 October 2021
10:30am

Book Launch
Mossman Library
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
1:00pm

Author Talk, Meet & Greet
Melbourne Cup KIND Inc. Charity Luncheon
ZINC Restaurant, Port Douglas
Tuesday, 2 November 2021

My Story

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 (10), Josie (7), Alyssa (5) and 3-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 just 18 short months before.

Blog

The Farm

My Books

Boy of Steel

Little Sebastian's Big Miracle

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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