Leah Pileggi


I write lots of stuff


  • Bio
  • Contact
  • Inspiration

Bio



Growing up in Kane, Pennsylvania, a tiny town in the middle of the Allegheny National Forest, I assumed everyone watched men use chain saws to make chairs out of tree stumps. While I didn’t have many books as a child, I now have more than one person probably should. Except that it’s not possible to have too many books.


PHOTO with Donna Gephart (donnagephart.com)





I didn't know where the notion came from, but I always felt that I wanted to be a writer. I finally just did it, starting in my late 40s. Years after my grandmother passed, I found a story she had written and hidden away. So, that's where I got the writing bug. Thank you, Gram!


I have lived in California, Connecticut, and Texas and now live in the big small town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I studied creative writing at Chatham University and professional writing at Carnegie Mellon University.


Please feel free to reach out to me with questions, comments, or just to say hi.


PHOTO with Sharon G. Flake (sharongflake.com)



Education



January 2010 to 2013

Carnegie Mellon University

MAPW program


September 2005 to December 2009

Chatham University

MFA Creative Writing courses, children's writing concentration


May 2005

University of Pittsburgh

B.A. in Liberal Studies/Elementary Education, summa cum laude 2004-2005 Anne M. Levensen Scholarship


June 1978

Duff's Business Institute

Associate Degree in Court, Convention, and Freelance Reporting



Work



1978 to 1988

Legal secretary for various law firms and corporations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and California



PHOTO with Andrea Davis Pinkney (https://www.lbyr.com/contributor/andrea-davis-pinkney/)



Life



1988 to 2006

Stay-at-home mom


2000 to 2002

YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh

Center for Race Relations Volunteer


1994 to 2002

Reading tutor in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania


PHOTO with Elizabeth Wein (elizabethwein.com)


PHOTOS BELOW, left to right

Kelly Starling Lyons (kellystarlinglyons.com)

Lois Lowry (loislowry.com)

Kirby Larson (kirbylarson.com)

Kwame Alexander (swamealexander.com)





© 2021 Leah Pileggi. All rights reserved.