Leslie Ruth (Mogenson) Damude lives in London, Ontario, Canada, and is blessed to have two adult children and seven grandchildren who live nearby. An interest in creative writing, social justice, and community development was stimulated by three years (1985 to 1988) spent in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire), as well as experiences during her part-time work as a family physician. Retirement in 2019 rekindled her interest in creative writing.

Leslie helped her mother Ruth (Wensley) Mogenson write a memoir called Take My Hands, which inspired Ruthie’s Dusty Path to Courage. Leslie also wrote a novella for adults called Hearts of Wax about an incident in the life of Elizabeth, daughter of renowned British abolitionist Wiliam Wilberforce. She is currently rewriting it as a longer novel. Leslie also enjoys interviewing and writing articles about the life stories of people at her church.