Artists Who Inspire
H.M. Leona
She was already taking off her coat as she stepped through the door that February evening. “I saw the notice in the window…” she said. “I don’t know what you’re reading, but I’d like to listen in if I may.” A curious stranger seeking connection. “Yes, please, absolutely.” I replied.
The following morning her long thank you email was waiting for me when I logged in. Clearly a skilled writer, the communication was lucid, informed, generous. She joined the book group and asked for a list of everything we had read to date. We exchanged a few emails. I learned her job requires a fair amount of writing- the standard stuff including professional journals. Interesting background…born in Taiwan…spoke a couple of languages…working on a memoir. We didn’t get further than that.
Two weeks later, the world shut down. That’s when the story of her story began to take on a life of its own.
The next time we spoke was in December 2020. She told me about her forthcoming book. We agreed to connect after New Year’s.
“The passion and urgency of putting love into the universe consumed me at all hours of the night. Even when my body was exhausted, my hands would not stop until I finished the book.”
Leona’s personal story is a tale of incredible resourcefulness and resilience. From those experiences and lessons learned all too early in life, she now helps others navigate their own hardships.
Leona doesn’t have any art training and readily admits she was incredibly surprised when the story flowed onto the pages accompanied by black and white illustrations. When family members read her work-in-progress, they encouraged her to buy a set of markers “because the world really needed some color.”
“Everyday, I ask myself what am I going to do to elevate the quality of life that I am a part of. And so I choose to make an impact doing one thing for one other person. It only takes one action to make a great day.”
You Are Where I Am transcends age and circumstance. The book delivers a pure, innocent, soothing message about love, loss, forgiveness and redemption.
And you know, her family was right about the color. Her palette is exactly what the world needs right now!