Nearing a Far God
Praying the Psalms with Our Whole Selves

About The Author

LESLIE LEYLAND FIELDS is a multi-award winning writer, editor, and international speaker who lives on two islands in Alaska. She has written/edited 14 nonfiction books of memoir and essays on a variety of subjects, including memoir writing, the spirituality of food, forgiveness, wilderness, discipleship and parenting. Her books have been translated into 9 languages. Leslie has traveled all over the world, both as a seeker and as a speaker, including treks across the Sahara, through Asia, Europe and Central America. She has spoken and taught in numerous countries including Mongolia, South Africa, France, Slovakia, In 2013, she began the Harvester Island Writers' Workshop, a week long writing workshop and retreat at a beautiful wilderness island in Alaska. Guests have included Ann Voskamp, Philip Yancey, Scot McKnight, Bret Lott, Luci Shaw, Jeanne Murray Walker and others. Summers, she also leads Your Story Matters Retreats and Psalm Retreats in Kodiak. Leslie has written for many publications including The Atlantic, Orion, Books and Culture, Beliefnet, Christianity Today earning her a number of EPA awards. She has three graduate degrees, in Creative Nonfiction, English and Journalism. Leslie taught for many years in both undergraduate and graduate programs through Seattle Pacific University and the University of Alaska. She has served as a guest writer and writer-in residence at many colleges throughout the country. She continues to teach through live classes and retreats as well as through live online classes, including her Memoir Masterclass, with more than 1000 writers from around the world. Leslie and her husband Duncan have 6 children, a daughter and 5 sons ranging from ages 35 - 21. She blogs at leslieleylandfields.com.