My name is Leslie Simon.  I’ve been writing poetry since I was a young girl.  Whenever I felt deep emotions, I had to write it down in a poem.  It was cathartic for me, as it is for most writers.

It wasn’t until I was 70 that I decided to publish my poems.  My book is Pieces of My Heart.  In it, I tell my journey of going through the heartbreak of depression, healing, recovery and finally reaching a celebration of life.

In addition to writing, I am also an avid quilter.  I was inspired by my poems to sew a quilt for each one to evoke emotions that I expressed.  In the book the quilts are the illustrations for each poem.  The book is quite unique and it’s received very flattering reviews.  I am so proud that my book appeared in The New York Times and most delighted that I had the extreme pleasure to read at MoMA.

I’m joining the 24 hour Marathon to hone my skills and just to have fun being part of this challenge.