This Is Why

Because he was raised on a small farm in the Wilder, Idaho area, Leland was forced at an early age to see the funny side of life. These stories mostly come from that experience, and have been honed by telling and re-telling to his children and anyone that would listen.When it became obvious that he and his stories were being ignored, he decided to become a writer so he could be ignored in print and by a larger audience.

Leland is the parent of five children, all who have denied any responsibility for their father’s actions. All five have fled the nest looking for sanity. Leland and his wife live in Eastern Oregon.

"Award winning Leland Spencer is a master of ‘wink and a nudge’ humor. Reading his short stories is like a casual stroll down the path to yesterday where life was both simple and satisfying. Put your feet up, open a page, and prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey." Author Patricia Barnhart

"Leland Spencer's stories of bygone boyhood are clean, classic and clever, as comfortable as jeans with the knees worn out, and warmly welcome reminders of youth the way it used to be." Brad Tyer, Opportunity, Montana: Big Copper, Bad Water, and the Burial of an American Landscape

Notes: I have placed in three writing contests. The order of those placements chronologically is: First for a story entered as Non-fiction in a contest held by Writers of the Purple Sage out of Lakewood, Oregon. First Runner-up (means fourthplace) in a contest run by Oregon Colony Writers Guild out of Portland Oregon in their non-fiction catagory. That contest actually had entries for all over the United States. and lastly, my most prestigious win is a fourth place in a recent Writers Digest nationwide contest for a story in their non-fiction section. That story will be published in the November/December Writers Digest publication. I am continuing to enter contest from time to time.

For over two years I have been published in a six county monthly publication called "Horsefly" published out of the Prineville, Oregon area. Those stories are condensed from my book "This Is Why".

Author Profile:

Having enjoyed a blessed life, I am eager to share my story with others. I believe that in the context of the depressing events of the world, humor is one of the few antidotes still legal.

I was raised on a small farm in the Boise valley, set in the heart of Idaho. I did eventually matriculate (in spite of numerous counter dire predictions) to college, and graduated from Walla Walla College in 1972.

I have been employed as a teacher, baker, insurance adjuster, insurance agent, builder, internet salesman, and a manual laborer. The majority of my working years have been in the insurance business.

In addition to the above areas of employment, I have spent some time in writing for a local newspaper, and had a weekly political column in that newspaper for about two years. For the last two years or so, I have had a regular piece in a six county monthly magazine called "Horsefly". I am also a dedicated reader, and I read a lot of different genres.

I enjoy public speaking, and I have for a number of years used that ability to speak to my various church groups. Because of my remote location, our small church often needs a speaker for the church service, and I am usually glad to help.

My love of books has developed into an active participation in internet sales of used books. At any one time, I have over 14,000 books listed for sale on the net, and yes, they are all on my shelves waiting for buyers.

I am a parent of five almost normal children (the last one of which is still in college), and I am married to a lovely lady who continues to put up with me.

I currently am a member of three different writing groups. My local writing group is River Valley Writers (http://www.rivervalleywritersgroup.org/). I am an active member in the local meetings.

I and my family are constantly involved in doing things for our community. I have in the past been a member of the North Fork John Day Watershed Council. I am involved in doing maintenance at my local church and am a member of our local church building committee. I hold several different offices in our local church. When I can locate projects in the area, I get actively involved in volunteering. My wife recently sponsored a dental clinic in our area, whereby we had ten people including dentists, hygienists, dental students and coordinators living with us for most of a week while providing free dental services to the community using two dental vans. That was a time of very great activity for all of us. We also have a number of physically challenged neighbors in the area who constantly need some sort of help, and they know we are always willing to assist them. I also volunteer to assist a local grocer in stocking his shelves just to help keep him in business in our tiny community

Tour schedules My only scheduled appearance at this time is an October 10 meeting in Lakeview, Oregon to have the program for the writers group called Writers of the Purple Sage and to sell and sign books. I have plans for a book signing in Walla Walla Washington and Pendleton, Oregon but dates are not yet firm.

Illustrations My book has 10 inside illustrations which were marvelously drawn by my daughter-in-law Mackenzie Hidalgo.