Leanne enjoys working with literary, upmarket, book club, commercial, and young adult fiction. She also enjoys working with genre fiction, particularly in the historical fiction, science fiction, and crime/legal thriller genres.
Education
- Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts (fiction, with cross-work in creative nonfiction), University of California at Riverside, Palm Desert.
- Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in history, from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California.
- Associate of Science degree in Paralegalism (ABA-approved program), College of the Sequoias, Visalia, California.
- Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies, Hartnell College, Salinas, California.
- Copyediting Certificate, University of California at San Diego Extension
- Book Coaching Certification through Author Accelerator.
- Continuing Education: Leanne continues her writing, book coaching, editing, and legal education by attending UC Riverside Palm Desert residency lectures and learning opportunities as an alum; by enrolling in various online lectures, courses, and workshops; by taking ABA-approved CLE courses in the law; by taking editing courses through the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and ACES: The Society for Editing; and by completing writing masterclasses with writers like Neil Gaiman, Joyce Carol Oates, Judy Blume, and Walter Mosley.
Experience
- Fiction Editor at Kelp Journal (2021 to present)
- Books Editor at GXRL (2021 to 2023)
- Multimedia Editor, Books Editor, and Lead Copyeditor for The Coachella Review (2019-2021)
- Fiction and Poetry Editor for Byzantium (2017-2018)
- 30+ years as a paralegal, with experience in civil litigation, criminal law, family law, municipal law, employment law, contracts, and business law.
- Planning Team, Bombay Beach Lit Fest 2023.
- President of SLO NightWriters. Previously served on the Board of Directors in various capacities, including as Membership Director, Secretary, and refreshments coordinator.
- Voting member of the Central Coast Paralegal Association. Previously served on the Board of Directors in various capacities, including Vice President, Secretary, Program Director, and Webmaster.
- California Certified Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Counsel, previously serving in a volunteer capacity for Lumina Alliance (formerly RISE).
- Volunteer at the North County Women’s Shelter’s Temporary Restraining Order Clinic, preparing TRO applications and declarations.
- Volunteer at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
- For more about Leanne’s work as a writer, visit leannephillips.com.
Professional Affiliations
- Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach
- ACES: The Society for Editing
- AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs)
- Central Coast Paralegal Association
- EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association)
- National Book Critics Circle
- SD/PEN (San Diego Professional Editors Network)
- SLO NightWriters
Style & Usage Guides include:
- The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style; journalism)
- BuzzFeed Style Guide (internet and social media)
- The Chicago Manual of Style (prose editing, published works)
- California Style Manual (legal editing)
- Garner’s Modern English Usage
- MLA Style Manual (language arts, cultural studies, humanities)