Leona Bodie

In addition to an illustrated children's book and a mainstream suspense novel, I've also written articles, feature stories, marine guides, poems, short stories and business reviews for such publications as Cruising World, Latitudes & Attitudes, Around Town Business Quarterly, various E-zines and literary magazines. For the past 4 years I've been a freelance writer and contributing editor.

Most recently, I worked as executive for a brokerage firm and president of the Greater Miami Society of Human Resource Management before shifting to writing books.

In the early 1980s, I worked for ABC Affiliate WPLG/TV-10, a division of The Washington Post, as their Miami, Florida human resources manager/ newsletter editor with additional community ascertainment assignments. Over the years, I've written and edited corporate newsletters for Post-Newsweek's Channel 10, The Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management, and ViewWay Mobile Media.

Prior to my stint in corporate America, I worked as a teacher for 5 years in N. J., where I met my husband who's a seafaring Forensic Chemist. Seeking balmy skies and waters, we relocated to Florida to raise our two sons.

Over the years, writing has been my passion and my release. Though at times it's been a challenge finding time for everything, including raising a family in a dynamic city, working full time, re-engineering my career, taking care of aged parents and simultaneously building our home, from scratch I might add.That's right, we laid concrete foundations, erected cinder blocks, applied stucco, and learned to do electrical work and plumbing from Time/Life Books, while our youngest played in a playpen beside us.

I have a bachelor's degree with dual majors in English and Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University. As the oldest of five, I'm the first person in my family to attend college. Paving the way for the others, I've been fortunate to see my brother and sisters earn the same distinction. Although we are of Portuguese descent, I am fairly fluent in Spanish and only speak a smattering of Portuguese. That's hard to explain, especially, when the latter is my mother's first tongue.

The best explanation is I was born in Camden and grew up in Mickleton, New Jersey, even though most of my relatives hail from New England, the largest Portuguese community outside of Brazil. After a detour to California, I've lived with my family mostly in Florida, and now call home the Treasure Coast, just north of West Palm Beach -- where One Is Fun (WRB Publishing, May 2007) is set.

I am a N.J. certified teacher, possess a lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, and am a current member of the Independent Book Publishers Association formerly PMA, the Florida Writers Association, the Morningside Writers Critique Group, the Word Weavers' Critique Group, and serve as Vice President of the Treasure Coast Writers Guild.  http://www.leonabodie.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

 

Leona Bodie: I was born in New Jersey and “grew up” in NJ, MA, CA and FL. I’m still growing and learning something new every day.  It’s a habit, nurtured in my formative years. Reading and writing was the family mainstay and heartily drummed into my childhood psyche as the cornerstone of any future success. The orchestration of that mantra has never led me astray.

 

It’s ironic that I grew up to be an English teacher and a writer, even though my father was functionally illiterate. So carefully did he hide this challenge that, I didn’t realize my Dad’s disadvantage until I was in my teens. Thinking back on it now, what made the difference for me was my mother, who cultivated a love for books in our family. My fondest and earliest memories are of her reading Mother Goose’s nursery rhymes and an alphabet book to me. Mom read to me daily.

Although her native tongue is Portuguese, Mom learned English and she filled our home with stories, books, encyclopedias and magazines for the five of us children. She infused in us a passion for exploring new worlds. Mom simply made reading fun and we read for enjoyment. As we grew older, she encouraged all of us, even my father, to find our answers about the world in books. Her passion gave us a head start in life.

It is amazing how clearly I still see those wonderful first books; I even remember the illustrations. My favorite books? As an adult, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. For a picture book to read to my infant grandson, it would be The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle; and for my pre-teen reading, it was the Nancy Drew Series. Today, give me a PJ Parrish, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, Dean Koontz any day!

 

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Why do you write?

 

Leona Bodie: I’m driven to spin tales. Most times my goal is to spread an idea or to make change happen. A book gives my ideas substance and allows them to travel. Sometimes my quest is to expose wrongs, and to show ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Writing is my strength. It’s the best avenue I have to express myself.  My passion is to create with words, pictures and stories that resonate with my readers—to entertain, engage and intrigue them while making bold statements or assumptions about the world. Writing is my voice to makes sense of things. Often my experiences or someone else’s take root. The full-bloom is a journey that takes me to a new place, “the road not taken”. My story endings are surprises for me too.

 

 

 

 

PageoneLit.com: Your new novel IS SHADOW CAY - Tell us what inspired this story.

 

SHADOW CAY is a story I had to write. The MDPD Crime Lab was inspiration for some parts. I hope this book will speak to the challenges Forensic Professionals face every day especially in Dade County. The book is a steamy suspense story about murder, drug cartel and local corruption taking place in the warm tropics between Miami and the Bahamas.

 

Many things influenced me on this journey including: our travels, my husband’s forensic expertise, my biotech experiences and his. Even the current Middle East wars, the current economic times, and the business downturn all factored into my plotline. On the dark side of American industry, there is no more precious commodity than money. Sometimes lackluster financial statements, pessimistic stakeholders and global competition fuel greed and inhumanity. But, what happens to those who openly oppose the new order with its radically different interpretations of corporate progress? When industry icons sell their soul, ethical employees become huge liabilities. Pack these elements into a go-fast boat, and you have a wild ride through the Floribbean. That’s SHADOW CAY!

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Who is Peter Duncan?

 

Leona Bodie:  JaHart International’s newest employee Peter Duncan is lulled into complacency by his company’s sterling reputation. In short order, he finds things aren’t what they seem. When the true picture unfolds, he stumbles onto an international conspiracy too horrible to believe.  Smart, persistent and dangerously reckless, Peter finds himself pitted against the world’s largest medical device company in a desperate race to save lives. His efforts change the landscape of the budding South Florida medical device industry.

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Who is Madeleine Nesbitt?

 

Leona Bodie: She’s the co-protagonist. When the leader of an international terror nexus murders her parents, Madeleine Nesbitt, a young Bahamian girl with limited education and experience, learns more about the world in one day in a remote island, than she could possibly learn in a lifetime.  Madeleine’s mission in life is to avenge their deaths. She changes her name and alters her appearance intent on ruining both the man and his enterprise rooted in the Bahamas, Columbia, Peru, Mexico, and the U.S.  Madeleine’s undertaking takes her to America where secrets are revealed and allies are created, forever altering many lives.  

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Discuss your setting for SHADOW CAY - Why the Bahamas?

 

Leona Bodie:  It’s only 35 miles from Miami! My husband and I have sailed extensively in Florida and the Bahamas. Our cruises and visits ranged from the usual tourist traps to remote, uninhabited islets in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, miles from the typical traveler’s radar. The Bahamian Out Islands with its crystalline water, unspoiled white beaches and surreal sunsets definitely influenced the setting. Most of SHADOW CAY was written on a 34 foot sailboat surrounded by these incredible views. And the show stopper was Normans Cay. My research into its history led me to “Flash back two decades: A dramatic flying adventure, international intrigue, a forced crash landing, a brush with death, and a tropical island paradise with a seedy secret.”

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  If Hollywood called and said they wanted to turn Shadow Cay into a film and asked you to cast the film, who would you cast and why?

 

Leona Bodie:

AJ Hartman – John Travolta: A legend and a thriller guru, John Travolta could easily portray AJ Hartman, the maverick founder seduced by power, and technical genius behind JaHart. Though many worlds removed, the sins of his father forever haunt AJ and steer his course in the international business community. Simmering under the surface are his demons, but all the world sees is his passion for providing high quality medical solutions.

 

Rico Salazar – Johnny Depp: Rico Salazar is a man with no conscience who thrives on money, excitement, depravity and adventure in all its myriad forms.  He’s a man who’s equally comfortable in slime and sleaze, cavorting with the “rat pack” as he is in a boardroom. I need a credible actor with a wide range to capture Rico’s duality. Johnny Depp is the only actor I know with that diversity and skill.

 

Madeleine Nesbitt – Mia Wasikowska: She fits the part – mentally, physically and emotionally! Mia was named one of Variety magazine's Top Ten Actors to watch (2008). She’s the right age. She’s beautiful and a distinguished actress with a successful track record in adventure drama. Madeleine’s short, blondish. I want to capture her youth, her innocence, her desperation. But at the same time, the one thing Madeleine wants most is retribution, and for that, she’s willing to take any risk.  I’m convinced Mia will bring her own brand of freshness to the role.

 

Peter Duncan – Jesse Metcalfe: He’s relatively new and not a recognized household name, yet he’s going to glean a lot of experience chasing bad guys in his new TV show. He’s also the right age with an endearing quality and a sexy edge. Jesse has a great body, looks at home at the beach, and has the vigor for an action movie. I believe he will deliver a gritty, authentic look at Peter Duncan’s life.

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Tell us about your award winning children's books ( WINNER OF THE CREATIVE CHILD MAGAZINE'S PREFERRED CHOICE AWARD 2007    & CHILDREN'S BOOK ONE IS FUN IS FINALIST OF THE NATIONAL "BEST BOOKS 2007" AWARDS)

 

Leona Bodie:  All of my children’s books are inspired by life. In each scenario, my own experience or someone else’s moved me. After the birth of my first grandchild, my 82-year old mother (an award-winning artist and my illustrator), my husband (also a talented graphic designer) and I crafted a distinctive gift that celebrates our deep, abiding love and commitment to our grandson, who continually reminds us family works and life is so much more than we ever imagined. One Is Fun---is that gift. It’s a celebration of being together. It is our mission to produce books that help all children grow up feeling profoundly loved and understood with strong feelings of identity, self-worth and security. Two weeks after publication, our debut children’s book was named winner of the Creative Child Magazine's preferred choice award 2007. It was also a finalist for the 2007 National Best Books Award sponsored by USA Book News.  

ONE IS FUN was assigned to a pre-selected group of kids by a panel of judges including child psychologists, child educators and parents. The panel then monitored the children and evaluated my book based on four major factors: educational value, creative nurturing, creative play and overall value with respect to retail price. At the completion of the evaluation, ONE IS FUN was awarded the prestigious Preferred Choice Award in the "Board books for Kids" category.

 

Creative Child Magazine provides parents with the latest information on how to nurture their child's creativity. With departments such as Kids at Play, Health and Safety, Discovering Creativity, Nurturing Talent and Tomorrow's Child - Investing for Your Child's Future, Creative Child Magazine is essential and the most complete parenting publication for raising well-balanced children.

 

ONE IS FUN is a family friendly, award-winning storybook that helps parents play a critical role in their children's literacy. One Is Fun inspires babies 0-4, hooks them on reading, makes learning fun! Read to them and touch their lives forever. Creative Child Magazine and education experts endorse this charming story of Logan's first year of life.

 

SKATING FOR TWO (3-10) For seven-year-old Leah Jenkins, learning to ice skate is easier than facing her fears when things go wrong during her ice skating competition. Kids learn about the value of hard work, commitment and good sportsmanship. SKATING FOR TWO is a fun read with family literacy pages that include: A Reading Guide, Lesson Plans, Fluency Fun, and a Vocabulary List.

 

MORE FUN COLORING AND ACTIVITY Book (K-Grade 2) may be used as a stand-alone book or as a combo with SKATING FOR TWO. Children learn through play. Open up a world of learning with coloring fun and activities for Grades K through 2. This coloring and activity book encourages young readers to experience the fun of animal, sports and holiday word puzzles, coloring pages, mazes and more!

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What do you hope to achieve with SHADOW CAY?

 

Leona Bodie:  Mainstream recognition! NY Times Bestseller! A popular series based on several of the characters. Me on a national speaking circuit? Perhaps, but most of all I want to attend the Hollywood premier of the major motion picture, SHADOW CAY. That’s right, when I dream I dream BIG, and I do believe working hard to make them come true. So, my irons are already in the fire.

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read? 

 

Leona Bodie: SAIL by James Patterson

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What's next?

 

Leona Bodie: An eBook, audio book, a spinoff series! Don’t forget the movie! I’m already hard at work on two other suspense novels.

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

 

Leona Bodie: I enjoy learning about science and technology, especially current research and milestones.  Reading, writing, boating and water sports are also my passions. My goal is to put my readers on the scene, take them there and have them feel the sea. In this book, there’s a definite nautical-fiction bent to my writing. That’s why half of Shadow Cay takes place in the islands and on boats.