Rising Stars: Meet Leslie Morgan Steiner of Turtle Creek and Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Morgan Steiner.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2009, I published a memoir, Crazy Love about surviving domestic violence in my first marriage. Crazy Love became a New York Times bestseller and led to a TedTalk on why victims stay that has been viewed by over 10 million people. Gail Davis of GDA Speakers in Oaklawn took me on as a client so that I could amplify my story and break the silence about how widespread violence against women actually is. In 2017, Jan Langbein, the founder of Genesis and the Conference on Crimes Against Women, asked me to be the CCAW keynote speaker, and I eventually joined the National Advisory Council. One of my favorite parts of connecting with Dallas women like Gail and Jan is the opportunity to see powerful, visionary, beautiful women like them changing Dallas, the state of Texas overall, and in so many ways making our world safer and more equitable for women.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting up on a stage and telling the story of the worst relationship of my life is never particularly easy. However, connecting with other domestic violence survivors, and all the people in law enforcement and advocacy who support us, is remarkably empowering. I never set out to be a domestic violence story-teller, but in so many ways, I’m grateful that this is the path my life took, and that I’ve been able to forge deep connections with others through this work.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud of telling the truth about my experience as a woman. All four of my books — Crazy Love, Mommy Wars, The Baby Chase, and The Naked Truth — try to capture how exhilarating, and challenging, it is to be a woman today. I tackle motherhood, dating after 50, juggling work and family. All the most important subjects we women love to discuss. Everywhere I go, I have deep conversations with the women and men I meet. I adore connecting with readers and people who hear me on stage telling the stories of my life.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Be vulnerable. Ask for help. Smile at everyone. Put yourself and your dreams first. Simple but challenging advice! Especially for women, who are so rarely encouraged to embrace the complexity of being both vulnerable and strong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lesliebooks.com
• Instagram: @lesliebooks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliemorgansteiner/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliemorgansteiner/
• Youtube: @lesliemorgansteiner4379