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Leslie Johansen Nack

Goodreads Author

Born

St. Paul, The United States

Website

http://www.lesliejohansennack.com

Twitter

leslie_nack

Genre

Historical Fiction, Memoir, Travel

Influences

Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sue Monk Kidd, Paula McLain, Nancy Horan, Abigail ...more

Member Since

February 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/lesliejohansennack

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Leslie Johansen Nack is the author of two award-winning books: her debut memoir, Fourteen, and her historical novel, The Blue Butterfly. Her forthcoming sequel, Nineteen: A Daughter’s Memoir of Reckoning and Recovery, concludes her raw and deeply personal story, chronicling her path to sobriety and a renewed sense of hope. Nack graduated from UCLA with a degree in English literature and overcame past traumas to raise two children in a healthy, loving home. She is a member of NAMW, the Historical Novel Society, and the PNWA. She lives outside Seattle with her husband.

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I was also very concerned about your mother. I felt her rejection. I felt she still loved Bjorn and tried in her own way to have all of you back again. Why did your father reject your mother after having a beautiful family with her and he knew he was far from perfect himself? Why didn't he try? Thanks, your story fills me with bewildering empathy.

Leslie Johansen Nack Thank you Teresa for such a compelling and intriguing question. My parents tried to make their marriage work all throughout my childhood. My mother in…moreThank you Teresa for such a compelling and intriguing question. My parents tried to make their marriage work all throughout my childhood. My mother inherited the disease of alcoholism in addition to inheriting manic depression (which wasn't diagnosed until the 1980s) so her behavior was erratic and unpredictable at best. I believe my parents loved each other when they were first married but having children often puts a strain on even the best marriages, and my parent's marriage crumbled under the strain. My mother was in and out of mental hospitals every two years when I was growing up. It wasn't her fault, but I believe she was a victim of the times and the lack of medical diagnoses and treatments at the time (1960s and 1970s). I don't really get into this in Fourteen because it only covers 3 years of my life: from 12-14, with one flashback (chapter 3) as some background. My next book will cover this subject in much more depth.

My father would never have admitted he was not perfect. Isn't that the way it goes with gregarious, outgoing, outspoken, abusive bullies? He blamed everything on our mother. As a child it was hard to decipher what was going on, especially while living an extravagant and unusual life with my father.

I hope that answers your questions. I feel you are sympathetic towards my mother and I appreciate that. I am sympathetic towards her too at times. She lived in a time when the medical community didn't really have positive and sustaining treatments for somebody with a chemical imbalance. The treatments were often barbaric (shock treatments, heavy medications, restraints and sometimes abuse in the facilities charged with taking care of her).

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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Leslie Johansen Nack The true story depicted in my first memoir, Fourteen A Daughter's Memoir of Adventure, Sailing and Survival, is being continued in a second memoir as …moreThe true story depicted in my first memoir, Fourteen A Daughter's Memoir of Adventure, Sailing and Survival, is being continued in a second memoir as I reveal many mysteries including the mystery of how our sailboat Aegir sank in French Polynesia, and how my father died in the Mexican jungle. (less)

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Leslie Johansen Nack’s books

Average rating: 4.13 · 2,141 ratings · 292 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Blue Butterfly: A Novel of Marion Davies 4.06 avg rating — 1,080 ratings — published 2022 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fourteen: A Daughter's Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival 4.19 avg rating — 1,026 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nineteen: A Daughter's Memoir of Reckoning and Recovery 4.54 avg rating — 35 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Leslie Johansen Nack's Blog

eBook on sale everywhere

Hi, good readers,

The Blue Butterfly eBook is on sale everywhere now.

Links are on my website at www.lesliejohansennack.com.

Thanks! Happy reading. xo Leslie

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Published on October 21, 2023 14:01 • Tags: biographical-historical-fiction, historical-fiction

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Leslie is Currently Reading

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The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance

by Steven Kotler (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 26, 2025 11:45PM

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Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine

by Robert H. Lustig

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Nov 21, 2025 10:48PM

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The Complete poems of Emily Dickinson

by Emily Dickinson

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Oct 30, 2025 09:29PM

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Leslie Nack rated a book it was amazing My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing—A Memoir by Wendy B. Correa (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Leslie Nack rated a book it was amazing Now Is the Time: A Van Life Road Trip by Andrew Singer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
NOW IS THE TIME is more than a love story during COVID—it’s a road map for anyone struck with love and wanderlust. Singer shares honestly and deeply about facing his past and the storms head-on, always moving toward the light with the one person he s ...more
Dec 04, 2025 02:48PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Now Is the Time by Andrew Singer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Now Is the Time by Andrew Singer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Leslie Nack is currently reading My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing—A Memoir by Wendy B. Correa (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Leslie Nack is currently reading The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance by Steven Kotler (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 26, 2025 11:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Leslie Nack rated a book it was amazing The Voyage of Steppenwolf: A Novel by Rebecca Stirling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Leslie Nack is currently reading Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine by Robert H. Lustig	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 21, 2025 10:48PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Metabolical by Robert H. Lustig. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Metabolical by Robert H. Lustig <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Leslie Nack is currently reading The Voyage of Steppenwolf: A Novel by Rebecca Stirling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Oct 30, 2025 09:29PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Complete poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Complete poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Leslie Nack is currently reading In Search of Lost Time: Marcel Proust's Epic Masterpiece - Seven-Volume Series, Kindle Edition by Marcel Proust	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Turn of a Page: Deborah's Potions - Complete	508	75	May 09, 2025 04:46PM
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