Leanne Fournier – Author
Leanne Fournier’s poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction is infused with vivid imagery, a profound sense of place, and the contradictions, parallels and solace she finds in the beauty of her wilderness home.
Somewhere Home
Leanne’s first full-length, illustrated poetry collection, Somewhere Home, is slated for publication in 2025. Illustrations are by Leanne’s eldest, Everette Fournier. Book design is by Leanne’s partner in life, Michael Fournier.
Somewhere Home is a true labour of “love”.
My first home lived on inside me
long after it was time to move on.
It is where the idea of home was born.
I took those lessons with me to
every house thereafter: the sheen
of my mother’s dining room table groaning
under the weight of contributions
from four sisters; four generations
crammed elbow to elbow, the brush of
kindred skin against skin never too close.
-From the collection's title poem Somewhere Home
Somewhere Home begins in the early days of the global pandemic, as isolation settled deeply into the bones of the authors remote, wilderness home. While time passed and the veil of enforced seclusion lifted, Fournier’s search for home and belonging continued to fill the pages. That pursuit takes readers on hesitant forays into untamed forests with only the birds for company, on gentle paddles through known and unknown waters, and on watchful walks through urban streets. In all, she observes contradictions, parallels and answers to the elusive question, “where is home?” Fournier’s lyrical dance through the natural and unnatural world will carry you away on themes of survival, joy, anguish, awe and hope. Somewhere Home is a love song for anyone looking to find their way home.
Early praise for Somewhere Home
“Somewhere Home takes the reader on a heartfelt, nuanced, and bittersweet journey. People with many different experiences of home will feel seen and welcome here. It is a collection to return to, and get new learnings from, on each re-read. I’m so excited to see this collection in print!” – Michelle Spencer, Armchair Rebel / The Geometry of Grief
“‘Where’s home for you?’ was, for many years, my least favorite question. I can tell you where I was born, the two countries and cities I grew up shuttling between throughout my childhood, but home? Don’t know where that is. My outsider identity was the closest thing to “home” but that sure didn’t keep me warm at night. With Somewhere Home, I finally feel ready to unpack my own home journey, to plumb its depths.” – Rumi Tsuchihashi, author, I Want This For Us: The Tiny Moments That Give Marriage a Chance
“In a world that’s constantly in flux and where the definition of “home” is complex, Leanne’s writing offers solace and hope. Her poetry opens readers’ hearts, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a longing to find home.” – Bernadette Jiwa, Every Shade of Love.
What is Love
“What is love?” is a question as old as time. An international group of authors came together to query this in a new book by the same title. The diversity of stories from such a broad community underlines the potential and power of love to turn hopelessness into hope.
“We show up in community with open hearts to notice our lives, to practice, and to hear each other’s stories,” reflects Story Republic founder and best-selling author Bernadette Jiwa. “The stories within the pages of What is Love were made possible by small acts of faith and love—which, at its heart, is storytelling.”
This video includes an excerpt of Leanne’s contribution, “Love is Like Peanut Brittle”, where she recount her parents’ 65-year love story.
You can read more about the authors and how to get the book at whatislovebook.org. Leanne also has a few signed copies available for local sales.
Go on a walk with Leanne on some of her other published and unpublished forays into poetry and short stories.
Leanne explores stories and examines topics and people often unseen and unheard at mightywrite.substack.com and on her MightyWrite blog.