Roy LeBlanc

Roy LeBlanc is the author of Katrina Class, The Creole Son, Someplace Better, Comfortable Graves, The Hydrogen Frontier and The Newspaper Shack. Growing up in New Orleans with 9th Ward creole family roots, he learned from a rich variety of unique southern experiences reflected in his novels. Disguising working class creole family traditions behind a thin veneer of polish, success brought breakfast at the Governor's Mansion, private jets and the honor of being one of the youngest ever elected to a major Louisiana political office. Roy went on to experience the unique flavor of Pelican State politics.

By 24, he was an elected member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and chairman of committees overseeing the state's two-billion-dollar Minimum Foundation Budget for Elementary and Secondary Education, Louisiana's system of Vocational-Technical colleges and legal Due Process. Later, Roy was considered a significant challenge to the state's powerful 1st District Congressman and Appropriations Committee chairman.

At the University of New Orleans, he learned the art of building complex narratives from accomplished novelist Valerie Martin, author of Mary Reilly. An Associate of Arts degree from Delgado College, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Liberal Arts from Tulane University reflect a belief in the power of education to change unfortunate circumstances. Roy has served as president of a community college foundation, president of a New Orleans hospital board and delivered a commencement address at Tulane. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree recognizing leadership in public education administration. Roy's deep appreciation for Louisiana's extraordinary historical and political legacy was enriched with appointments to The Secretary of State's Commission on Archives, Records Management and History and the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana.

He has four children and currently spends his time between Pine Mountain Georgia and Mobile Alabama. Roy works in finance and is a former Morgan Stanley manager.