Episode 13: Samantha Leach, Author of The Elissas

For this episode we are switching things up a bit, Our guest today is Samantha. She is the author of the new book: The Elissas, three girls, one fate, and the deadly secrets of suburbia. This book follows the real life story of Samantha’s childhood best friend Elissa, as well as the lives of two other young women who Elissa met during her stay at Ponca Pines, a therapeutic boarding school. This book highlights the complex lives of these young women in an attempt to grapple with their tragic shared fate. While writing this book to honor the memory of her friend, Samantha conducted countless interviews of individuals in the lives of these girls to portray their lives as accurately as possible. Additionally, Samantha includes statistical evidence and personal anecdotes making the novel well rounded, informational, and for many, relatable. Today, Samantha and I will be talking about her book, the process, and our overall feelings about the Troubled Teen Industry.