Maria Leonard Olsen is the author of the children's picture book Healing for Hallie. She also has written the picture book Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown?.

In everyone’s life, no matter who you are, you will experience a gut-wrenching level of heartbreak that will totally dominate your entire world for some amount of time. The effects of this can be far-reaching and hugely influential, in not only your mood but your whole level of efficiency and productivity in your day to day lifestyle.

“I have formed deeper connections with women than I otherwise would in my busy, daily life,” she says. She adds that other women are often similarly interested in talking about their personal stories, hopes and dreams, and looking to expand their horizons in some way. “A sisterhood feeling develops,” she says.

Lawyer, author Maria Leonard Olsen joins Bob Beckel to discuss the March For Our Lives and the potential impact that students could have on the national discussion.

We are lucky to have writer Maria Olsen join us again this year for the Mixed Remixed Festival.  In 2016, Maria participated as a children’s book author.  This year she will speak on a special parenting panel on how to deal with bullying of your multiracial child and having the Race talk.  

Maria Olsen talked about her book, Not the Cleaver Family: The New Normal in Modern American Families at the 2017 Gaithersburg Book Festival, held on the grounds of City Hall in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Honored to be interviewed on the Sense of Place show with acclaimed author Heidi Durrow.  Are we, as bi-racial radio show hosts,  ambassadors or interpreters?  Food for thought.

I am grateful to have been interviewed on The Mixed Experience Podcast, the top podcast about multiracial, multicultural, biracial & Mixed issues & experience. Interviews with artists, community leaders, scholars & regular folks.

nspired by her own experiences as a mixed-race child in an overwhelmingly white neighborhood and as the mother of children with skin lighter than hers, local author Maria Leonard Olsen has written Not the Cleaver Family: The New Normal in Modern American Families, a resource to the many permutations of family that exist today.

Maria Leonard Olsen is the author of the children's picture book Healing for Hallie. She also has written the picture book Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown?.

Maria Leonard Olsen is the author of the children's picture book Healing for Hallie. She also has written the picture book Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown?.

In 1961, my parents were forbidden by law to marry in our liberal state of Maryland. Interracial marriage was illegal in 16 states until 1967. My mother is Filipina and my father was a white American predominantly of Irish and English ancestry.

So happy to be able to chapter my life.  I helped lead a women's empowerment/writing retreat this weekend at the bay.  Really felt great to uplift each other and bring more light and vibration to the world through our collaborations.

I had the privilege of participating as a panelist at the Mixed Remixed Festival this month.  It was almost surreal to be in the company of so many people of mixed race ancestry.