After years of suffering abuse at the hands of her stepfather, Samantha Aikens finds herself accused of his murder by masterminding a mine cave in. Oh, Them Days on Red Hoss Mountain, depicts the life of a young woman living in an era where men ruled, and women served. A fictional history of Gold Hill is portrayed while the saga of Samantha’s hardship unfolds in a world where she has very little control. As the murder trial proceeds, Samantha’s personal life is the highlight of town gossip, and her reputation, as the only source of medical knowledge for the community, is put to the test. Oh, Them Days on Red Hoss Mountain is inspired by a tale called, “Casey’s Table D’Hote”, written by poet Eugene Field, who stayed at the hotel in Gold Hill during his days of writing for a Denver newspaper in the late 1800’s. Casey, the fictional character in the poem, is brought to life as his closest confidant, Samantha Aikens, struggles to find independence in a man’s world. This story of family, friendship, romance, and coming-of-age, captures the reader while it moves from past to present as the brave and true endure life during the Colorado gold rush.

Leslie’s love for the history and beauty of Colorado informs her writing, while her crisp, narrative engages the reader. Born in Boulder Colorado, Leslie lives in Gold Hill, a former mining town. The Finn family owns the Gold Hill Inn and Leslie volunteers with the Gold Hill Fire Department as an EMT.