From day one Leanne Cobb has shown a passion for writing and telling stories from around the South. Her commitment and love for the magazine was unmistakable which is why she was a natural to become our first Associate Editor.
Let’s learn a little more about our new Associate Editor and hear directly from her –
When did your love of writing begin?
My love of writing began in elementary school. I read a lot and my writing was inspired by what I read. I wrote a lot of short stories and poems and always wanted to be the next Francine Pascal, the author of the Sweet Valley book series. Going through high school and college, when the school writing assignments became more analytical and research based, I still enjoyed it and never considered writing in any form to be a chore. I have never stopped writing creatively but I love to challenge myself with non-fiction and journalistic writing. Writing is the thing that I would still be doing even if I won the lottery and the only person who ever reads my words is me.
What is your favorite topic to write about?
That has varied over the years depending on what phase of life I’m in. Right now, I can say that I am loving writing about Anderson and all of the wonderful things about it that I probably took for granted as a lifelong resident. I enjoy writing about the growth and progress of our downtown and all of the amazing small business owners and leaders in town. I am a very avid reader, so I do love to write book reviews as well! I hope to be contributing a few reviews to Anderson Magazine in 2024.
What books are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Quiet Escapes: Poems for Perspective, written by our own Anderson Magazine contributing writer, Jay Wright. Reading a book written by someone who you know personally is a very different experience. It is inspiring and motivating. You read the words and pay attention to them a little more closely when you know the author. I am also a big fan of the “cozy mystery,” a genre I only discovered about 2 years ago. I recently read a Christmas cozy mystery by Leslie Meier called Christmas Card Murder.
Who are some of your favorite writers?
I really don’t have specific writers who I consider favorites. I pick and choose books based on the topic rather than the author. I really enjoy autobiographies so anything written about a person’s life by that person is always intriguing. I have read quite a few books written by Allison Brooks, a cozy mystery author. Of course, I can’t leave out my first favorite who I mentioned above, Francine Pascal. I have boxes and boxes and more boxes of Sweet Valley books that I read as a child. She is the only author whose works I have read all of.
What other passions do you have?
I am very zealous about health and wellness, especially in the area of staying physically active. I have been into it since long before it was trendy. I love running, walking, barre, kickboxing, HIIT, anything that keeps me active. It’s a daily must do for me. I also love to help others be successful. I work full time at Tri-County Technical College and I can’t imagine anything being more rewarding than playing a small part in helping students find success and transforming their life and their family’s life for the better.
Can you tell us about your family?
I am married to my husband Paul and we have a 6-year-old daughter named Avery and a 15-year-old boxer named ZuZu.
What would you like to bring more of to Anderson Magazine, Anderson to the Atlantic?
For our local readers, I would love to bring more recognition to our young people, students in K12 and college, and the good works they are doing in our community. We have so many talented, selfless, creative, and serving students in all grade levels and their contributions to our community need to be highlighted. These students are the future leaders of Anderson and we want to start early in making them feel valued and needed and do all we can to keep them in Anderson after graduating high school and college. I’d also like to highlight our hidden heroes in Anderson—people whose names and faces may not be the most recognizable around town, but they are people making positive contributions to Anderson and the people in it. For our non-local readers, I’d like for Anderson Magazine to showcase Anderson as a weekend getaway destination. Just as we talk about going to places like Charleston, Asheville, Highlands, or Savannah for a weekend, I’d like for the residents of those cities and others across SC to plan to visit Anderson for their next weekend trip.
Anything fun about yourself you’d like to share with our readers?
I don’t know how fun this is, but my all time favorite tv show is Beverly Hills 90210 and I will never not watch every episode like it’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. I still watch it all the time, and pretty much think if it didn’t happen in an episode of 90210, it can’t happen in real life! I’m also a big true crime junkie. If I’m not watching 90210, I’m watching Dateline or 20/20. My all time favorite movie is It’s A Wonderful Life and my dog’s name, ZuZu, was inspired by the movie.