Author Leanna K. Potts

Leanna K. Potts is a freelance  writer who has written for, and been published in, such magazines as American  Indian Review, Veggie Life, HerbalGram, Herb  Companion, and Harris’ Farmer’s  Almanac.  Her articles have covered a number of subjects including  interviews with contemporary Native American artists, spiritual leaders, and  powwow dancers as well as the subject of New World crops and their influence on  Old World cooking along with the reverse influence of Old World crops on New  World cooking.  With a particular interest in cacao, she has also written about  the influence of Theobroma cacao (chocolate) on both pre- and post-Columbian  cultures in both in Mesoamerica and also on the modern world.  Leanna has also  taught cooking classes pertaining to the unique Santa Fe Style of cooking (a  fusion of three cultures—Mexican/Spanish, Pueblo Indian, and English).  Other  classes included the influence of New World crops on the cuisines of Europe,  Asia and Africa.  These classes were taught at the Dierburg Cooking Schools of  St. Louis, Missouri.  She has also lectured on, and demonstrated cooking  techniques, pertaining to Native American foods and herbal cooking at both the  Ozark Folk Center State Park at Mt. View, Arkansas and Silver Dollar City in  Branson, Missouri.  She has appeared numerous times on local television,  promoting and demonstrating cooking techniques, for both the Thyme for Herbs  Club of Joplin and the Ozark Regional Herb Growers and Marketers Association  (both of which she helped to found and actively supported in various leadership  roles).  She has also done numerous public appearances to help promote two books  on the culinary use of herbs which she wrote and self-published.  These books  are titled FROM SEED TO SERVE and THYME FOR KIDS.  THYME FOR  KIDS was co-authored with her daughter who was 12 years old at the time. 

 Leanna grew up in Colorado  where she attended CSU and also owned and operated a Native American Gifts and  Fine Arts shop for over ten years.  She now resides in Arkansas.  It was in  Colorado that she was first introduced, at the age of 8, to powwows and the  Native American culture.  She is currently an active member of a local Gourd  Society and frequently attends area powwows and stomp dances.  Her previous  marriage to a full-blood Northern Cheyenne from Tongue River (Lame Deer Agency)  Reservation led to her further interest in the Cheyenne and Plains Tribe’s  culture.  Having a daughter by this marriage, she continues to keep all contacts  open with the Cheyenne culture so that her daughter will have the benefit of  knowing both sides of her heritage.  This varied background led to the writing  of POWWOW PICKUP and its soon to follow sequel, CHEBON’S JOURNEY.