Leia Barrett is a former nonprofit leader turned children's book author. A musician by training, Leia developed a love for community outreach while teaching after-school band at an inner-city school. She was inspired by that work to seek an education position with a symphony orchestra and was employed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra as their Director of Education from 2012-2018.

Soon after she moved to Kansas City where she served as Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Friends of Chamber Music, soon after becoming their Acting Executive Director. She wrote her first book, The Goldilocks Quartet, in 2021. She transitioned into writing full-time in June 2023 and published her second book, The Odd Dog, in February 2025. 

She currently resides in Kansas City with her husband Drew and their rescue dog, Layla.