Leif Nedland Pedersen

Leif Nedland Pedersen is the author and creator of The Adventures of The Swamp Kids children's book series. He was born in Oxnard, California and grew up in New Orleans, LA. He has been a singer for almost 40 years and spent six years as the featured vocalist with Buddy Morrow's Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. It is from those years that the rhyming style of the "Adventures" evolved. Leif is a former Marine and a member of the Southeastern Louisiana University's Music Hall of Fame. For the past 25 years he has worked as a professional fundraising executive and leader of the 14-piece, 1944 Big Band.

Being from the deep South certainly helped stimulate his creative juices for story-telling and while his Norwegian heritage dominated most of his persona, it was his mother's long line of Cajun ancestry that prompted his love for Cajun lore. He has tried to bring these qualities to life in these adventure stories for children.

Leif is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and resides in Slidell, Louisiana with his wife, Sheryl, son, Dane, and Sugar, their loveable, faithful and very spoiled beagle.