Letter Writer of the Month - Leah
The London Letters Pen Pal Club began its life in 2019 with the hope of bringing together letter writing enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate the joy of receiving letters and the power of the written word.
Over the years we've grown slowly but surely in numbers each week, and we're so proud to now be a 1850+ community of snail mailers! We have members from different countries, ages, religions, sexualities, political views, careers, disabilities, and genders - and whilst our differences vary dramatically, we are all united by a love of letters.
'Letter Writer of the Month' is a monthly journal entry where we invite one member from the club to give us an insight into their journey with letters. Some have always been letter writers from a young age, others only began when they signed up to the club. Our members all have a unique story to tell, and we hope you'll love getting to hear it.
Our Letter Writer of the Month for June is Member No.1551 - Leah.
" Communicating via letters is so intentional, and I think more honest than anything we see on social media or even how we communicate through instant messaging. It feels like you're writing in your diary, so you aren't afraid to be a little vulnerable and let the other person get to know you. Plus, the fact that our world is addicted to instant gratification, letter writing helps us get out of that. We have to be patient for our letter to arrive, and physically putting pen to paper grounds me and makes me more intentional."
Name: Leah
Age: 22
Job Title: Nanny
Location: North Carolina, USA
Member since: November 2025
Tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in letter writing?
I have always loved letters. I loved getting mail with my name on it (I still do!). I have so many old letters that I would buy by the bags from antique shops and spend hours reading them, imagining what their lives were like. I decided that I wanted someone to write letters to when I was 15. So, I retaught myself cursive and forced my best friend (who lives on the same road as me) to write letters to each other and be pen pals, even though we see each other often. So, when I came across London Letters last year, it was a dream come true!
What is it about letters that you think makes them special?
Communicating via letters is so intentional, and I think more honest than anything we see on social media or even how we communicate through instant messaging. It feels like you're writing in your diary, so you aren't afraid to be a little vulnerable and let the other person get to know you. Plus, the fact that our world is addicted to instant gratification, letter writing helps us get out of that. We have to be patient for our letter to arrive, and physically putting pen to paper grounds me and makes me more intentional.
What type of things do you write in letters compared to digital communications?
I think there is more emotion in letters than in digital communication. It almost feels like you're writing in your diary. For me, it's the lack of immediacy that makes me more comfortable writing more honestly than I would through digital communication.
Do you have a favourite letter, either famous or one you have received personally?
My favorite letter is one my great-grandfather wrote to my great-grandmother in 1946 when he was in Frankfurt, Germany. He always started his letters with "Hello Darling Wife," and always addressed her as "Hilda Darling." In this particular letter, he was writing to tell her that they were leaving for Belgium. He wrote, "Darling, I'm thrilled to think I am on the way home." He tells her he might be in Belgium for about a month and urges her, "Darling, don't stop writing me." I've read so many of his letters during his time in World War II, but the excitement and hope, as well as desperation, in this letter stick with me. They weren't even married when he first joined the military, but before he was shipped off, they got married, and then he was sent to France. I can't imagine the first two or three years of my marriage being spent this way. But if anything, it made their love for each other even stronger and unknowingly impacted generations of family after they were gone.
Do you feel any positive benefits to your mental health when you write?
I absolutely do. It slows me down, forces me to be more intentional, and focus on what I'm writing. There's no backspace when putting pen to paper. It also just makes me so happy remembering that I have someone to write to, and someone who cares enough to write to me. I've said it so many times, but a Pen Pal is something I've always dreamed of having, and it brings me so much joy to be a part of this.
Describe your letter writing set up. Do you have a favourite pen or paper? Where are you when you're writing?
Right now, my writing setup is on my desk in my room. I have some stationery, a nice fountain pen, envelopes, cards, wax, and wax seal stamps. On my desk, I have an antique collection of beautifully bound books by Sir Walter Scott. I also have the reprinted, three-volume Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which was reprinted as it was originally published in 1813. In total, five books, with a feathered quill bookend keeping them from falling over. I soon hope to have an antique roll top desk that came from my great-grandmother's house (yes, the same one mentioned above). I would also like to frame a letter from my great-grandfather to have on my desk.
What made you sign up to our pen pal club and take a leap of faith by writing to a stranger?
A Pen Pal is something I have always wanted. I crave the intentionality of letter writing and breaking free of the instant gratification we've become used to. I found London Letters not long after I had found my great-grandfather's letters. Reading them reignited my love for letters, and as soon as I heard about this pen pal club, I knew I had to do it. And it has been the most fun and joyous thing I've done in a long time. It's almost frightening how much joy a little letter brings me.
Do you believe letters still have a place in modern society?
I really do. I think the world is craving distance from instant gratification and all things digital. I've seen so many people talk about how they plan to go analogue this year, or pick up more crafts to do instead of scrolling on their phone. We also long for genuine connection. Not parasocial relationships, but an actual connection that you can't get over the phone. I heard someone say, "We used social media to escape the real world, but now we use the real world to escape social media." I think that says a lot about where we are as a society right now. I think letters have moved away from a primary form of communication to a way to create a deeper connection with someone.
What role do you think letters will play in the future?
I think letters will be a way to almost detox from digital things. It will be a way to be analogue, but more intentional as well. I hope more people decide to write letters. In your New Year email, you asked, "When was the last time you sent a birthday card instead of being prompted by a Facebook notification?" I loved that because I used to love receiving birthday cards in the mail from great aunts who lived far away, and even one who lived just down the road. It made me feel so special that they would take the time to write me a card and mail it off when they could have given it to me the next time we saw each other. That is something I hope we can get back to in the future.
What would you say to someone to encourage them to give letter writing a try?
This is an experience that could last a lifetime and create lifelong friendships and connections. How would it feel to open your mailbox to a personalized letter instead of just bills? It makes me feel so special, and it brings me so much joy. It is such an easy thing to do when you really think about it, but the impact it has had on me is profound, and I know it would positively impact others, too.
A huge thank you to our Leah for her time, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know her! Why not take that leap of faith and join our pen pal club too? We're always open to new members, and you can learn more about the club here.