Laura writes nonfiction books for children and young adults.
When she taught reading and language arts, her goal was to get students excited about reading and writing. That’s still her goal. Laura’s presentations are centered around generating enthusiasm for reading, writing, history, and science.
Laura’s school visits:
- inspire students to read and write
- empower reluctant readers and writers
- include practical tips for students that can be put into practice right away
Programs for Christian Women
Laura speaks to women at women’s groups, churches, conferences, workshops, libraries, and bookstores. She shares a heart full of passion for helping women become everything God created them to be.
Walking Life’s Journey with God
Laura shares her personal journey to faith in a transparent and inspirational style and encourages women to surrender to God, pray for guidance, discover their purpose, and accomplish great things for Him.
Writing & Publishing
In this program, Laura shares the step-by-step process of writing a book for publication. She shares writing tips, editing tips, finding a critique group, and tips for breaking into the business of publishing a book.
Programs for Aspiring Writers
When she taught reading and language arts, Laura’s goal was to get students excited about reading and writing. That’s still her goal. Laura’s presentations are centered around generating enthusiasm for reading, writing, history, and science.
The Writing Process
In an improv-style format, Laura illustrates the book publishing process from idea through printed book. She casts everyone in the group as a character in the publishing cast: writer, critique group member, agent, publisher, editor, illustrator, designer, marketing director, cover artist, printer, reviewer, buyer, and reader.
After describing each role, participants are encouraged to bring their own personalities to their characters as they enact the process of bringing a book to life.
Cool Nonfiction: Did That Really Happen?
Using examples from her research and stories from Apollo 13 and the lives of Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and Steven Spielberg, Laura shares the process of creating nonfiction. She describes research techniques, outlining, writing, and editing.
Writers learn the differences (and similarities) between biographies, nonfiction, historical fiction, and fiction as Laura shows examples of each, and students try to guess which is fact and which is fiction. Research tips are provided and students are shown how to write a bibliography and find primary sources.
Story Soup
Every good story has four basic ingredients: setting, characters, problems, and a perfect ending. In this interactive presentation, Laura shares the elements of fiction and works with students to create stories of their own. Students experience the process of discovery that comes from watching ideas take shape and come together as a story.