About Lauri

Hi! It's nice to meet you! I am a writer who believes the best way to learn, to grow, and to feel is through a good laugh (and occasionally a good scare) delivered in the pages of a book. 

I am a mom, library volunteer, Girl Scout leader, school volunteer, shih tzu parent, former finance manager, and curiosity-seeker who writes for children. I live in New Jersey with two kids who give tough critiques, a husband who plays along with crazy brainstorm questions,

and a shih tzu who keeps the rug under my desk warm. 

Fun fact: Shih tzus always want to help, but only contributes by laying on manuscripts to check for comfort. 

My short stories and poetry for children have been published in Highlights High Five, Clubhouse, Jr., Paperbound, Ember, Little Thoughts, Dirigible Balloon, and others. I also write poetry and sometimes scary stories for people who used to be children. I was very excited in 2024 to have a poem published in Highlights High Five, because I loved reading the magazine when I was little. 

Fun fact: "Purpose" is difficult to say when you are five, so little me read it as "Fun with a Porpoise" which of course is a completely different and vastly wetter experience. 

I participate in all the kidlit fun. I’m a NJ SCBWI volunteer and 12x12 Gold member. I was selected for the PB Chat Mentorship in 2021 and Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature conference in 2017. My manuscript "The Bored Knight" won an Honorable Mention in PB Party 2023. My manuscript "Holes" won an Honorable Mention in the Rate Your Story contest in 2015.  

Fun fact: I am in the process of learning to bravely submit my work. It turns out the more I submit, the more acceptances I get. But this can still be a scary process. 

Older Lauri letting out
rejection frustration

I particularly love writing contests! My poems and stories have been finalists/honorable mentions in Susanna Hill's seasonal contests, Vivian Kirkfield's 50 Precious Words, Fall Writing Frenzy, SunWriteFun, and Kids Choice Contest. I also played in the chaos that is Madness! Poetry in 2023. 

Fun fact: When I received my first "1" rating from Rate Your Story, I did a fancy jig all around the house.

Camp Tak-a-Wak-a 

My first publication was “Camp Tak-a-Wak-a” in the Chillicothe Ohio Gazette when I was in sixth grade. I credit my Dad who taught me to spell using medical journals and my Mom who wielded a red pen for "suggestions." I continue this tradition by torturing my own children with a red pen or more often the delete key.

Young Lauri swatting
 away adjectives

 I took a break from writing to study finance at The   Ohio State University. In my corporate finance career   I stuck out as the “creative” one, but excelled at   writing one-page recommendations. 

 Fun fact: "Memos" are about 500 words, like picture   books, but memos have to be simplified more because   adults have lost their childish wit. 

I love all things woodworking, gardening, nature, crafty...and messy!After some fun demolition, I built a book nook in my office. It's the perfect place to read in the sun or just make stacks of books to read later.                                                                                      

Fun fact: When I was six, I loved hammering roofing nails into a 2x4 board to use as a cash register. (Or as I explain to my kids, "we didn't have iphones.")

Doesn't it make you want to read?