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 her desk warm. 

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’m a SCBWI, Children's Book Insider, and 12x12 member. I was selected for the PB Chat Mentorship in 2021. I participated in the Advanced Picture Book Mentorship with Karen Boss in 2020. I was selected as a mentee at the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature conference in 2017. When I received my first "1" rating from Rate Your Story, I did a fancy jig all around the house.

I participate in all the kidlit fun. 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.

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. 

More about Lauri: 

Camp Tak-a-Wak-a 

Her first publication was “Camp Tak-a-Wak-a” in the Chillicothe Ohio Gazette when she was in sixth grade. She credits her Dad who taught her to spell using medical journals and her Mom who wielded a red pen for "suggestions." She continues this tradition by torturing her own children with a red pen or more often the delete key.

Young Lauri swatting
 away adjectives

She took a break from writing to study finance at The Ohio State University. In her corporate finance career she 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. 

Older Lauri letting out
rejection frustration

Lauri is in the process of learning to bravely submit her work. It turns out the more she submits, the more acceptances she gets. But this can still be a scary process. She was very excited in 2024 to have a poem published in Highlights High Five, because she loved reading the magazine when she was little. 

Fun fact: "Purpose" is difficult to say, so she read it as "Fun with a Porpoise" which of course is a completely different and vastly wetter experience. 

Doesn't it make you want to read?

She loves all things woodworking and crafty. She enjoys demolishing things, too! After some fun and messy demolition, she built a booknook in her office. It's the perfect place to read in the sun or just make stacks of books to read later.                              Fun fact: When she was six she hammered roofing nails into a 2x4 to use a cash register.