Name: Laura Reese (writes under pen name Lauren Clark)
Place of birth/hometown: Akron, NY (near Rochester)
MWG member for how many years: 1 year
Website/blog/fan pages:
Lauren Clark Books Website
GoodReads Lauren Clark
Twitter Lauren Clark
Facebook Lauren Clark
Books:
Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned Nook
Dancing Naked in Dixie
Dancing Naked in Dixie for Kindle
Dixie for Nook
Stardust Summer
Stardust Summer Kindle
Stardust Summer Nook
What was your first writing-related gig? I wrote for my college newspaper, The Clarion Call, and remember being thrilled with my hard-hitting assignments, which included riveting topics like the changes to the cafeteria menu, new offerings in the English Department, and interviewing campus visitors and dignitaries.
Who are your top five favorite authors right now? I admire author Jodi Picoult for tackling sensitive issues with a balanced, brutally honest insight. I just finished her latest novel about the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, The Storyteller, and couldn’t put it down! My other favorite authors include Chris Bohjalian (Midwives, Sandcastle Girls), John Green (The Fault in Our Stars – a must-read!), Jessica Park (Flat-Out Love), and Veronica Roth (Divergent, Insurgent).
What is your literary guilty pleasure? I’m a huge fan of chick lit novels! I’m especially smitten with Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series and I am positively beside myself waiting for the release of her new novel, Wedding Night. Kinsella crafts smart, witty books that are laugh-out-loud funny—perfect for a day at the beach, a balmy evening on your front porch swing, or curled up in your favorite chair with a glass of wine.
Where is your favorite place to write? My Zen place to write is actually in the library of Spring Hill College. The third floor offers a lovely view of the college campus and downtown Mobile. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of light, and the space is peaceful and oh-so-quiet for brainstorming, plotting, and writing.
What books inspired you as a child? My parents are huge readers and I was handed my first library card at age 4! My favorite books as a child included anything written by Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry, and the Berenstains (Berenstain Bears series). As a teenager, I loved the Nancy Drew series, Little House on the Prairie books, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and classics like Little Women.
Official Bio: Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends.
Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Mobile Writers Guild, and a regular contributor to Parents & Kids Magazine’s Mississippi Gulf Coast Edition. Check out her website at http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com.
Thanks so much for the lovely feature! I look forward to getting more involved with MWG this year!
I loved Dancing Naked in Dixie. My husband gave me the book and I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read more.