Almost everything you might want to know about me!
Photo Credit: Elise Sunday
I was born and raised in Braintree, MA, and after attending 3 semesters at Smith College, I decided to go for an even greater challenge and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1983 (with the 4th class to graduate women). I married my most remarkable classmate Mike McHargue, resigned from the Army as a Major after nine years Active Duty and three in the Army Reserves to raise our two awesome sons, and then taught English for many years before abandoning paid employment to concentrate on becoming an author. I now live and laugh and write and podcast in the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, where I also raised Khaki Campbell ducks for eggs and entertainment before deciding to write about their adventures! Follow my COVID Duck Chronicles on YouTube!
Here’s what I’ve published so far (and please leave a review after reading a book you’ve enjoyed . . . mine or others’)!
QUACK: My first children’s picture book, written and colorfully illustrated by me, and with a little song to boot!
Lucky Bucks! This is my great-niece’s first novel, started when she was 8 and completed when she was 9 years old! I edited, illustrated, and published it for her. An absolutely delightful story about sibling rivalry and power!
Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! is a book I wrote with Nadine Collier (LPC). It’s a fun self-help book for coping with the stresses of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and earned the 2021 CIPA EVVY Bronze Award for inspiration!
Crow-Magnum is a short story about twins who solve a crime…with the help of mystical crows!
DARK EBB: Grim Tales (Volume 1) is a compilation of 19 bizarre short stories, and a sketch (my own!) at the start of each story! This collection earned the 2020 CIPA EVVY Bronze Award for horror!
Hunt for Red Meat (love stories) is my first memoir! This is as much about relationships and the majesty of the outdoors as it is about hunting the wily elk (they remained wily) in the wilds of Colorado.
The Hare, Raising Truth is an adult fairy tale, a novella that feels like Rod Serling got together with the Grimm Brothers and several horny teenage boys. Not for children!
“Miss?” is based on my hair-raising experience of teaching 7th grade English in a challenging school. I updated and re-released it with an editorial essay and new cover in 2016. This debut novel earned the Indie Reader Approved Award!
Waterwight Trilogy is a YA fantasy adventure suitable for ages 8-108. The first book in the series was released on Leap Day 2016 (Feb 29th) and earned the 2016 CIPA EVVY Silver Award for Fiction/Fantasy! Waterwight Flux (Book II) and Waterwight Breathe (Book III) have also earned CIPA EVVY Merit Awards!
Waterwight Coloring Book: My first foray into the coloring book realm! Meet many of the characters from Book I of the Waterwight Trilogy!
Haikus Can Amuse! (2016) is a fun journal-style book with 366 haiku “starters” (I provide the first line or topic, you finish the poem and write about your inspiration).
Hai CLASS ku is designed for home-school and classroom use–It’s a great tool for educators!
Feel free to comment on my posts or send me an email at:
or find me here:
Laurel Facebook page / Laurel’s Instagram / Laurel’s Amazon Author Page
My publisher: STRACK PRESS LLC
If I’m not out and about for a daily infusion of inspiration, I’ll be here!