Thanks for stopping by! I’m a mother of two boys, novelist, horse lover, Baltimore Oriole fan regardless of their record, compulsive list-keeper, and author of the young adult novel BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT, a novel about family — both the one we are born to and the one we create for ourselves.

“… Teens will find Abbey’s emotional turmoil rings true, as does the reason behind her final act of forgiveness. But it’s the multigenerational friendships-the feisty, sniping conversations with Granny Po and her close circle of friends, “The Widows,” brim with humor-that make Bowers’s first novel a delight.”–*starred review* Publisher’s Weekly

“As homey, gossipy and charming as a small-town beauty shop, Laura Bowers’ first novel will soothe your mind, cleanse your pores, and make your hair curl with laughter.”– E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List and Fly on the Wall

(Click here for more reviews.)

BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT was also nominated for:

South Dakota State Library’s 2009-10 YARP Reading List
Missouri Association of School Librarians 2009-10 Gateway Readers Award
New York State Reading Association’s 2010 Charlotte Award
Eliot Rosewater 2009-10 Award
Volunteer State 2009-10 Book Award
The Kentucky 2009 Book Award

So grab a cup of coffee and stay a while! You can read an excerpt, take this quiz to find out which character you’re most like, have a giggle from my past hair don’ts, or see which elements from my real world made it into my book! (HINT: Caddie’s not the only one who was peed on by a pig.)

Also, see which authors have been in the beauty shop lately for my Shop Talk Interviews!