Writing without the reins

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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!


Most Recent News


Bummer. More winter.

February 2nd, 2010

While I truly admire my daffodils’ optimism and their determination to grow . . .

. . . Punxsutawney Phil predicts otherwise.

Bummer. But reading this article did remind me to add something to my “Do Before Dying” list: Go to Punxsutawney, PA on Groundhogs Day to see little Phil and enjoy the festivities. Just [...]

Must. Shop. Tonight.

January 27th, 2010

Okay. There’s hardly any groceries in the fridge, we’re down to the crappy chunky peanut butter that my husband bought by mistake, I had to use shampoo because we’re out of body wash, and there’s only one roll of toilet paper left in the house.
Yep. Can’t put it off any longer. I [...]

What’s in a name?

January 26th, 2010

I have to change a character’s name.
Sometimes I really hate changing a character’s name, especially if they’re established.
Like this one minor character in a book I’ve been working on for a very long time and I hope to have good news about soon. Her name was Torrance. I thought it [...]