I was privileged to be named a Manship Fellow in the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. I worked as a graduate assistant in the LSU Office of Public Relations, researching and writing news releases about happenings at the Research 1 university which were printed in newspapers statewide.

This work gave me an up-close-and-personal view of the varied and fascinating work being done on the expansive campus as well as its academic reach. I then became a graduate-level intern at the NBC owned-and-operated television station in Miami, Florida. After achieving my Master of Journalism degree, I returned to my hometown of Dothan, Alabama, where I worked as a television reporter for a brief time at the local ABC affiliate.

When my first son was born, I quickly realized that I would be most fulfilled placing career aspirations aside for the brief time that my children would be young. I knew that they would leave the nest all too quickly and wanted to remember every milestone. During these years at home, I worked as a freelance writer for a local publication in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as for a regional publication based there. I have also written stories for an online news local news source and a nationally distributed special-interest publication. I have recently written for a tourism blog, currently write a personal blog and am pursuing other forms of writing, as it is my first love.

I am a lover of books, learning, research, and nature! My husband Gary is my partner in adventure. We ride our motorcycle all over the Smokies and the Cherokee National Forest, reveling in the beauty of God’s creation. We also enjoy trips out west, having visited Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountain National Park and many other places in Colorado. (We’re headed to Glacier National Park this summer!) I have two wonderful sons, Matt (20) and Jonathan (17).

Jesus Christ is the central focus of my life. I give Him glory in every victory and look to him for direction in every defeat. He has never failed me. I am a member of a local church, where I volunteer in the Children’s Ministry and enjoy great fellowship with the ladies in a weekly Bible study. I believe God has a wonderful plan for every single life, and I want everyone I meet to feel loved, encouraged and supported in their quest to be that special individual He made them to be, with no regard for comparisons to others who are on their own unique paths!

My chief aim as a writing tutor is to shore up the confidence of every student I am privileged to help. Anyone can learn to organize their ideas and present them effectively through the written word! Moreover, many who struggle have a hidden talent just waiting to be unearthed, polished and presented to the world! I feel confident that I can guide students of any age to levels of success in writing that they never dreamed possible.

Laurie's Subjects

Writing for all ages, especially High School