LAURA'S AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR:
The Burning Light of Two Stars
A Mother-Daughter Story
This riveting memoir by The Courage to Heal author Laura Davis examines the endurance of mother-daughter love, how memory protects and betrays us, and the determination it takes to fulfill a promise when ghosts from the past come knocking.
Welcome! I'm Laura Davis.
I write books that change people's lives and help people tell stories that matter.
I am the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. My groundbreaking books have been translated into 11 languages and sold more than 1.8 million copies. In addition to writing books that inspire and change people's lives, the work of my heart is to teach. For more than twenty years, I've helped my students find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft as writers. I love creating supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and internationally.
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Featured Retreat: Write, Travel, Transform... and Eat!: Writing, Yoga, and Cultural Exploration in Tuscany
IN-PERSON INTERNATIONAL RETREAT: Tuscany, Italy
Tuesday, May 23 - Thursday, June 1, 2023
Journey to sun-soaked Tuscany for a ten-day retreat at a majestic 15th century estate seated on the rolling hills of the Italian countryside. Located just 45 minutes away from Florence, the Villa I Bonsi is a vineyard and olive farm ideal for relaxing and exploring the cultural wonders of a region celebrated for its history and food. Writing and yoga will be at the heart of the retreat and will help us bond as a group. This sensually rich vacation includes sumptuous meals, an olive oil tour, truffle hunting, a wine tasting tour at rock and roll icon Sting's villa, an Italian cooking class, and a day trip to Lucca with its well-preserved renaissance walls and cobblestone streets. An optional four-day tour of Florence will provide a unique, intimate experience of this magical city. Spouses and non-writing friends are welcome to join in on the fun.
Consider joining us the adventure of a lifetime.
Writing as a Pathway through Grief, Loss, Uncertainty and Change
IN-PERSON: Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, CA
Tuesday, August 1 - Monday, August 7, 2023
This retreat is for people who have come to a crossroads in their lives, due to the death of someone close, a loss like divorce, empty nest, or a move, an illness, a major life transition, shift in status, aging or simply the deep inner urge to chart a new course or make significant change in your life. If you're feeling "ripe with uncertainty" or are in transition from one phase of life to another, this retreat is for you. Experience the power of healing, the gift of supportive community & the profound impact guided writing can have in facing the unknown with courage.
Look Mom, I Got Published in The New York Times!
This past summer, on a whim, I distilled my soon-to-be-published 89,000-word memoir down to 100 words and submitted it to the Tiny Love Stories column in The New York Times. They said yes to publishing it. My mother, Temme Davis, antagonist and co-star in my forthcoming memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, did the New York Times crossword every day for more than 50 years until dementia took away her capacity to fill in those little boxes—always in ink. I’m sure she’s looking down from heaven right now, smiling at my 100 words and this wonderful picture of us.
If you don’t subscribe to The New York Times, and a paywall prevents you from accessing the link, you can read my Tiny Love Story, The Daughter She Needed, here.
Classes and Retreats
Experience the incredible power of finding your voice and honing your craft in a supportive circle of your peers. Weekly online classes include include writing practice classes and feedback circles. Click the "classes" button below for more information.
I also run writing retreats online, around the US, and internationally, from daylong and weekend workshops to weeklong retreats on writing through grief and uncertainty, to international travel adventures that combine writing with ecotourism in beautiful places around the world. To learn more, click on the link below.
The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story
"Caregiving an elderly parent, especially against the backdrop of a difficult shared past, can be a bruising spiritual ordeal. We who must travel this territory don’t need any more sentimental narratives about it. What we do need is the healing medicine of truth-telling, and Laura Davis brilliantly and generously gives it to us. I literally could not put this book down."
—Katy Butler, bestselling author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door and The Art of Dying Well
My riveting new memoir examines the endurance of mother-daughter love, how memory protects and betrays us, and the determination it takes to fulfill a promise when ghosts from the past come knocking.
The Making of a Memoir Blog
Did You Ever Wonder What Goes into Making a Great Memoir?
Let me take you behind the scenes and show you what it takes to create a compelling book and get it into the hands of readers.
As a special bonus, you'll get a sneak peek at some deleted scenes from The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, like the time I dropped acid with my father…
Writer's Journey Roadmap - Writing Prompts
The Writer's Journey Roadmap: Receive the gift of weekly inspiration. Powerful, provocative, motivating writing prompts in your inbox every Tuesday.
Upcoming Events with Laura Davis
Write, Travel, Transform... and Eat!: Writing, Yoga and Cultural Exploration in Tuscany
IN-PERSON INTERNATIONAL RETREAT: Tuscany, Italy
Tuesday, May 23 - Thursday, June 1, 2023
Journey to sun-soaked Tuscany for a ten-day retreat at a majestic 15th century estate seated on the rolling hills of the Italian countryside. Located just 45 minutes away from Florence, the Villa I Bonsi is a vineyard and olive farm ideal for relaxing and exploring the cultural wonders of a region celebrated for its history and food. Writing and yoga will be at the heart of the retreat and will help us bond as a group. This sensually rich vacation includes sumptuous meals, an olive oil tour, truffle hunting, a wine tasting tour at rock and roll icon Sting's villa, an Italian cooking class, and a day trip to Lucca with its well-preserved renaissance walls and cobblestone streets. An optional four-day tour of Florence will provide a unique, intimate experience of this magical city. Spouses and non-writing friends are welcome to join in on the fun.
Consider joining us the adventure of a lifetime.
Stories That Make Us Whole: The Power of Writing in Sacred Community
IN-PERSON RETREAT: Big Sur, CA
Monday, June 19 - Friday, June 23, 2023
When the world around us is polarized and the future is uncertain, gathering in community, living in our bodies, and expressing the truth is more important than ever.
In this transformative five-day writing workshop, we’ll use ritual and deep writing to connect with our inner voice, discover the healing power of language, and birth powerful true stories onto the page. Evocative prompts, movement, and guided meditation will lead you deeply into the world of language and story. Discover how to “find the story beneath the story,” why writers need to “slow down where it hurts,” and the secret of crafting tales rooted in the immediacy and physicality of the moment.
Writing as a Pathway through Grief, Loss, Uncertainty and Change
IN-PERSON: Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, CA
Tuesday, August 1 - Monday, August 7, 2023
This retreat is for people who have come to a crossroads in their lives, due to the death of someone close, a loss like divorce, empty nest, or a move, an illness, a major life transition, shift in status, aging or simply the deep inner urge to chart a new course or make significant change in your life. If you're feeling "ripe with uncertainty" or are in transition from one phase of life to another, this retreat is for you. Experience the power of healing, the gift of supportive community & the profound impact guided writing can have in facing the unknown with courage.
Write, Travel, Transform: A Creative Pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago, Spain
Monday, September 11 - Sunday, September 24, 2023
THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL AGAIN. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO JOIN THE WAIT LIST.
Hiking the Camino has been on Laura's bucket list years—and maybe it's on yours. This famous pilgrimage trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has attracted people from all over the world for more than 1,000 years. Our 14 day trip will combine eight days hiking the last 100 km of the French Camino de Santiago with four days focused on creative expression. At the beginning, middle, and end of our trip, non-hiking days will be set aside for Laura to teach writing and our guide, Brenda, to teach quick sketching and watercolor techniques, helping to experience and reflect on your journey. Beginners in both disciplines are welcome. After 14 days in Spain, immersed in beauty and an intimate traveling community, you'll return home with a personal journal documenting your journey.