LAURA'S NEW BOOK:
The Burning Light of Two Stars
A Mother-Daughter Story
Coming October 2021
Available Now for Preorder!
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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Classes and Retreats
Experience the incredible power of finding your voice and honing your craft in a supportive circle of your peers. Weekly classes in Santa Cruz include writing practice classes and feedback circles. Click the "classes" button below for more information.
I also run US and international writing retreats, from weekend workshops in the woods 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
The Courage to Complete: How to Get Your Creative Project Over the Finish Line
Saturday, September 18th
8:30-6:30 PM Pacific time in three sessions
Online
Spend a day online with Laura and award-winning writer, playwright, and actor Ann Randolph and learn what it takes to finally complete that creative project you have been agonizing over. The workshop will be recorded if you can’t make the live event.
Memoir: How to Create Unforgettably Vivid Moments Your Readers Will Never Forget
October 30, 2021 10am-1pm (PT)
Online
What makes scenes compelling are emotionally resonant moments that irresistibly pull readers into the world you create. In this experiential two-part intensive, you’ll learn to identify the pivotal moments that form your story’s backbone, front-load sensory detail so your writing is unforgettable, and why you should “slow down where it hurts.” You will come away with a powerful first draft of a crucial scene, a list of scenes to develop, and the skills to write those scenes with powerful immediacy.
