Laura Beers spent most of her childhood with a nose stuck in a book, dreaming of becoming an author. She attended Brigham Young University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. 
Many years later, and with loving encouragement from her family, Laura decided to start writing again. Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.

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1. What is your favorite dessert?
I love pink Starburst, not red, not yellow, but pink.  I never get tired of those delicious, pink, chewy treats!

2. What is your beverage of choice?
I love Dr. Pepper.  I am pretty sure my mom put Dr. Pepper into my bottles.

3. What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
My favorite movie of all time is Wonder Woman.  I used to dress up as Wonder Woman as a child, which is why I am pleased that my daughter wants to be Wonder Woman for Halloween this year.

4. Where is your favorite place to go on holiday?
This summer we went to Oahu and stayed near Northshore.  It was beautiful and relaxing.  During our two-week vacation, my kids got tired of going to the beach and protested!  They demanded a day off from the beach and wanted to stay at the hotel to play on their electronics.  What a hard life my kids have!
 
My dream vacation is to go to England and Scotland and travel to all the historical sites.  

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I have always had stories in my head that I would daydream about.  At some point, my fictional characters almost felt real.  I wanted to share these stories with others.
 
2. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?
When I was younger, I would dream about becoming a writer, and would sit at our word processer and type out stories.  I also dreamed about being a lawyer, President of the United States, a princess, an astronaut, an FBI agent, and a spy.   
 
3. Who are some of your favorite authors?  Do these authors inspire your own writing?
Rebecca Connolly, Sara Eden, Jennifer Moore, Heather B. Moore, and Jenni James.  There are so many fantastic writers right now!  I am constantly discovering new authors and love their books.

4. When you are not writing, what other "hats" do you wear?
I am a wife, mother, school volunteer, Dr. Pepper addict, and friend.

1. What inspired the idea for Saving Shadow?
I started daydreaming about being a spy during the Regency period.  After all, who hasn’t thought about being a spy before, especially a spy that can throw daggers, decipher enemy codes, and outwit an evil villain? 
 
2. What do you want readers to take away from reading Saving Shadow?
I want the readers to enjoy the book.  Even though my book touches on white slavery and PTSD, it is meant to be a light-hearted, fun read.  My favorite part is the witty banter between the characters.
 
3. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about this project?
I am so excited about my 2nd book of the series, A Peculiar Courtship. The tagline for this book is, “He would protect her from anything. Even herself.”   The story revolves around Lord Jonathon Beckett and Lady Hannah, and a sinister plot by the dastardly French spies that are hiding in plain sight.

Saving Shadow                   A Peculiar Courtship

1. When did you first start writing Safe House compared to when it was published?
Great question! I have always written and wanted to write a book.

I changed jobs in about 2011 and wasn’t going to be doing advocacy with victims for a few years. That is when I felt I had the time to write.  I wanted  to write a fiction which could also contribute to increasing awareness for survivors of abuse.  At the time, I was super busy writing articles for Deseret Digital media and Hilary Weeks blog, “Billion Clicks.” Somewhere in 2012 I started the book and wrote a draft within about 3 months.

I didn’t send it to anyone. Even though my other articles were doing well, I was afraid to fail. Then a relative (I have hundreds!) who was in high school had an experience with a boyfriend that was emotionally abusive. I was trying to explain abuse to her mother, who had called me for advice. I offered her my draft of the book. It had an impact on her decisions which confirmed my belief that stories can be powerful, educate, motivate, and be well written.

I sent it in to a publisher and it came back with a lovely note. I decided to rewrite the entire book. I did a second draft working in the evenings by a fire during a stormy winter. My cousin Kristi and sister Stacy read my 2nd draft. Stacy began to push me to send it in. One more rewrite and I let fear of failure win.  

My sister Stacy became very ill. No one really knew what was wrong. She continued to encourage me. Finally, one winter evening, I knew I had to submit it. I sent it to Cedar Fort electronically and let Stacy know. In the submission, they ask if you are submitting to someone else. I said I wouldn’t until I heard from them. And so the waiting began.

9 months later, I got an email from Cedar Fort. The night before the editor had picked it up for the first time and couldn’t put it down. She wanted to publish it. Within a few months, I had a contract. It was about 6 more months before it was published.

By this time, we knew Stacy had pancreatic cancer. We thought she only had a few months, but she was a fierce fighter and stayed with our family until she had the PDF copy of the book and could read my dedication to her.

Stacy passed away less than a week before I held a copy of the book in my hand in June of 2017. The book that wouldn’t have been without her faith in it and me.

I developed a new personal motto, “I am grateful for another day to fail beautifully.” Stacy would have given anything for more years with her family. I am blessed with time and will never again waste a moment being afraid. Forward! And if I fail it will be because I tried.

2. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
Safe House is my first full-length novel. I am OLD! However, I feel young. I am in my 50s and still run every day. I eat right, kayak, hike, play with kids, work full time, volunteer, and write.

I read encyclopedias in kindergarten. I began writing and reading stories, poems, and even apology letters to my family from about age 5. At age 12, in church, I wrote, “Publish a book,” on my list of goals. I guess I am a late bloomer.

3. What suggestions would you give a potential author to help them become a better writer?
Be wiser than I was. Never let fear hold you back. I know fear and faith cannot exist in the same place. Have faith and risk. I love getting feedback from readers. I even love to learn from criticism. If writing is your passion, go for it!

4. How frequently do you hear from your reader fans? Have you had any fun, weird, or unusual reader fan experiences via email, social media, or at a book signing?
I hear from someone almost daily. I really like chatting with fans often on social media and at book signings. I read every single review and comment. I care about people in my job as an advocate and I care about the people who take the time to read my novel or other articles. The feedback is seriously helpful.

I’ve had delightful experiences talking to people at book signings. I meet tremendous people. I always leave conversations at book signings wishing I had more time to visit with people. At almost every signing I  meet people I know I will never forget and end up in really meaningful conversations. I really believe God has a plan for all of us. Many times I have driven away knowing no matter how far I traveled to a book signing it was worth it for that one person.

As far as weird experiences,  I decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from Safe House to Operation Underground Railroad after hearing Tim Ballard speak at Time Out for Women. I was given the opportunity to write for their volunteer newsletter as a result of the book. In a weird coincidence and fun conversation, I learned their social media coordinator who contacted me had actually been to my tiny Seaside town and was friends with a friend of mine. Sometimes our giant world feels like a small crazy quilt of great experiences that make me smile. You decide - coincidence or all part of the plan?

Being the youngest of four sisters (and one very tolerant older brother), Heather grew up on a steady diet of chocolate, Anne of Green Gables, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Austen, and the other staples of female literature and moviedom. These stories inspired Heather to begin writing at an early age. After meeting and marrying her husband Mark, Heather graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University and finally settled down in a small farming community in southeastern Idaho with her husband and four children. In her spare time, Heather enjoys time spent with family, volleyball, piano, the outdoors, and almost anything creative.

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1. What is your favorite dessert?
I'm a sucker for chocolate. I love warm chocolate chip cookies and milk or a fresh cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting. 

2. What is your favorite beverage?
Dr. Pepper is my weakness, but I'm slowly transitioning to flavored water. 

3. What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
My favorite movie changes from day to day and mood to mood. I've got an eclectic taste-- romance, comedies, musicals. Right now, my favorite is The Greatest Showman. But classics that I always enjoy are Ocean's Eleven, Nacho Libre, BBC Jane Austen adaptations, Mastermind, Under the Greenwood Tree, Wives and Daughters. I don't have time to watch TV very much, but when I do I enjoy Fixer Upper, Modern Family, or game shows. 

4. Where is your favorite place to go on holiday?
I dream of the ocean and Disneyland. Right now California is our go-to, but I hope to see more places when my kids are older-- Washington DC, New York, Boston, Europe, Australia. Those are all wishes. 

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?
I wrote stories from the time I was five. Thoughts of writing a book came and went like clouds during my childhood and adolescence. Writing has always been a part of me, but I also considered counseling, the medical field, landscape design (as well as the science of plants), and hair school. I've always been pulled between the sciences and the arts. I never had trouble finding things I liked. I struggled with the opposite. There's so much I enjoy learning about.

2. What authors do you enjoy?  Do these authors inspire your own writing?
I like all different genres and authors. I enjoy the more well known books (Hunger Games, Harry Potter), but I also appreciate the classics by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, and others. Jane Austen has been a long time favorite, and continues to be. Nancy E. Turner is my favorite historical fiction author, Julianne Donaldson my favorite regency author, and Kate Morton and Liane Moriarty my favorite contemporary authors. I also enjoy good mysteries/thrillers every once in a while. 

I hope that these writers have influenced my writing because I admire them. I would guess I've learned different things from each of them. That isn't very specific, but I'd have to think about it. Carla Kelly has been a mentor of sorts. She has given me pointers and resources to better myself. I appreciate her, as well as other writers, who have helped to shape my writing.

3. When you are not writing, what other "hats" do you wear?
My other hats include wife, mommy to four kiddos, organizer, wanna-be-volleyball player (and hopefully coach in the future), and cook. 

1. What inspired the idea for The Forgotten Girl?
I wanted to write a story about strength and hope and what they mean to me. I wanted to write a book to inspire my three daughters as they grow. My great-grandmother Stella came to mind. The Forgotten Girl is fiction, but it was inspired by the strength of Stella and the life she, and so many like her, lead. 

2. What do you want readers to take away from reading The Forgotten Girl?
Hope- there's always a way to improve your surroundings and life. Love- relationships matter more than anything else in this life. Strength- it's more about putting one foot in front of the other than doing anything grand. We have to keep going, keep trying. There's strength in that.

3. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?
My current WIP isn't yet titled, but it is under contract and is scheduled for a Dec. 2018 release. It's a historical fiction, coming of age story. It follows a girl named Elle as she struggles to find her place in the world. She comes from a farming town in the Tetons in the early 1900s but also goes to finishing school in Virginia. When she's called home after a tragedy to take care of thefarm, Elle has to examine herself, and her heart, to decide the type of life she will choose.