Laurie has visited Colonial Williamsburg at least 30 times, and has been a docent for school tours at her local historical society for many years - yes, she even dresses up in period costumes, and yes, she's a little crazy about American history. Which is why her books always include snippets of historical fact mixed within her storylines.

Her writing has been described as "delightfully entertaining" by Publishers Weekly, and she strives to create stories that are a pleasant diversion from day-to-day life.

Subscribing to the thought that good writers are good readers, Laurie tries to read a book every week. Some of her favorite authors are Phillipa Gregory, Kate Grenville, Robert Hicks, and Anne Tyler, but her all-time favorite is Straight Man by Richard Russo.

When she is not writing, she is busy raising her two daughters, gardening and sewing. Born and raised in upstate New York, she has lived in Manhattan, Tokyo and London, but has called Connecticut her home for the past 20 years.

Laurie's first book, Wetherton, was inspired by the very definition of history - a narrative of events. Her second book, The Half-Life Party, was inspired by her own ghost experience while staying in Colonial Williamsburg. She is currently writing her third book, which she hopes to publish by December 2013.