Acclaimed author Laurie Woodward, says, “I want people to see their wonder. That magical part, when nurtured, births amazing things. Films. Paintings. Stories. Song.” 

    Laurie  does just that through her books, screenplays, blog, or work as an educator.  Currently, her published novels include the coming-of-age  Finding Joy  as well as The Pharaoh's Cry, Portal Rift, Kidnaped Smile, Persistence of Memory, and Dragon Sky from the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles. Other published works include the middle-grade Forest Secrets and multiple short stories and poems.  Every book contains a message of hope showing the reader that when one is true to him/herself bullies can be defeated in both real and fantasy worlds.

Her work has won awards from L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest and been featured in the critically acclaimed A Hudson View Poetry Digest. Woodward co-wrote Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy, the memoir about dolphin naturalist, Dean Bernal, which has been featured in the IMAX film Dolphins, Robin Williams’ In the Wild, and on Animal Planet.

    She was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions and for the past twenty-five years has worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher in Santa Maria earning numerous grants and awards for her work as a peace consultant.  Bullied as a child, Laurie continues to inspire creating peace through art. More about her work can be found through her publisher https://www.nextchapter.pub/ or at artania.net.