About the Author

Growing up in North Pole, Alaska, winter wasn’t something to endure, it was a way of life. 

Laura spent her childhood exploring the woods with her siblings and cousins, building forts, riding snowmachines, hunting and fishing, and learning the self-reliance that came with growing up in an Alaska family that valued hard work and the outdoors.

That love of adventure eventually led Laura to the Iron Dog, Alaska’s legendary long-distance snowmobile race. In 1997, she and racing partner Lisa Luther became the first all-women’s pro team to compete in the Iron Dog. Laura later served as the race’s Executive Director from 2005 to 2010, giving her the rare opportunity to experience the event both from the seat of a snowmachine and behind the scenes.

Laura has been filling journals and turning her own experiences into stories for most of her life. 

IRON DOG: Ride the Edge, her first novel, grew from her desire to share a side of Alaska few young readers get to experience—the rural communities, wilderness, friendships, and challenges that shaped her own life.

When she’s not writing, Laura prefers to be outside—hiking, biking, kayaking, snowmachining, or taking photographs—and believes a good cup of coffee improves almost any adventure.