Laura Jean Dahl
Inspired to combine contrasting ideas, Laura Jean Dahl is a boundary pushing writer, artist, producer and educator. Her art has been featured in many shows, including the national Silvermine Guild competition and the international Art Reach competition in Utah. As an American nomad, Laura’s diverse career includes being a back stage tour guide at Disney World; an antiques dealer; teaching art, drama, and English; and helping found and being the director of a homeless outreach and addiction recovery program
Throughout, writing has remained her passion. Laura devotes herself to perfecting every word on the page, to the rhythm of language, and to putting her readers into the perspective of the protagonist. Her lifelong work in social services with disadvantaged children and adults gives Laura an intimate understanding of the human psyche and struggle, which is expressed through the interpersonal conflicts of her characters
Her current full-time focus is her writing, throwing her whole being into the process of creating the story. She has just completed her first novel, The Ring of Roses, which is set in modern day horror fairytale set in Barcelona. This spine chilling book takes you on the journey of potential lovers desperately trying to find their way while the villain keeps thwarting them
With her husband of 33 years and the youngest of their three children, Laura lives in the desert mountains along with three big dogs and a cat. She enjoys making good food, but enjoys it even more when her husband makes his tasty delights. Among her hobbies are sewing clothes and quilts, wine tasting and collecting, and studying theoretical physics, astronomy, and geology. She has compiled an unwieldy family tree and traces her family history back to 1040 AD and Norman Invasion of England.
List of careers
Intern at Twentyonehundred Productions
Fine Art Framing and Frame Restoration
Hotdog Stand Operator
Dual diagnosed (Developmental delays and mental health) group home staff
Group home manager
Artist and fine art photographer
School Teacher: art, drama, art history, writing, literature
Foster Parent
Antiques Dealer
Home remodeling, including architectural plans and drawings
Home Schooling: kindergarten through high school
Skin Care Manufacturer and sales, including product formulation
Interim Director, Restore Hope.Dignity.Life recovery homes
Volunteerism
De facto Parent for court representation on behalf of foster kids
Church Elder, lay pastor
Founding Board Member, Restore Hope.Dignity.Life recovery program
Fundraiser Event Director
Church Mentor and Guidance Advisor
Youth Group Volunteer
Adult Educator: parenting and social issues
My substandard English education started with a teacher who gave me an “F” because of my atrocious spelling, followed by the next teacher who died of cancer and was replaced by a warm body who gave us magazines to read. My high school creative writing teachers and art teachers all told me to get out, but I continued to learn to write in college from my art history professor and by teaching myself grammar. I graduated with a BFA in fine art photography and have had my mixed media art shown in national and international competitions. Returning to school at Western Michigan University, I honed my writing skills before moving to California.
I am a people activist, always rooting for the underdog and taking the side of the vulnerable. I have worked with dual diagnosed (developmentally disabled and mental health) adults, people in addiction recovery including moms with children, foster children, and have adopted two high risk children. I have been part of people working through their tragic struggles, making their lives whole again, and finding acceptance after rejection. Likewise, while I mix up the genres, settings, and story lines, my protagonists will always find a sense of healing and peace.
I have a rich base of experience to pull from for my stories. My hobbies include sewing clothes and quilts, crafting using different media each time, making perfume, hiking, wine collecting, and streaming video games on Twitch. Most of my jobs I have kept for one year, moving on once I became proficient and before I got bored. I have managed a group home for developmentally disabled adults, sold antiques, formulated and sold skin care products, and was on the opening crew of the Back Stage Tour at Disney World, taught art, drama, creative writing and literature, and most recently I ran a 3 home recovery program. Teaching, writing, and art are the exceptions to the one-year rule, but in each case, I give myself a new challenge for each class or project.
I love to travel and visit unusual places, or go off the beaten path were I can befriend the locals. My favorite places to visit have been Barcelona, Yellowstone National Park, rafting the Colorado River, England. Barcelona became very dear to me while I did my research for The Bound; I hope to return there often and visit the friends I made there.
PROJECTS:
The Ring of Roses is nearly done and ready to go. I'm excited to be sending this book out to agents.
My next novel, yet to be titled, will be a murder mystery, but is it really a murder mystery? Who's been murdered when you can't find any bodies, but you know the people are missing?