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Bio - Laura R. Hepworth
Hi there! First of all, thank you for visiting me! I don't know how you found me, but know that you are welcome. Please, stay and explore as long as you like. Better yet, let others know so they can come join us!
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Let's see, what can I tell you about myself? How about I start where every great story starts - the beginning. I have the unique distinction in my family of being the only one with dual-citizenship. You see, my parents (American-born) were missionaries in Ireland for 13 years. I was born in Cork, and, until we moved back State-side, grew-up in the little village of Ballincollig (though, from what I've learned, it's not so little anymore!). As you can imagine, growing up as an MK meant that we traveled a lot! Something that I still enjoy doing today! Sadly, I'm not able to travel as much as I would like to at this present moment, and so must content myself with the second-best form of traveling - books and the imagination. I love to read! Though I must make a terrible confession, I didn't always enjoy reading. A shameful thing to admit I know! (Especially considering I now write them!). But it's true, for a long time my parents were hard-pressed to get me to read. It wasn't until I came across The
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Saddle Club book series by Bonnie Bryant that I finally was able to get into reading. Now, you can't get me to stop!! Among my favorite authors you'll find the classic favorites like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis mixed with today's authors (both traditionally published and indie, in fact, I read a lot of indie!) such as: Jasper Fforde, S.E. Grove, K.M. Shea, and Brittany Fichter. I read across nearly all of the spectrum of Young Adult SciFi/Fantasy from Dystopia to Fairy Tales/Retellings and High Fantasy to Steampunk and Alternative History. Coincidentally, I also write within the same genres I read.
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Besides being a book-nerd, I am also a geek many times over! A Tolkienite and Trekkie, history geek, a word-nerd, collector of alphabets (everything from Cuneiform and Futhark Runes to Klingon and Elvish!), and conlanger (someone who invents their own languages), I'm unashamed to admit to some quirky interests. I also have a very strong weakness for fairy tales. I'm not sure what it is about them, but there is a timelessness to them that, no matter how many times they've been told or how many ways, I always find myself drawn to them.
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In fact, they call to me nearly as loudly as rocks do (I'm afraid I have a terrible case of 'oh shiny!'). I love rocks. Rough rocks, cut rocks, beads, cabochons, cameos, and carvings, I love them all! Everywhere I go, I'm always looking for rocks. Which brings me to another 'facet' about myself I'd like to share. Along with being an indieauthor and part-time library clerk, I'm also a gemology student and self-taught jeweller. I have an Associates of Fine Arts from a local community college and took one week-long workshop at the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Young Harris, Georgia and, presently am working on my Graduate Gemologist and Graduate of Pearls Diplomas from the Gemological Institute of America. As thread and I don't get along too well, I work mostly with metal and stones or with reclaimed materials. Specializing in one-of-a-kind pieces, I combine my love of jewellery and gems with my love of history and seek my design inspiration in eras gone by. If you'd like to learn more about my jewellery, please drop by my other website (Handmaden Designs LLC). My series, The Gemquist Chronicles, also combines these same loves.
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I suffer from what I call 'creative claustrophobia.' The fear of being boxed into just one type of art or art style. Writing, jewellery, painting/drawing, digital art (I've painted the cover art for all of my books)......I enjoy them all! Please visit my ArtStation website if you'd like to see more of my artwork!
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Well, I think that's about it! In summary, I adore books (something I suspect we have in common), jewellery and gems call to me, history and words enthrall me, antiques intrigue me, and within the realms of imagination I can combine them all to, hopefully, bring you stories that you will fall in love with. If you do, please feel free to reach out to me! Whether through this site's contact page or on social media, I'd love to hear from you!
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