Hi hi! Lauren here!
I write books for kids, teens, and grown-ups. Funny books. Tender books. Books that, I hope, help us feel seen—and help us see one another more clearly.
I’m interested in people most of all: what we hide, what we hope for, and how much we need one another as we fumble our way forward. 💛
I’m glad you’re here!
What I’m excited about right now
Where the Bells Still Ring
Where the Bells Still Ring is written by Clara Virginia White, but guess what? Clara is me, and I am Clara!
I wrote Bells for my mom, who mentioned one day that sometimes the world feels too heavy, too dark. She told me that more and more, she just wants to curl up with a novel that isn’t depressing, but instead embodies the warmth she remembers from growing up in small-town Tennessee: dinner with family, neighbors you could count on, people finding reasons to hope. That conversation stayed with me. Eventually, it became this book.
I had plenty to draw from. Between my four parents, I grew up with church music and Sunday singing, deep faith and sturdy skepticism—and one hard-boiled agnostic who gets misty over small kindnesses. Their opinions didn’t always align. They taught me to make room for people anyway.
As Clara, I wrote about the church world I grew up in and continue to cherish. I no longer play the handbells, but I’m part of my church choir, and it brings me so much joy. For some, organized religion conjures icky and limiting worldviews, but please don’t be afraid! You’ll find no didacticism here, just regular people doing their best.
Find a Book
There’s more than one way into my books.
Adults →
Friendship, secrets, and people who really ought to know better.
Teens →
First loves, big feelings, and the messy business of becoming yourself.
Younger Readers →
From first chapter books to growing-up stories—with room for a little magic.
Know the title? All books & series order →
Also on the shelf: Plays Well with Others. Friendship, revenge, and some extremely questionable neighbors.