The Writer's Journey Podcast Notes - Episode: Meet Laura Davis
Episode Overview
In this intimate introduction episode, seven-time bestselling author Laura Davis welcomes listeners to The Writer's Journey and shares her remarkable story of transformation from trauma survivor to internationally recognized writing teacher and memoir specialist.
About Laura Davis
Laura Davis is a seven-time bestselling author, memoir writer, writing teacher, and workshop leader who has dedicated four decades to helping writers find their authentic voices. Known as "a midwife of stories," Laura creates safe, sacred communities for writers worldwide—both online and in beautiful destinations around the globe.
Laura's Literary Achievements
Laura Davis is the author of The Burning Light of Two Stars, the story of her loving, tumultuous relationship with her mother, and six other non-fiction books that have transformed lives worldwide.
Notable Publications:
The Courage to Heal - Paved the way for hundreds of thousands of women to heal from sexual abuse trauma
Becoming the Parent You Want to Be - Helped parents develop a vision for the families they want to create
I Thought We'd Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation - Taught essential skills of reconciliation and peace building, one relationship at a time
The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story-Tells the story of Laura's estrangement and reconciliation with her mother; how she ended up taking care of a mother who betrayed her in the past
Media & Speaking:
Published in Publisher's Weekly, Writer's Digest, CrimeReads, Brevity, and The New York Times
Featured in The Los Angeles Review of Books
Popular podcast guest on QWERTY, Write-Minded, and dozens of other shows
Featured speaker for The National Association of Memoir Writers
Craft teacher at The San Miguel Writer's Conference
Teaching Excellence: For more than thirty years, Laura has dedicated herself to teaching writers how to find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft. She creates supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and through international writing adventures that combine cultural learning with creative development.
Key Topics Discussed
The Power of Healing Through Writing
Laura shares her journey from being a 28-year-old incest survivor to co-authoring the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal" with Ellen Bass in 1988. This book became a runaway bestseller and provided the first comprehensive map of the healing process for sexual abuse survivors.
Core Messages of The Courage to Heal:
You are not alone
It wasn't your fault
You can heal and thrive
There is a way out of the pain
From Trauma to Transformation
Laura discusses her evolution from being defined by trauma to creating a full, rich life beyond survival. She shares how she eventually stepped away from writing about sexual abuse to focus on living fully—building a family, writing about parenting, reconciliation, and caring for aging parents.
The Writer's Journey Community
Laura explains her vision for creating safe, sacred spaces for creativity and connection, especially crucial during times of uncertainty and turmoil.
Featured Segment: "Make a Commitment to Beauty"
Laura emphasizes that beauty is not optional—it's "oxygen for our tattered nervous systems." She encourages listeners to pause and savor beautiful moments as an essential survival skill.
Testimonials
"Laura is gentle, kind, thoughtful and rigorous--it's clear she's here for us to get the full benefit of what we signed up for." - Gavriella Delgado
"Mountainous in humanity, skill, depth, breadth. That's Laura. As soulful as she is grounded." - Caroline W
"Laura is a magnificent midwife of stories." - Nancy Kramer
Key Takeaways
Healing is possible - even from the most difficult circumstances
Community matters - safe spaces for expression are essential
Beauty is survival - savoring beautiful moments sustains us
Truth-telling transforms - authentic storytelling has the power to heal
Writing is a journey - not just a destination
Subscribe to The Writer's Journey
Ready to join Laura's community of writers and begin your own journey of authentic storytelling?
Subscribe now at: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com
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