About
Laurie Markvart is the author of the memoir “Somewhere in the Music, I’ll Find Me” (2022), which received Kirkus Reviews’ “GET IT” verdict. Kirkus praised her “impressive storytelling chops as she deals candidly with issues of grief, mental illness, and the ups and downs of trying to make it as an artist,” and called it “an engaging meditation on a daughter’s decadeslong quest to live up to her mother’s ambitions.” Laurie narrated and produced the audiobook edition (2023) for Audible. She is also a contributing author to the anthology “Writing Lessons: From published indie authors around the world” (November 11, 2026).
Over twenty years, Laurie worked in marketing for Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, and DC Comics’ literary group, developing expertise in commercial storytelling and audience engagement across film and publishing.
She spoke at the 2024 Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Kansas City on “How to Write a Hard Story to Tell.” She hosts writer events and writes regularly on her website and Substack. Find her on Instagram at @lauriemarkvart.
Laurie is also a published poet, songwriter, professional singer, and musician. Her music is available at www.lauriemarkvart.com.
Laurie serves as Director of Communications for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She lives in Los Angeles and recently completed her debut novel, “Everything We Lost in the Middle,” an upmarket women’s psychological suspense.
Featured Work
"Somewhere in the Music, I'll Find Me: A Memoir"
Sometimes funny, sometimes harrowing, always moving, Somewhere in the Music, I’ll Find Me is a coming-of-age memoir that illustrates the power of a dream to shape a lifetime, no matter what fate has in store.
When Laurie Markvart's brother took her to the big city to experience her first rock concert, Laurie's life was forever changed. The stage, the lights, the heart-pounding sound—then and there, teenage Laurie knew she was made for music. But could she make it with music? Her Wisconsin farm town barely had one stoplight, much less a spotlight big enough to shine on her larger-than-life dreams.
From the '80s rock bars of Minneapolis to the bustling music scene of Austin and New York City's Broadway in the '90s, Laurie's determination to follow her dreams led her down dark alleys and again into the spotlight. Through it all, her parent's hopes and fears shaped her path, guiding her home more than once. But the meaning of home changes as the years go by. When a series of losses shakes the foundation of Laurie's life, she returns to the music—where she's always found solace—perhaps now she's ready to find herself there, too.
Other Works
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"Writing Lessons: From published indie authors around the world"
2026
