Picture a storyteller who swapped corporate spreadsheets for tales of cowboys and heartfelt redemption—meet Laura Drake! This award-winning American author weaves contemporary romance and women’s fiction with a Western flair, capturing the grit and grace of rural life. Her novels, like the RITA-winning The Sweet Spot, resonate with readers through their raw emotion and relatable characters.
From her tomboy roots in Detroit’s suburbs to her Texas-sized dreams, Laura’s journey to authorship is as captivating as her stories. With a passion for storytelling that began on her childhood porch, she’s now a celebrated voice in romance and women’s fiction, proving that love and resilience can thrive in the dustiest of towns.
The Making of Laura Drake
Born in the suburbs outside Detroit, Laura Drake was a self-proclaimed tomboy with a knack for spinning ghost stories that sent neighborhood kids running—yet they always came back for more. Her love for adventure led her to California in 1980, where she met her husband, a motorcycle-riding Texas Aggie. Riding 100,000 miles on the back of his bike, Laura fell in love with the West, its open roads inspiring the settings of her future novels. After a successful career as a CFO, she traded corporate life for writing, fueled by a lifelong dream to tell stories full-time.
Laura Drake’s Unforgettable Stories
Laura’s debut, The Sweet Spot (2013), kicked off her Sweet on a Cowboy series and won the 2014 Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best First Book. Set in the world of professional bull riding, it follows Charla Rae, a rancher grappling with grief and divorce, as she rebuilds her life. The series continues with Nothing Sweeter (2014), where a city girl and a rugged rancher find love against the odds, and Sweet on You (2014), blending romance with the thrill of the rodeo.
Beyond romance, Laura’s women’s fiction, like Days Made of Glass (2015), explores themes of survival and sisterhood, while The Road to Me (2022) follows a woman escaping her past on a cross-country journey. Her vivid Western settings and emotionally complex characters draw readers into stories of healing and second chances. Laura’s style—described as “touchingly real” by USA Today bestselling author Pamela Morsi—combines heart, humor, and a deep understanding of human struggles.
Her Widow’s Grove series, including Her Road Home (2013), and the Chestnut Creek series, like The Last True Cowboy (2018), further showcase her ability to craft small-town tales with big emotional impact. With 16 published works, Laura’s stories resonate with fans of authentic, character-driven narratives.
Why Laura Drake Matters
Laura Drake’s impact lies in her ability to make readers feel seen. Her stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges—grief, love, or reinvention—strike a universal chord. By setting her novels in the rugged beauty of the American West, she’s carved a niche in contemporary romance and women’s fiction, earning praise for her “brilliant” writing from authors like Carolyn Brown. As a founding member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Laura also mentors aspiring writers, sharing her journey from 417 agent queries to published success.
Her work transcends genre, offering a heartfelt exploration of resilience that inspires readers to find their own strength. Whether it’s a cowboy’s redemption or a woman’s road to self-discovery, Laura’s stories remind us that hope can bloom in the toughest terrain.
- Born: Suburbs of Detroit, Michigan
- Key Works: The Sweet Spot, Days Made of Glass, The Road to Me
- Awards: 2014 RITA Award for Best First Book
- Fun Fact: Laura rides her own motorcycles, Elvis and Sting!
Ready to saddle up with a Laura Drake novel? Grab The Sweet Spot and dive into her world of romance, redemption, and Western charm!