I am an author with a penchant for quirky characters, creepy settings, and lots of humor. I've dabbled in playwriting and screenwriting, but my true passion is for middle-grade fiction. My debut novel, Peril at Price Manor, released in August 2023 with HarperCollins. It received the 2024 Carolyn W. Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association. My second novel, The Haunting of Bellington Cottage, will be hitting the shelves this summer.

It all began…

In third grade I got my first writing prompt: "Trace your hand and write a story about The Adventures on Five Finger Island." My imagination went wild. I created a world of treasure hunts, booby traps, pirate ghosts, and a bunch of hilarious friends. My author journey had begun.

That same year, I spotted my first typo in a published book. How could this have happened? I diligently brought it to the attention of my teacher. Alas, there was nothing she could do! Typos have been haunting me ever since!

My journey continued when I received my BA in creative writing and literature from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Shortly thereafter, I got a job in medical publishing. Nowadays I continue my quest to slay typos throughout the universe as a freelance fiction copyeditor. You can learn more about my editing services here.

My first published short story, “Mrs. Claiborne’s Ghost,” appeared in the Halloween 2020 issue of Parhelion Literary Magazine. I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, and I serve as Co-Regional Advisor for the Eastern Pennsylvania region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Here’s a short Bio for professional purposes:

Laura Parnum is the author of the middle grade novel Peril at Price Manor. She writes stories that blend humor and heart with a touch of horror. When she’s not writing, she’s editing other people’s stories and helping out at local elementary school libraries. She currently serves as Co-Regional Advisor for the Eastern Pennsylvania region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Laura lives with her family in Philadelphia. They have a turtle that bites and a snake that doesn’t.