Laura Rock Gaughan's first book, a short fiction collection called Motherish, was published in 2018 by Turnstone Press. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary journals and anthologies in Canada, Ireland, and the United States. After long stints in Washington, DC and Toronto, she settled with her family in Lakefield, Ontario, where she has lived since 2000. Laura is the executive director of the Literary Press Group of Canada (LPG), a nonprofit association representing 60+ Canadian independent literary publishers. Prior to joining the LPG in 2019, Laura worked as a management consultant to non-profit and public-sector clients, assisting them with strategic planning, communications, and governance. She has also taught college-level creative writing and university workshops in international development studies. She holds a BA in English and international relations from the University of Toronto and an MA in international relations from Syracuse University and subsequently completed the Humber School for Writers program, working with Isabel Huggan as mentor. She has attended the One Story Writers' Workshop, the Tin House Summer Workshop, and the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.