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Meet Laura

About
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ABOUT  THE  AUTHOR

Laura Castoro is a USA Today, Amazon top 100, and Apple Books bestseller.  She’s published 47 novels with major publishing houses such as Harper Collins, St. Martin’s Press, and William Morrow. She’s published one non-fiction YA book, contributed to anthologies, and a short story to Good Housekeeping. As Laura Parker, she writes historical and contemporary romance, westerns, and sagas. As Laura Castoro, she writes contemporary African American and Contemporary Women’s fiction. As D. D. Ayres, she writes the romantic suspense K-9 Rescue Series. Her current release is Love On The Line with William Morrow.

Laura was 2005 inductee into the Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame. She is a past president of Novelists, Inc. and past president of the board of the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow. She speaks at conferences and workshops throughout the U.S., and abroad. Laura lives in San Antonio, TX.

PDF BOOK LIST

Keep track of books you've read from Laura Castoro, Laura Parker and D. D. Ayres

Awards and Accolades

USA Today – Amazon 100 -- Apple Books Bestseller’s Lists: for “Irresistible Force,” “Primal Force:” & “Force of Attraction” (Books 1, 2, &3 in the K-9 Rescue Series.) writing as D. D. Ayres. Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame 2005 Inductee.  One inductee per year.  Previous inductees include Dee Brown (Bury my Heart a Wounded Knee), Pulitzer Prize winner columnist Paul Greenberg, Ellen Gilchrist: American Book Award for Victory over Japan, and Charles Portis: author of True Grit. “Romance Pioneer” Award, 2014, for forging the way for Romance since 1980 as “Laura Parker.” Romantic Times. “Legend of Romance” winner Laura Parker: 2014, Romantic Times. Life achievements in Romance writing. “If All Arkansas Read the Same Book” for 2012: “Icing On the Cake” by Laura Castoro.  Sponsored by Center for the Book, adjunct of the Arkansas State Library. An annual statewide reading program that chooses one title per year to buy and circulate through the state public library system, designed to encourage the enjoyment of reading and to promote book discussions across Arkansas. Author tours Arkansas’s public libraries to talk about writing and reading. Whirlpool Podcast, “Caring for a Parent with Alzheimer’s” – an interview with Laura Castoro about caring for her mother -- won best Whirlpool Podcast for 2005 Winner of “Good Housekeeping Magazine, Professional Writers Short Story competition, “Christmas and Coconut Cake”, Published, Dec. 2002. “Irresistible Force” Best Romantic Suspense” 2014, Reviewers Choice Award – Singles Titles. “Career Achievement Award in British Historical Romance” by Romantic Times. Laura had the unique honor of being commissioned to write a novel, “Love On The Line,” by Black Expressions Book Club, a division of Doubleday Book Club.  The book is the sequel to her 2002 bestseller “Crossing The Line.”  Released May 2008 as the Main Selection for Black Expressions Book Club.  “Love On the Line” also received worldwide release through Harper Collins February 2009 Forbes.Com:  Notable Books for 2005 “A New Lu.” For exploring modern workplace issues for women, including aging and pregnancy. CVS Drugs Exclusive Deal: “Rose of the Mists” 2008.  First published in 1984 with Warner Books, “Rose of the Mists” was reissued through an exclusive deal with CVS Drugs.  “Rose of the Mists” is the first book in Laura’s bestselling, award-winning mid-1980s historical romance series called the “Rose” trilogy set in Ireland.  Essence Magazine: Books Bestseller List: “Crossing the Line” 2002 Doubleday Book of the Month Club selection: “Crossing the Line” 2002 MISCHIEF by Laura Parker. “Best British Historical for 2002 Romantic Times. Golden Leaf Award, Historical, “Impetuous”, New Jersey Romance Writers, 1995 National Readers’ Choice Award, Long Contemporary for Tiger In The Rain” 1995 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Moon Shadow,” 1992 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Rebellious Angels” 1987-1988. Texas Literary Lion, Southwestern Booksellers Association, 1988 Texas Literary Lion, Southwestern Booksellers Association, 1986 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Rose in Splendor” 1986 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Dangerous Company” 1984 Finalist for Romance Writers of America national awards for “Indiscreet” and “For Love’s Sake Only.” Other awards include: Romance Slam Jam: “Romance in the Rock” 2012 - Host Author Certificate of Appreciation for participation, The Arkansas Library paraprofessional, AR Library Association, Spring, 2006 Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to National Library Week, 2006, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Honoree for “Author’s Night”, Literacy Council of Garland Country, Nov 2007 Capitol Citation, for contributions to State and Citizens, State of Arkansas, 2006 Honoree for “Author’s Night”, Literacy Council of Garland Country, Nov 2005 Honored Author, “Sistahs Night Out”, Sistahs of Color Reading Group, Little Rock, AR March 2004 & 2005 Certificate of Appreciation, Outstanding Citizen of the State of Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee, 2004 “Arts and Letters “Ida Bellegarde Award” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Pine Bluff, AR Chapter. Key to the City, Outstanding Citizen, Pine Bluff, AR 1984 African American Trailblazers Award, Third Annual African American Soul Food Festival. Southwood Elementary School, February 13, 2006. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Earnest Davidson Plaque, Keynote Speaker, UAPB Faculty/Staff Seminar, 2002 Honored Author, “Sistahs Night Out”, Sistahs of Color Reading Group, Little Rock, AR March 2004 & 2005 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff:  Earnest Davidson Plaque.  Keynote Speaker, UAPB Faculty/Staff Seminar, 2002 Citation, “Plano Junior University”, Plano Public School System. 1987 USA Today – Amazon 100 -- Apple Books Bestseller’s Lists: for “Irresistible Force,” “Primal Force:” & “Force of Attraction” (Books 1, 2, &3 in the K-9 Rescue Series.) writing as D. D. Ayres. Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame 2005 Inductee.  One inductee per year.  Previous inductees include Dee Brown (Bury my Heart a Wounded Knee), Pulitzer Prize winner columnist Paul Greenberg, Ellen Gilchrist: American Book Award for Victory over Japan, and Charles Portis: author of True Grit. “Romance Pioneer” Award, 2014, for forging the way for Romance since 1980 as “Laura Parker.” Romantic Times. “Legend of Romance” winner Laura Parker: 2014, Romantic Times. Life achievements in Romance writing. “If All Arkansas Read the Same Book” for 2012: “Icing On the Cake” by Laura Castoro.  Sponsored by Center for the Book, adjunct of the Arkansas State Library. An annual statewide reading program that chooses one title per year to buy and circulate through the state public library system, designed to encourage the enjoyment of reading and to promote book discussions across Arkansas. Author tours Arkansas’s public libraries to talk about writing and reading. Whirlpool Podcast, “Caring for a Parent with Alzheimer’s” – an interview with Laura Castoro about caring for her mother -- won best Whirlpool Podcast for 2005 Winner of “Good Housekeeping Magazine, Professional Writers Short Story competition, “Christmas and Coconut Cake”, Published, Dec. 2002. “Irresistible Force” Best Romantic Suspense” 2014, Reviewers Choice Award – Singles Titles. “Career Achievement Award in British Historical Romance” by Romantic Times. Laura had the unique honor of being commissioned to write a novel, “Love On The Line,” by Black Expressions Book Club, a division of Doubleday Book Club.  The book is the sequel to her 2002 bestseller “Crossing The Line.”  Released May 2008 as the Main Selection for Black Expressions Book Club.  “Love On the Line” also received worldwide release through Harper Collins February 2009 Forbes.Com:  Notable Books for 2005 “A New Lu.” For exploring modern workplace issues for women, including aging and pregnancy. CVS Drugs Exclusive Deal: “Rose of the Mists” 2008.  First published in 1984 with Warner Books, “Rose of the Mists” was reissued through an exclusive deal with CVS Drugs.  “Rose of the Mists” is the first book in Laura’s bestselling, award-winning mid-1980s historical romance series called the “Rose” trilogy set in Ireland.  Essence Magazine: Books Bestseller List: “Crossing the Line” 2002 Doubleday Book of the Month Club selection: “Crossing the Line” 2002 MISCHIEF by Laura Parker. “Best British Historical for 2002 Romantic Times. Golden Leaf Award, Historical, “Impetuous”, New Jersey Romance Writers, 1995 National Readers’ Choice Award, Long Contemporary for Tiger In The Rain” 1995 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Moon Shadow,” 1992 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Rebellious Angels” 1987-1988. Texas Literary Lion, Southwestern Booksellers Association, 1988 Texas Literary Lion, Southwestern Booksellers Association, 1986 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Rose in Splendor” 1986 Romantic Times, Reviewer’s Choice Award, “Dangerous Company” 1984 Finalist for Romance Writers of America national awards for “Indiscreet” and “For Love’s Sake Only.” Other awards include: Romance Slam Jam: “Romance in the Rock” 2012 - Host Author Certificate of Appreciation for participation, The Arkansas Library paraprofessional, AR Library Association, Spring, 2006 Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to National Library Week, 2006, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Honoree for “Author’s Night”, Literacy Council of Garland Country, Nov 2007 Capitol Citation, for contributions to State and Citizens, State of Arkansas, 2006 Honoree for “Author’s Night”, Literacy Council of Garland Country, Nov 2005 Honored Author, “Sistahs Night Out”, Sistahs of Color Reading Group, Little Rock, AR March 2004 & 2005 Certificate of Appreciation, Outstanding Citizen of the State of Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee, 2004 “Arts and Letters “Ida Bellegarde Award” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Pine Bluff, AR Chapter. Key to the City, Outstanding Citizen, Pine Bluff, AR 1984 African American Trailblazers Award, Third Annual African American Soul Food Festival. Southwood Elementary School, February 13, 2006. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Earnest Davidson Plaque, Keynote Speaker, UAPB Faculty/Staff Seminar, 2002 Honored Author, “Sistahs Night Out”, Sistahs of Color Reading Group, Little Rock, AR March 2004 & 2005 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff:  Earnest Davidson Plaque.  Keynote Speaker, UAPB Faculty/Staff Seminar, 2002 Citation, “Plano Junior University”, Plano Public School System. 1987 Award of Excellence, Convocation of Former Girl’s Clubs, Arkansas Association of Colored Women’s’ Clubs, Inc, Fort Smith, AR  1997

Notable Speaking Engagements

•Featured Speaker as D. D. Ayres: Icelandic Noir – Reykjavik, Iceland. (2018) A crime fiction festival for literature, film, poetry and audiobooks. •Featured Author as D. D. Ayres: Boucheron -- the World Mystery Convention. Toronto, Canada (2017) •Featured Panelist as D. D. Ayres: International Thriller Writers Conference. New York City, (2017) •2012 Selecton for “If All Arkansas Read the Same Book”: “Icing on the Cake” by Laura Castoro. Sponsored by Arkansas Library System’s Center for the Book, this novel was shelved in libraries statewide. The author toured nine libraries. •2005 Inductee into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. Luncheon Speaker: AR Writers Conference. •Author in Residence -- Great Writers Series at Alcorn State University Alcorn, MS. Speaking on the Main and Nachez campuses. (September 15-16, 2009) •Author in Residence -- County College of Morris, New Jersey. Subject: “Interracial and interpersonal Relations” Class lecturer, Faculty forum speaker, and book signing. Randolph, NJ, (2002) •Banquet Speaker: The National League of American Pen Women Biennial, Denver, CO (2006) •Guest Author and Speaker: Romance Slam Jam Crystal Anniversary Cruise of the Caribbean. Featuring African American authors and book lovers (2010.) •Breakfast Speaker: Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Winston Salem, NC (1997). •Multiple workshops, International Women’s Writers Guild at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 1980s & 90s •Keynote Speaker: New Jersey Romance Writers 1995 •Keynote Speaker: New York Romance Writers 1996 •Featured speaker: “Let Your Imagination Take Flight” New England Chapter RWA 2002. •Published Author Forum: “What Is a Texas Writer?” Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers (TCWTC) Conference. Beaumont, TX. (2002) •Frequent Speaker: Arkansas Literary Festival, sponsored by Oxford American Magazine, Little Rock, AR. The event was recently renamed Six Bridges Book Festival. •Headline Speaker: Books in Bloom, Eureka Springs AR. (2009)

Arts Organizations and Association Affiliations

Professional Writers Associations: •Novelists Inc – An international business organization for published authors. Vice president 2012, President 2013, Advisory Board member (2014-2020) •Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow -- Writers’ residency program, open to writers of every genre for short or long-term stays. Board President (2005-2007) Board member (2003-2014). Advisory board (2014- present) •International Thriller Writers - An honorary international society of published authors, both fiction and nonfiction, who write books broadly classified as “thrillers.” Membership by invitation only. •Romance Writers of America, founding member (1980-2018). Member of several regional chapters. •Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers. -- Members teach in university and college creative writing programs, as well as high school and summer workshops. Adult Education teacher of fiction writing at University of Texas Dallas, University of North Texas, and Collin County Community College. •Gemini Ink -- San Antonio's Writing Arts Center. Teaching Artist (2023-present). •Arkansas Literary Festival a.k.a. Six Bridges Literary Festival. Member of the Talent Committee 2008-2014 •Writers Guild of America Member •American Pen Women, Pioneer Branch – Vice President (2010-2012). •International Women Writers Guild Member •Sisters In Crime – Member. A writing organization focused on increasing equity and inclusion for women crime writers within the publishing industry. •Greater Dallas Writers Association, founding member. Chair for 5 years. •Texas Writers Guild/Writers League of Texas – Member •Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas – Member •Ozark Writers – Member Other Arts Organizations: •Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Board member. Chair of Visual Arts and Science Exhibitions. (2003-2006) •Plainfield, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary. Board member. (1993-1996) •Pine Bluff, Arkansas Symphony Board Member. (2004-2012) Vice President and Chair of Programming Committee. (2008-2012) •The Links Incorporated, Plano North Metroplex Chapter 1989-1995, Vice President: (1992-1993) •The Links Incorporated, Pine Bluff, AR Chapter 2002-2010, Arts Chair and Board member.

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For any media inquiries, please contact agent Robert Smith:

888-456-7890

500 Oak St. Dallas, TX 99999

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