In this post, we’ll be hearing from author and writing contest judge Laura Frost. Check out her author bio:
Laura Frost is an award-winning author of novels and short stories, and her debut novel, Seeking Sasha, will hit bookshelves this fall. Laura has been published in numerous journals and collections, and she is a returning judge for an international short story competition. An amateur baker and former wildlife biologist from northern Canada, Laura explores the world with her family, seeking out adventure to both calm and stir her writing muse.
Laura, you’ve been practicing creative writing since childhood but only recently began submitting work for publication consideration. What drove your decision to begin sending manuscripts out? Has getting published changed how you view your own writing?
Although I’ve dabbled in writing my whole life, completing my first novel was the turning point in my writing journey. I hadn’t written my novel with the intent to publish, but both my cousin and my husband read my draft and enjoyed it so much, they begged me to get it published so they could share it with others.
As I quickly learned, getting a book published is no easy feat. Because the publishing industry is so competitive, I decided to write short stories and submit them to literary magazines as a way to build my author portfolio and grow my audience, and I continued to write novels as I worked through the process of submissions. I have now been published in ten different magazines and collections, an accomplishment which has been an important part of my journey towards finding a publisher for my debut novel.
Having numerous short stories published has allowed me to trust in myself more as a writer, and to not get as discouraged when rejections land in my inbox. I have learned just how subjective the publishing industry is. If one of my stories doesn’t work for a particular publisher, it doesn’t mean it’s bad, it’s just not the right fit for them. Rejections and acceptances have helped me hone my skills as a writer, and they have helped build confidence in myself while also keeping me grounded.
Tell us how your book idea for Seeking Sasha came about. Did you have doubts while working on the draft? Laura, what helped propel you forward to finish the manuscript?
Seeking Sasha started in a hotel bar. I was on a solo writing getaway, working on another novel, and I had gone to the bar for dinner. While typing away on my laptop, a man sat down next to me and asked me about myself. In that moment, I realized I could tell him any backstory, true or invented, and he would be none the wiser. That single interaction sparked the idea for Sasha’s character—a woman who changes her name and personality to suit her needs in the moment—and the story flowed from there. As my husband was a police officer at the time of drafting Seeking Sasha, I wanted to bring a police angle into the story (including a narcotics sniffer dog), and that’s where Cole’s character came from.
The story flowed as though writing itself, and I never doubted it; I was just having fun with my characters, and I was excited to see where they would take me. Once I began submitting Seeking Sasha to agents and publishers, the rejections started pouring in, and that’s when doubt began to creep in, but I refused to give up. Despite moments of doubt, I never stopped believing in myself and my story.
To maintain strength and positivity through the submission process, I kept a Smile File—a collection of positive comments from beta readers, agents I had pitched to, and notes received in rejection letters—and I realized that there was no common thread that kept my story from being published; it just hadn’t found its home yet. So, I pressed through querying until I connected with a publisher who loved my work so much that they offered to champion me and Sasha’s story.
For budding writers, the prospect of completing a full-length manuscript can feel hopelessly out of reach. What advice do you have for writers who are just starting out with a book idea?
My advice is not to give up on your story. There is a reason why you started it, and you’ll do a disservice to yourself and to your idea if you don’t finish. Completing a manuscript can be exceptionally difficult as the writer may struggle with imposter syndrome, writer’s block, and shiny new ideas begging to be written. Do not write those shiny new stories! Make notes about them and tuck them away for another day. Finish the book you started, even when it seems like you backed yourself into a literary corner and the story is falling flat. When the story feels dead in the water, keep writing it. You can always revise a bad first draft, but you cannot revise a blank page. Most importantly, have fun with it. Enjoy the process of creating something from nothing, and enjoy getting to know your characters. The feeling of typing the final word of a manuscript is an unbelievable rush, especially when you know you pushed through difficulties to get there and you never gave up.
I wrestled with my fourth novel. I scrapped and rewrote the first third, I hit walls along the way as I struggled to figure out where the story was headed, and so often I felt like the story was dying, yet I pressed on to the end. I eventually had a completed piece to work with, but I was still not happy with it, so I revised it and tweaked it until it was ready for my alpha reader. As it turns out, he could not put it down. He stayed up until 3am finishing it and he was a sobbing mess by the end. He said it’s the best novel I have written. This story would not exist if I gave up when things got hard.
Laura, you wear a lot of hats. In addition to writing, you volunteer as a reader for Flash Fiction Magazine and contribute your time as a judge with the Canadian-based Writing Battle challenge. And you have a husband and three children at home. What tips can you share about managing work-life-family balance with writing? How do you ensure that you can approach your writing projects with energy and enthusiasm?
I pack my laptop with me wherever I go, and I use spaces throughout my day to work on my writing projects. If I have half an hour between errands, I’ll pop into a coffee shop or pull out my laptop while parked and get some words down. Basically, I work my writing around the rest of my day. Small spaces of time are great for editing, volunteer reading, or promotions, and I’ll leave larger chunks of time for creative writing. A few times a year, I head to a hotel for a couple of nights of uninterrupted writing time. These getaways are invaluable for catching up with writing projects and giving myself some space to breathe.
Creative writing is almost like meditation for me as it’s the one place where my mind can empty and the story takes over. When life gets particularly overwhelming and I feel like my own projects are just “one more thing to do,” I remind myself why I write and how it benefits my mind and soul, and as an extension, my entire family.
You write a variety of short stories, but you’ve also been working on multiple full-length manuscripts in recent years. How do you decide when to switch between short and long projects? What determines how much time you’ll devote to a long project before setting it aside to finish a shorter one?
My passion is novel writing because I love how the length affords me the ability to dive deep into a character’s emotional journey and their psyche. However, I have learned that short story writing is beneficial to hone certain skills, such as pipetting a concept down to fewer words and making sure every word packs a punch. The balance that works for me is to write a short story when I’m between drafts of my novels. It’s a great way to cleanse my mind of my novel and focus on something completely different, so when I go back for my next draft, I can see my manuscript with fresh eyes.
Laura, when you’re not writing, you bake delicious desserts! Tell us about your Pie of the Month project. Do you think you’ll try writing a recipe book of your own someday?
Years ago, I was flipping through Jean Pare’s recipe book, Company’s Coming – Pies, and I mentioned to my husband that I’d love to make every pie in that book. He suggested I put my words into action, and with that, Pie of the Month was born. Every month, after trying that month’s pie, my family and I use a random number generator to select the next pie to be made. Some pies are delicious (like Crustless Fudge) and some are horrendous (like Mock Pumpkin Pie, made with rutabaga). So far, I’ve made close to 150 different pies, and I have about 50 remaining recipes until I complete the book.
In addition to pies, I also love to bake delicious treats such as cookies, squares, cinnamon buns, and cakes. As I am often asked to share my recipes, I have decided to compile them into a recipe book. It’s a fun project that is quite different than anything I have written before, but the demands of daily life right now don’t allow me much time to work on it. The benefit of having a fun nonfiction project like this is that I can pick at it here and there, but even still, it will be in the oven a while before I have it ready for publication.
Your debut novel, Seeking Sasha, releases this coming fall with Between the Lines Publishing. Tell us about your upcoming public appearances for 2025/26. Which writer-specific festivals and events should Canadians attend and support this year? Are there any virtual/online events that writers should check out?
I am just beginning the process of booking public appearances for my book release, but I hope to have some dates soon. I plan to be at various bookstores in Toronto and Edmonton, and I hope to be featured on some writerly podcasts this summer and fall. Once I start booking dates, I’ll post all the details on my website, and I will share upcoming events through my socials.
A great event that writers of any level should check out is Writing Battle. Writing Battle is an international, peer-supported writing competition based in Canada, and I am honored to have been invited back as a returning judge. For more information, writers can visit writingbattle.com.
There are also wonderful writing conferences throughout Canada, including the Surrey International Writers’ Conference that I have had the privilege to attend. Speakers and instructors include authors, editors, and agents from around North America. There are ample opportunities for writers to pitch their books to agents, and to have published authors review a writer’s opening pages, plus there are lots of great social events throughout the weekend.
Another great way to meet Canadian authors and learn about new releases is to visit your local farmers market and library. Local authors often have tables set up at summer markets or they will host author events at their library, and they love to meet readers.
Is there anything else you’d like to share or promote?
My monthly newsletter is a great way to stay up to date with my writing journey. My subscribers not only get an insider’s look at my writing life, but they are also the first to hear about publication announcements, pre-order dates, book release dates, the occasional recipe, and they will get a sneak peek at Seeking Sasha’s cover design. Anyone interested in subscribing to my newsletter can find the link on the homepage of my website. I don’t share my poetry openly, but my welcome letter includes a short poem as my thank you to subscribers.
More Laura Frost online:
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Cover Image: Photo by Monica Silvestre on Pexels.com
Pauline Shen 