Laura Shovan

Laura Shovan became a writer when her short story “Snow Flurry” was published in a school newsletter in the second grade. She is an honors graduate of the Dramatic Writing Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She spent time as an intern at Nickelodeon television where she enjoyed working with children so much that she pursued a master’s degree in teaching.

As a high school English teacher, Ms. Shovan worked with bright young writers, advising an award-winning newspaper and a literary magazine. She also became involved with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation’s Poetry Program, attending poetry sessions for teachers, which encouraged her to return to her own writing.

Through Dodge, she studied with poets Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Madeline Tiger, Laura Boss and Renee Ashley. With their help, Ms. Shovan began to publish in small presses and twice received an Honorable Mention in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards. Her poetry has appeared in Lips, The Jewish Women’s Literary Annual, the Paterson Literary Review, the Global City Review, The Little Patuxent Review, Poets Online, and an upcoming anthology – Words & Images of Belonging.  Combining creative writing and education, she coordinated the student award-winner readings at both the 1996 and 1998 Dodge Poetry Festivals.

After moving to Maryland in 1999, Ms. Shovan became an Artist-in-Education with the Maryland State Arts Council, conducting poetry workshops for school children. For several years, she taught a summer journalism workshop for gifted students. She also freelances for local publications, such as the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine and Baltimore’s Child. Her feature articles cover education, the arts, religion, and community events. Her work for children has appeared in Highlights magazine.

Ms. Shovan is currently working on a young adult novel about a student newspaper.