A Main Character Life
She’s Got A Story: Lauren
Her easy smile and deep laugh wrinkled her nose and filled the space with beauty and light.
As Lauren showed me the gown she wears to fantasy balls and how she can modify it with thrifted accessories, I saw the excitement of the little girl who used to ride her horse (other people might have seen it as a bike) and joust the boys in the neighborhood (they might have thought the game was cops and robbers). That girl dreamed of a bigger life, far-off places, and fantasy worlds where everyone was accepted for themselves. Her journey from these childhood dreams to a successful business is a testament to her determination and resilience.
In hopes of creating a fun fantasy event, Lauren and her besties stumbled into creating a community open to all. Partnerships with indie authors and vendors have opened opportunities that cross state lines, create virtual communities, and turn a little girl's dreams into a real-life business. The impact of these fantasy events on the community is profound, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity that is truly inspiring.
“It’s crazy for us to be like, oh my god, what is happening,” she laughs as she talks about the people flocking to the online community built around bookish events. For Lauren, books opened up a life beyond a small Louisiana town.
She lights up when she tells me about the books that unlocked something for her…that spoke to her. “I don’t even know who gave me the first book, but it was Tamora Pierce. Her Alanna series. It’s nothing but these absolutely banger, strong female main characters. Most of them start at a very young age. It’s knights, it’s princesses, it’s kingdoms, and has mythical dragons and griffons. The female main character is teaching you that just because you’re a female doesn’t mean you have to stick to the norm. She doesn’t want to go be this prim, proper lady to be married off. She wants to be a knight.”
Lauren’s passion for her fantasy events business, LoreMakers, and the friends she has made on this journey spreads across her face as she speaks. She boasts about her partners’ strengths and the doors they are opening for indie authors. The stories of the events they hosted were more about the people who attended than the functions themselves.
Lauren, the youngest in a large Catholic family, has overcome many obstacles to get where she is today. Despite custody struggles and a move several states away with little to no support system, Lauren and her family are thriving in Virginia. While the upcoming fantasy events LoreMakers has planned are in Louisiana, Lauren excitedly spoke about future possibilities closer to her new home.
Tears come quickly when she discusses her children and how she wants to teach her daughters that being the main character in their own lives is okay and that big dreams are achievable. As she speaks about her daughter, she is talking about and to herself. In a world that often leaves no room for dreams or fantasy, Lauren has found a way to make fantasy part of her reality and make a safe space for others.
Lauren’s story speaks deeply to me. Watching a wife and mother achieve her dreams and show up for herself is a powerful example (for women of all ages). Of course, the someday fantasy author in me was giddy hearing about balls and markets, costumes and community. Our interests collided, for sure, but more than anything, as I drove away from Lauren’s house, I was aware of the importance of the dreams we dreamed as little girls and how they can shape the women we become.
