As an award-winning heavy metal/hard rock journalist, Lauren has conducted interviews with dozens of the most influential names and bands in rock and metal music, including Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, the Doors’ John Densmore, Peter Frampton, Metallica, Marky Ramone, 311, Alice Cooper, Journey, Ministry, Deep Purple, Rob Halford, Suicidal Tendencies, Rob Zombie, Slayer, Slipknot, Phil Anselmo, Anthrax, the Melvins’ Buzz Osbourne, Lacuna Coil, Korn, Motorhead, Ted Nugent, Zakk Wylde, Vinnie Paul, Megadeth, Arthur Brown, Ghost B.C., Blue Oyster Cult, Deftones, The Pixies, Godsmack, Suicide Silence, Otep, Exodus, Doro, Slightly Stoopid, and more.
A fixture on the the Heavy Metal Television VJ competition judges’ panel, she hosted the weekly news show “The Cutting Edge of Metal” on Heavy Metal Television and also worked as a record label liaison, booking artist interviews for the VJs. For three years straight, she was awarded “Most Metal Journalist” at the Heavy Metal Television Awards.
In addition to music, she has a stack of clips in the areas of culture, nonprofits/poverty issues, history, culinary arts, and travel. She has 17+ years experience in editorial positions at a range of magazines, including True West, a Western history publication; Runway, an international fashion magazine emulated in the film The Devil Wears Prada; and WHERE magazine, a travel magazine that began more than 90 years ago in Detroit for visiting auto industry executives.
Magazine work isn’t her only medium; she edits memoirs, creative nonfiction, and fiction, and is also currently the associate publisher at two pioneering indie hybrid publishing imprints: She Writes Press, awarded 2019 Indie Publisher of the Year, and SparkPress.
Lauren’s hobbies include oil painting, cooking, and exploring museums. Obsessions? Vinyl records, the Kansas City Chiefs, the sound of a piano and guitar, the beach, hockey, a nice glass of bourbon, and the feeling of a book in her hands—ironic, since she has about 400 on her shelves, and is allergic to paper.