Laurel Goodluck

Laurel Goodluck writes picture books with modern Native themes that reflect Native children’s cultural experiences and everyday life, showing Native children have a unique and powerful perspective. In 2023, the Heartdrum imprint of HarperCollins will publish Rock Your Mocs, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight.

Laurel was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, coming from an intertribal background of Mandan and Hidatsa from the prairies of North Dakota and Tsimshian from a rainforest in Alaska. She received a BA in Psychology and an MA in Community Counseling and Family Studies from the University of New Mexico. Laurel began writing by crafting a curriculum for community advocacy involving Native teen leadership and later for children newly diagnosed with mental health challenges.

Laurel lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her Navajo husband, where they raised two children who are also bent on storytelling in journalism and actor/filmmaker. She received the 2019 We Need Diverse Books Picture Book Mentorship paired with award-winner author Traci Sorell. Laurel also received a competitive funding grant from New Mexico Writers to support new works in progress. She is an active regional chapter member of New Mexico SCBWI and volunteer Equity & Inclusion Lead. Please follow her on @lauriegoodluck on Twitter and Instagram.