We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura M. LaVoie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura M. below.

Alright, Laura M. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2009, my partner and I broke ground on the foundation for a 120-square-foot home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. We had always wanted to build something on our own, but it was never about the house. With a tiny house, I had the freedom to quit, but I wasn’t entirely sure I had the fortitude. Maybe it was a crutch, but maybe not. The only way I would know was to let go.

I will never forget the day I quit my job: April 2nd, 2012.

The anxiety shifted its weight on an early April day. I was afraid that my quick pulse and darting eyes would betray me. I could hear the blood in my veins. “I Quit!” had to be scribbled on my forehead in thick, black Sharpie.

I shook as I stepped into my boss’s office, my body language timid. I held the envelope out to her and said, my voice faltering, “I need to give you my notice.” She looked at me, wide-eyed, without a word. In the pause, I sat down hard on the chair that faced her desk. “The tiny house is almost done, and we’re moving to Asheville.” I felt compelled to fill the silence.

A few moments passed before she added her voice. To my surprise, she was excited for me. It was real now. I would live in my own tiny home. There was no turning back now.

“Maybe you can work remotely,” she offered.

“I would be open to that,” I said. Though I was leaving to start a new life, a safety net sounded less terrifying.

Over the weeks to follow, my coworkers shot down the idea of working remotely. They couldn’t understand why I quit a good job to live in the woods and write full-time.

After I left, it became apparent that completely removing these roots would be the better choice. I never looked back.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a freelance writer. Most of my work involves creating content for small businesses and marketing companies. I write blogs, newsletters, website copy, and landing pages for businesses in many industries, from employment to equine. Not everyone loves to write, but I thrive on it; I can take a brand’s story and weave a narrative to engage their audience and bring people back.

I am fun and reliable. I still work with my very first client and have only grown along the way.

I am very proud to work with some incredible women-owned businesses. Most notably, I work with horseOlogy, a thoroughbred management company in Ocala, Florida, owned by two remarkable women, including trainer Jena Antonucci. She was the first woman to win a Triple Crown race when her horse, Arcangelo, came in first at the 2023 Belmont Stakes.

Have you ever had to pivot?

With the recent increase in reliance on Artificial Intelligence, many writers like myself are at a crossroads. We’re unsure where the industry will take us, what this means, or how to move forward. At the same time, I continue to work with incredible brands. I’m taking a step back from marketing. I am focusing on some of my creative projects, including two novels, a short story, and a non-fiction book. I’ve worked on these projects for many years, but I always focused on building the business rather than feeding my creative soul.

I am still looking for some fantastic brands to tell their story, but I am willing to wait until there is an excellent opportunity with someone who wants to tell their authentic story.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I partner with an incredible woman-owned marketing company to provide broader services to our clients. I met Teona Rodriguez of dpeg Marketing Company when we worked with a local mortgage lender in our city. She built their website and handled their marketing, but they needed a writer to create content that engaged the community. We worked well together and decided to work together. Today, we specialize in equine and agriculture businesses, providing website design and marketing partnership packages. We’re so grateful that we could turn our passion projects into products and services for incredible brands.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lauramlavoie.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMLaVoieWriter
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmlavoie/
• Other: https://dpegmarketing.com/