Story & Lesson Highlights with Lauren Brooks of Cleveland

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lauren Brooks. Check out our conversation below.

Lauren, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. I recently had the honor of being featured at two incredible Juneteenth events: the Cleveland Indie Author Expo hosted by Nicole Miller and the Juneteenth Bash hosted by Colette Harrell. Both moments made me feel incredibly proud. Not just because I got to sell my books, but because I had the chance to truly connect with readers. We shared rich conversations about history, romance, and the deeper themes in my novels. It reminded me that the stories I write are reaching people’s hearts, and there’s no better feeling than that as a storyteller.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Lauren Brooks. I’m an author, educator, and founder of Lauren B. Literature, a creative brand devoted to storytelling that centers Black women, history, healing, and soft love. I’m the author of two books: Lesedi and the Purple Lotus, a speculative historical novel inspired by African resistance movements, and Intimate Conversations, a contemporary romance celebrating vulnerability, sensuality, and joy.

Through my writing, I aim to uplift the complexity and beauty of the Black and Brown experience, whether it’s through ancestral magic, freedom struggles, or the tenderness of modern love. My brand was born from a deep desire to create stories that feel like home for readers with big hearts, bold dreams, and powerful histories.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most impactful influences in my early life was reading the American Girl series, especially the stories of Addy and Josefina. Addy was an African American girl navigating the Civil War, and Josefina was a Mexican girl living through the transition of Santa Fe into an independent nation. These were my first windows into history through a deeply personal lens.

Their stories opened my eyes to the powerful threads of resistance, resilience, and love that run through so many cultures. Even though their backgrounds were different, I saw how connected their experiences were and how much our struggles, values, and dreams often mirror each other. That shaped how I see the world.

Those books planted the seed for the kind of stories I write now. I write stories that honor our history, celebrate our love, and give voice to those often left out of the narrative.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being my authentic self. For a long time, I felt like I didn’t quite fit in. I was the kind of girl who loved a little bit of everything—books and theatre, choir and writing, historical romances and urban love stories. Those passions weren’t always considered “cool” growing up.

When I decided to write fantasy inspired by history and romance rooted in emotional intimacy, I was worried about what my family and friends would think. Would they understand my choice of pursuing my dreams of being an author? Would they support it even though humanities is notorious for being synonymous for struggling artists? That fear held me back so much I almost didn’t publish it.

But everything changed when I stopped caring about how others perceived me and started focusing on how I saw myself. I chose to honor my own voice, my own vision, and that decision unlocked everything. The moment I embraced my truth was the moment I stepped into my purpose and it’s led to the most successful and fulfilling chapter of my life so far.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the publishing industry tells itself is that books published independently don’t deserve the same respect or recognition as those released by major publishing houses.

The truth is, there’s a major disparity in access and visibility, especially for marginalized voices. Many of us are telling powerful, necessary stories but aren’t given the same platform.

Indie authors are educated, driven, and incredibly knowledgeable about both craft and business. We wear all the hats—writer, editor, marketer, designer, and still create works that rival traditionally published titles in quality, depth, and impact.

Dismissing our work because it doesn’t come through a gatekept system is not only false, it’s harmful. Independent publishing is not a fallback, it’s a revolution. And we deserve to be seen, respected, and celebrated for it.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they say I kept the stories alive that history tried to bury. That I was a modern-day griot, someone who used literature as a form of strength, resistance, and healing.

As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how Black stories, Indigenous stories, and immigrant stories get cut out of history books. I’ve seen how media distorts our image, how villains become martyrs, and how entire legacies are erased or rewritten.

I hope they say that Lauren fought against that. That she used her words to speak life into the silenced, the overlooked, and the oppressed. That she created a space where our truths could be seen as beautiful, powerful, and worthy of remembrance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurenbeeliterature.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: @Laurenbeeliterature
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094217605295
• Other: TikTok and instagram : @Laurenbeeliterature