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2 weeks ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
I was getting a facial recently when the woman doing it asked me what I did for work. I told her I was a writer, which led to me mentioning my sobriety. After a long stretch of silence, she asked, "So, why did you stop?"I’ve been asked a version of this question hundreds of times in the past ten years, and almost always give the same answer, at least to start, which is, “Oh, I was going to die.” That’s what I said to her as she massaged my face.
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3 weeks ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
First: ICYMI, I started a new company called Alma Joe with my brother, and we launched with a series of archetype candles that are, I must say, so lovely. Shop here. Use WELCOME15 for 15% off your first purchase. Second: If you’re new to sobriety or already sober and need more structure and support, The Sober 90 begins July 1.
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1 month ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Happy Friday!A quick update: the situation I wrote about recently wraps up today. Letting go of needing resolution cracked something open in me—and maybe the universe too. If you're in a tough spot and struggling to surrender, give it a read. My last piece, “this is where I’m going to die,” felt like one of the most important things I’ve written in a long time—for me, at least. Twelve years ago this weekend, I got a DUI that kicked off the end of my drinking.
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1 month ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
When my daughter, Alma, was five weeks old, my husband and I moved from Boston to my home state of Colorado, into my dad’s basement. I flew with Alma, vibrating with a hangover and more anxiety than any body should hold, while my husband towed a U-Haul behind our silver VW Golf across the country with our dog, Addie. Our decision to move was something like a Hail Mary attempt to save us, though we didn’t say that out loud, of course.
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1 month ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Hi All - I’m feeling quite tapped writing and life-wise this week, but I’m hungry for connection and service, so let’s do an AMA since it’s been several months since the last one! You can ask me anything in the comments until 8 p.m. ET today, Wednesday, April 30—this is open to paid subscribers. All prior AMAs can be found here. I’ll answer several in real time this morning and then the rest as I can later, until my word bag is empty!Love Story is a reader-supported publication.
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2 months ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Hi, hiii, hello. Happy Tuesday? Yes, it’s Tuesday. April 22, 2025. It’s 3:11 pm right now, I’ve spent this entire day working on my book, and I have about 400 fewer words to show for it than when I sat down at 7:19 am. These kinds of days are scary when they happen, and part of me deciding to write you now is to take contrary action: combat the fear by putting one word down after another to remember how it feels to do that.
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2 months ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Once upon a time—or so the story goes—the great Margaret Atwood was seated at a dinner party beside a brain surgeon. “When I retire,” he confided, “I’m going to be a writer.” “Funny,” quipped Atwood. “When I retire, I’m going to be a brain surgeon.”This winter, on a sober retreat in Mexico, a regal academic made a similar pronouncement over dinner. “One day, I’m going to write my memoir.” Yes, her story was dramatic: life on the street, teenaged stripping, multiple incarcerations. But I was quiet.
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2 months ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Join me for a small group retreat at True Nature in Carbondale, Colorado, from September 25 to 28. Learn more. Sobriety is hard. The Luckiest Club makes it easier. With 51 weekly meetings, 24/7 app support, a dogma-free community, and programs that help, you’ll get real support to stay sober and build a better life. Join now and get your first week of meetings free. No spoilers for White Lotus here, I promise. I’ve really been going through it lately.
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2 months ago | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen
Hello, hello! I’m officially back after a much-needed, very beneficial pause. I’d planned to take two months off but only needed one-ish—turns out a hard reset works. In between making a lot of focaccia, successfully growing my first sourdough starter, riding shotgun without having an aneurysm (so far) while my daughter learns to drive, and getting ready to launch a new business with my brother1, I did what I set out to do: make real headway on my third book.
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Mar 19, 2025 | 
lauramckowen.substack.com | Laura McKowen |Sarah Fay |Jonathan Fields
Hi All! As you may know, I’m on pause here until early May-ish as I focus on book writing, but I was asked by to join her and for a live call about mental health and creativity, and I couldn’t say no to that. This was my first Substack live, and I loved it. It makes me want to play with it on my own channel when I’m back. Sarah asked us some great questions, including:What does mental health mean to us? How do we know when we’re veering into an unhealthy space? What practices help us stay sane?