Check Out Laurie Markvart’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Markvart.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was born into a musical family of professional singers and musicians and found it easy and desirable to follow my ancestor’s path. I was singing in church by seven years of age. And eventually as a musician on piano and guitar in high school. As a young teen, my songwriting also became a passion as I instinctively felt music should accompany the poetry I was creating. But I also made music out of survival and a need to stifle loneliness and isolation growing up in a small Wisconsin farm town in the ’80s, with a loving but complicated mentally ill (bipolar) mother in the backdrop. My music desires and thirst for fame led me straight from high school to the music scenes of Minneapolis, Austin, and New York City, and eventually, I settled in Los Angeles. Along the way, through many ups and downs, successes, and some failures, personally and professionally, some funny, some serious, music was always my remedy. And my experiences inspired me to write my book, “Somewhere in the Music, I’ll Find Me: A Memoir,” self-published in July 2022.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My memoir tackles many obstacles, especially my journey in music and trying to come to terms with my mother’s mental illness and my growing anxiety disorder. I developed self-acceptance personally and professionally upon finishing the book which has helped me become a social media and blogging advocate for the positive acceptance of mental conditions. There’s always been a stigma around mental illness, and awareness is improving. But awareness is not always acceptance.

It’s one thing to admit to anxiety, but sharing with family or the public that they have a psychoactive or schizophrenic disorder is another challenge. In society, a lack of knowledge creates fear. Fear gives to abomination, and that puts the affected person into isolation. This is tragic.

If my memoir or music helps one person not feel alone or encourages them to seek help, it’s a win. My book isn’t just about me. It’s about everyone. And it’s not all drama and seriousness, either. There is also humor, joy, and love. Ultimately, it’s a coming-of-age story with an uplifting ending. But before I let you go.

Breast cancer thrust itself into my life in 2020. Talk about a challenge! It tested everything I knew about my mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health and how that affects my music and personal and business relationships. I am cancer-free now, and I’ve come out on the other side with more internal compassion and awareness for others who make a similar journey. My advocacy for positive cancer awareness (it’s more than a pink ribbon) has become a critical part of my blogging and social media presence because cancer is an actual test of the mind, body, and spirit that circles right back to mental health and, for me, music. I’m not sure I’d still be here if I didn’t have music during the cancer journey.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am proud to have self-published my memoir, and it is receiving positive critical acclaim. But getting it published carries a unique story. I was searching for a literary agent in the years before and during the pandemic. I wanted to be published traditionally by one of the big pub houses. But cancer treatments (chemo, radiation, and multiple surgeries) overtook my search for agent efforts. As I approached my breast reconstruction surgery in July 2022, anxiety about the surgery started, and I freaked out. I thought, “what if I don’t wake up and this book is not in the world?” So the days before the surgery, I worked feverishly with the interior and exterior book designers to prepare the book. I published the book live on Amazon the day before my surgery. In an instant, I became self-published. My book is now available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and any bookstore or library can order it. But I still need an agent! I want the book to be picked up by a top publishing house and have hybrid publishing for broader distribution. The wider the reach, the more people I hope to help.

Next, I’m narrating the Audible of my memoir, which sets me apart from many authors who hire a professional narrator. The Audible will also include snips and samples of my original music. My literary career is just beginning. I have more books coming down the line. And even though I am first known as a singer, songwriter, and musician, and my original music is found on most streaming services, being an author makes me a mixed artist.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Music, music, music. Whether it played on the vinyl stereo system, radio, or through my musical equipment, most of all, the favorable exchange between my parents and me was when they shared their love of music. As I describe in my memoir, it created bonds and a way to understand them and their complexities, interests, and passions. And for them to support me, an emerging artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Music-Ill-Find-Me/dp/B0B6LSF9XY
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriemarkvart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriemarkvart
• Twitter: @LaurieMarkvart
• Youtube: @LaurieMarkvart
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/laurie-markvart
• Other: www.lauriemarkvartdiary.com

Image Credits
Photo credits: Kathryn E. Russ Book, Cover design credit: Jesslyn Bundy