Interview with romance author Laura Pavlov

Published on 03 March 2026

Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy small-town romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is best known for writing swoony, emotional stories with a side of angst and a dash of humour mixed in. A hopeless romantic at heart, Laura likes to take her characters on a journey that always leads to happily ever after.

Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two amazing kids who are now adulting, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where she is living her own happily ever after.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Laura for a quick chat about the inspiration behind her books.

You write smalltown romance, which I love. Was there a reason you chose this genre?
My bestie, Willow Aster actually encouraged me to write small town romance. I was trying to figure out what to write, and we were brainstorming, and she made the suggestion...and it just felt like I'd found my lane. My first small town romance series is the Willow Springs Series, and yes, Willow definitely put the Willow in Willow Springs! Small town romance for me just feels like home. It's my happy place. I love the history the characters share in a small town, the quirky side characters, and the gorgeous setting! It's my favourite!

Who is your favourite character you've written (and which book is that character from)?
It's so hard for me to pick a favourite character, because I truly love them all in different ways. But I did just finish a book today, and it's the first book in my new Blue Sky Bay Series, My Forever Girl, releasing in 2026. The hero in this book is Cutler Heart, a.k.a. Beefcake, a child from the Magnolia Falls series who we see in the Rosewood River series as well. This is my first second gen book, and I absolutely loved writing him as a grown man, because he was just such a fun kid character to write throughout so many books! Getting to write him all grown up was emotional and hilarious all at the same time. I had so much fun with this one! He's such a special hero and I'm excited for him to get his HEA!

Which character surprised you by taking a different turn to what you had planned?
Bridger Chadwick in Crazy in Love (Rosewood River ~ Book 4) surprised me a lot. He was this super broody, grumpy billionaire in the first three books, but getting to write in his POV was definitely full of surprises! He had a much more emotional backstory than I'd planned and beneath all those layers of grumpiness was a guy with a huge heart, and I absolutely loved it.

If you didn’t write books, what would you do for work?
I was a kindergarten teacher for 17 years before I left to write full time! I feel very fortunate that I've had two careers that I absolutely love!

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I was a big reader, and one day this idea for a story popped in my head, and it wouldn't go away. It became all consuming. I thought about it all the time, and a friend convinced me to write it for her to read. That's sort of where things started, but I truly never thought I would be able to do this full time, and that it would turn into the career that it has. It's been an absolute dream come true, and I still pinch myself most days!

What would you say is your greatest strength as a writer?
I think my work ethic is definitely a big strength. I'm very consistent and I stick to my word count daily/weekly/monthly. I make my schedule for the year, and I stick to it the best that I can. I also think the fact that I truly enjoy what I do helps and is ultimately a strength as well. I look forward to spending my day in a quaint small town with characters that I love!

What is the biggest challenge you face while writing, and how did you overcome it?
Time! I wish there were more hours in the day. I love to spend time with family and friends, and I have to be very smart with my time management. So balancing all the things is definitely my biggest challenge.

Random fact about you that not many people know?
I was a competitive runner in high school and college (cross country and track). I've run four full marathons and two half marathons. I don't run anymore but I love to do my daily power walks! It's my favourite way to plot!

Favourite book you've read this year?
I have so many favourite books that I've read this year, it's impossible to pick. But one that stands out that I recently finished, and could not put down, is A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner. It was such an angsty, emotional ride, and I absolutely loved it!

A big thank you to Laura Pavlov for taking the time to chat.

Gold Coast Libraries have several of Laura’s books available as print books, eBooks and eAudiobooks to borrow.

Article written by Kell from Helensvale Library.