Lauren Wise is an award-winning writer, editor, and publishing expert with 20+ years of experience in journalism and book publishing. She has built a career on telling the stories of people, places, and culture, with an emphasis on rock and heavy metal music, travel, and the culinary arts. Her work has been featured in Noisey/VICE, WHERE Scottsdale, Denver and Tucson, Revolver, LA Weekly, Phoenix Magazine, Phoenix New Times, and other regional and national outlets. 

She's had the privilege of interviewing and collaborating with cultural icons such as Nicholas Sparks, Robert Plant, Dolly Parton, and Alice Cooper, as well as celebrity chefs, artists, and industry pioneers. For two years, she worked as the editorial director at SheReads.com, a thriving book discovery platform. 

Beyond journalism, Lauren is deeply entrenched in the publishing world. From 2015-2025, she was the associate publisher at She Writes Press and SparkPress and is the founder of Midnight Publishing, where she edits nonfiction and fiction books and offers publishing consultations. She serves as Operations Manager at The Stable Book Group and frequently speaks at major publishing conferences. Read more about her journey in book publishing on the Experience page.

Lauren lives in Arizona, surrounded by a lively mix of family and desert critters, and an ever-growing collection of vinyl records and books. When she’s not shaping narratives or strategizing book launches, she can be found volunteering, cooking, or planning her next trip. A lifelong lover of music, bourbon, the beach, and the Kansas City Chiefs, she believes that every great story, whether in print or in song, has the power to connect, inspire, and endure.