Lauren Keenan (Te Atiawa ki Taranaki) started writing after having children, to give herself something to think about that wasn't baby food, sleep routines, and a pile of laundry so big it ought to have its own gravitational pull. She has eight short stories published in three short story collections: Huia 11 (2015), Huia 12 (2017) and Huia 13 (2019). In 2017 she won the Pikihuia Best Short Story award, and in 2019 was a finalist in the Pikihuia Best Emerging Writer category.

Lauren has a Master of Arts in History, and has worked for both central and local government in New Zealand and the UK. She calls Wellington home.

Lauren's #lifegoal is to see 50 countries before she's 50, although, admittedly, she still has a way to go.

The 52 Week Project is her first full-length book.

For more on Lauren see laurenkeenanwriter.com, or follow her on Twitter at @Lauren_M_Keenan