Laura ▪ Hulthen ▪ Thomas
Fiction writer and essayist
Writer, reader, teacher
Laura Hulthen Thomas
Laura’s deeply human and emotionally charged storytelling explores blue and white collars, lovers and spouses, mothers and children, and the unique Michigan places that shape these relationships. Her novels, stories, and essays reveal the complexities at the heart of home, work, and the Midwestern landscape.
Laura heads the undergraduate creative writing program in the University of Michigan’s Residential College. Her debut novel, The Meaning of Fear, is available for pre-order from Regal House Publishing.
“Thomas generously gives us the whole messy life….She is adept at giving us a character in a few words. They feel like people we have all known. Their thoughts have often been our thoughts, and their secrets are not far from our own.”
— Gloria Whelan, National Book Award Recipient
Books
Pre-order Laura’s debut novel, The Meaning of Fear, due out from Regal House Publishing in March 2026. Her book of short stories, States of Motion, a finalist for the Foreword INDIES Book Awards, offers a compelling look into the lives of Michiganders navigating personal and collective crises. As a contributor to Ghost Writers: Us Haunting Them, Laura brings Michigan’s rich history and eerie tales to life.
Laura Hulthen Thomas 