Rhonda Lauritzen's full author bio
James Sweeney picked Rhonda as his co-author after she coached bestselling Author Rob A. Gentile on his book: Quarks of Light, a near-death experience. She has written a dozen books and is an in-demand speaker at national conferences on how to tell compelling true stories and capture oral history.
An entrepreneur in her own right, she is the founder of Evalogue.Life. She took the helm as CEO of Mineral Resources International for three years, working alongside her parents and six older brothers. She still serves on the Board of Directors there. She also spent eight years as the Vice President for Student Services at the Ogden-Weber Technical College, which followed three years as its marketing director. OTech is known as one of the finest institutions of its type in the nation, and it is part of the Utah Syste of Higher Education.
Rhonda Lauritzen’s educational background
Rhonda Lauritzen finished her undergraduate degree at Weber State University while working as the General Manager of her family’s business. Upon completion, she was selected as the Outstanding Graduate in her major. She also has a graduate-level paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego. Ultimately, she finished her MBA with honors from the University of Utah, earning a dual emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship.
Telling people’s stories
Rhonda Lauritzen’s spark for gathering people’s stories began when she received a cassette recorder for Christmas at 10 years old and followed her six older brothers around asking questions. In late 2007, her life took an unexpected turn into storytelling when her entrepreneur-father passed away. That nudged her to write her parents’ story, and she published her first book, Every Essential Element about them in 2012. That project changed the trajectory of her life as others sought her help with their stories. Soon, her services were so in demand that what had started as a side passion became her full-time living. She founded Evalogue.Life in 2016. Since then, she has been hired to tell the stories of families, cities, and nonprofits.
Read more about Rhonda’s perspective on working with James M. Sweeney
Speaking and bylines
Rhonda Lauritzen is the author of a dozen books, some of which were privately commissioned and some of which were published. Creative Insecurity is co-authored with James M. Sweeney, published by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Another book, A Child in Berlin, will be published by Post Hill Press in October, 2024. She regularly contributes to publications such as Family Tree Magazine, APG Quarterly, and she speaks at interational conferences such as RootsTech. Rhonda has also done the research and writing for many building histories including the Ephraim Relief Society Granary (hired by Granary Arts), Pioneer Park (hired by Salt Lake City), Aultorest Memorial Park Historic District, and the Sunnyfield Barn in Eden, Utah.
She, her husband, and daughter live in a small town outside Ogden, Utah. They enjoy a large garden including chickens and honeybees. Whenever they can, they go camping, hiking, and canoeing in Utah’s back country. As the only girl in her family, she became the matriarch when her dear mother passed away. She shares a close bond to an extended clan who who lovingly call her “auntie.”