After eight months as a ghost town caretaker in Arizona, Laura Jean Schneider has returned to The Port Townsend Leader. 

Formerly employed as an advertising executive, Schneider will join the newsroom as a reporter beginning this week. 

Schneider has a long history as a writer. She has a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s of fine arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has written for High Country News and Edible Santa Fe, among other publications.

Becoming a full-time journalist is the fruition of a childhood dream, she said.

“As a kid, I used to make my own magazine, The Bluebird News, and try to con family members into buying subscriptions,” Schneider said. 

“I’m also a letterpress printmaker, and I love the smell of ink, setting type, the history behind each of the little lead characters in a type tray. That’s how The Leader started out, too,” she added.

In 2019, Schneider was awarded a creative grant from Culture and Animals Society to complete “Maverick,” a collection of essays that highlight how animals changed her life. To become a better writer, she’s an avid reader of all genres.

Outside of work, Schneider enjoys looking for agates with her Corgi, Hatch, on local beaches. 

“I missed The Leader,” she said. “And I know I can bring something to the team again.” 

Editor Brian Kelly said he was thrilled to welcome Schneider to the newspaper’s team.

“Laura Jean is an amazingly talented writer and will add a wonderful perspective to our news team,” Kelly said.