Laurel Hostak Jones is a writer and audio storyteller originally from Austin, Texas.
Laurel joined the professional staff of Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design as Communications & Administrative Coordinator in 2018. After transitioning to a full communications role as Digital Content Specialist in 2020, Laurel became Associate Director of Communications, in which she supports internal and external communications and marketing for the College. In partnership with Westphal, she produces Iterations: Creative Research in Motion, a podcast about how creative practitioners approach social and environmental issues.
Before coming to work at Drexel Westphal, Laurel spent six years in theatre production and marketing, working closely with 1812 Productions, Arden Theatre Company, the Wilma Theater, and Team Sunshine Performance Corporation in Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Screenwriting & Playwriting from Drexel University and completed the Arden Professional Apprentice program in 2014. With the Drexel Players and Theatre program, Laurel developed and produced MONUMENT in the 2012 Philadelphia FringeArts Festival, and directed Parts: A Speed-Through in the 2013 FringeArts Festival. She wrote and performed her solo show, Kingfisher, as part of the 2015 SoLow Fest. She maintains an independent study of mythology, folklore, and medieval literature, and previously studied puppetry in Prague, CZ. Laurel is mom to Arthur and Alice, and cat-mom to Claudius and Charlemagne.
Laurel is the creator, producer, and host of Sleep & Sorcery, a podcast and YouTube channel featuring original bedtime stories inspired by fantasy and folklore. Sleep & Sorcery has more than five million downloads worldwide.
Her book,Sleep & Sorcery: A Collection of Enchanting Bedtime Stories, Rituals & Spells, was released in August 2024 from Crossed Crow Books, with international distribution via Red Wheel/Weiser Books.
Laurel is currently pursuing graduate education in Maternal & Child Health at Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health.