Search Results for: emma mills

• Book Review: “This Adventure Ends” by Emma Mills

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on June 19, 2017

  This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

  Publisher: Henry Holt BFYR
  Published: October 2016
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781627799355
  Rating: ★★★★

  Sloane isn’t expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that’s exactly what happens.

  Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera’s twin brother and the most serious person Sloane’s ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins’ late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins’ lives.

  Sloane was something of an outsider in New York, and she liked it just fine. But she attracts the attention of Vera, a smart and glamorous social media star, and her twin brother Gabe, a rather broody and sarcastic boy. Soon enough she’s enveloped into their friend group, one with code words and intimate social gatherings and intense loyalty to one another. When Sloane finds out about the twins’ mother’s death and the importance of her artwork, she takes it upon herself to find the most important painting of her collection and return it to the twins’ home.

  Emma Mills never fails to make me laugh with all the self-deprecating humor and sarcasm, and she never fails to make me think more deeply. Her characters are smart and well-written, and I thoroughly enjoyed this friendship story. The emotional drama in the story was valid in their appearance, development, and resolution, and the strong bonds of unconditional love and respect was deeply moving. It’s not all hunky-dory for this cast of characters, but it’s never too woe-is-me and never too happy-go-lucky. It’s just right.

  Though we’re by Sloane throughout the novel, I was invested in all of the characters. Vera’s energy is such a pull, a light in Sloane’s life as she adjusts to Florida life. Gabe may be serious and grouchy-looking most of the time, but he’s immensely loyal to his friends and will do anything for them and their happiness. Remy is an honest and heartfelt guy, deeply emotional and unwavering in his faith. Aubrey is standoffish at first, but she’s not in any way bitchy (which I greatly appreciated) — and you know exactly why she acts this way around Sloane. Even Sloane’s father, a Nicholas Sparks-type author of women’s romance, is hilarious and supportive and has the best — the best — obsession with a werewolf TV show and dives deep into the fandom and fanfiction world.

  If contemporary character-driven stories are your thing, Emma Mills is definitely the author to read and follow. And, if you haven’t already, you should read her Jane Austen-inspired debut First & Then as well! Friendship, loyalty, art, and weekend adventures abound in this novel, and I cannot wait to read more from Mills!

  .

  This qualifies as book 9 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017, Rock My TBR | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “First & Then” by Emma Mills

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on September 28, 2016

  First & Then by Emma Mills

  Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
  Published: October 2015
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781627792356
  Rating: ★★★★

  Devon Tennyson wouldn’t change a thing. She’s happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon’s cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn’t want them: first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

  It’s Devon’s senior year, and her counselor is pushing hard for her to be more active in her school for the sake of college applications. But Devon likes being exactly where she is: somewhere in the middle of the popularity pool, best friends with Cas, a high school football fan, and general friendly person. When her awkward cousin Foster arrives after a family crisis, Devon’s plans for senior year derail. What’s more, the school seems to be obsessed with new football star Ezra, and he has taken a liking to the surprisingly athletically-inclined Foster. Devon and Ezra’s lives soon become intertwined, and senior year is starting to become something wholly unexpected.

  I should not have been wary about this Pride & Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights retelling/expansion/-inspired novel. But I was! I couldn’t help it. I’m not interested in football, classic retellings tend to not do so well with me (except for this year…I’ve actually been doing pretty well with them!), and the cover actually made me think this was going to be some sort of tragic sob-fest. I’d heard Foster was potentially autistic, and that was another red flag to me too (unfortunately these characters are treated as if they’re weak, and I loathe that!).

  So when I opened up to the first chapter and immediately connected with Devon’s voice, I knew I had nothing to worry about. Mills is a gem of a writer. Devon is snarky, witty, sassy, and it’s so easy to fall in friend-love with her. Her voice alone demonstrated the perfect execution of “show, don’t tell” when it came to her friendliness with others in the school, how she was something of a chameleon while still being effortlessly DEVON. Her journey to finding other things to beef up her college applications — topics for her essay, stuff to pad her resume — felt just right for her, rather than forced. And, as an extra bonus, they kept her connected to football!

  Ezra’s character was just the right balance of friendly and broody. The best part was that he was broody for a very good reason, one that advanced the plot and added some heft to the story. Foster, likewise, is so authentic, fun, young, a great contrast to Ezra and Devon’s personalities. Almost like a bouncing puppy standing between the two of them at times, Foster just saying what’s on everyone’s minds, with Ezra frowning and Devon scolding him on proper social etiquette.

  The parallels to Pride & Prejudice actually felt like a mixture of that and Sense & Sensibility. Mills was able to make this book feel like Austen without sticking to any one particular plot. Reading it, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities (without pinpointing which Austen story it belonged to, except that it FELT SO AUSTEN) and acknowledge that this book was wholly unique on its own. If Austen wrote YA today, Mills nailed it.

  The only thing I wanted more of was the rest of Devon’s senior year! How did everything work out?! Mills, why must you torture me like Austen did?!

  .

  This book qualifies as book 13 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• MSWL for 2023

  Posted at 10:45 am by Laura, on December 30, 2022

  Also known as
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2023

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2023, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to the priorities of past years (2021, 2022) but with an emphasis on joyful and uplifting stories (especially with contemporary narratives), sweeping epic fantasies (particularly non-Euro), and uncharted historical.

  As I mentioned in a post, the industry is slammed and publishers are being even more selective, making it even harder for debuts. So I need to be extra picky as well––and I’m hopeful this post helps provide insight to my wishlist!

  Keep in mind, a manuscript is more than a recipe combining themes of Book A, characters like those found in Book B, with a plot like Book C. It’s in the essence of the writing, the make-up of the narrative, the style of the voice––that’s what captures attention. A really great manuscript infuses the tone, atmosphere, and emotion into every word, applying careful attention to detail to evoke a sensation from the page to the reader’s mind. That’s what agents are looking for. We’re enticed by your recipe and hope to be moved by the outcome. So while I am pointing out published books that accomplished elements of what I love and what I’m seeking, I’m also pointing out books that most accurately display the essence of what I’m looking for.

  ~~~

  ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy || I adore fantasy inspired by historical events, cultures, folklore, and fairytales. More often than not, these fantasies tend to be set in secondary worlds, where magic may or may not exist, but the feel of the novel is certainly magical. My absolute favorites are The City of Brass (Islamic- and Arabic-inspired, set in 18th-c outside Cairo), Uprooted and Spinning Silver (Eastern European and Jewish fairytale retellings), The Wolf of Oren-Yaro (Filipino-inspired culture), A River Enchanted (Scottish mythology) and Daughter of the Forest (Irish Celtic mythology). Award-winning author and client Tasha Suri‘s Empire of Sand, Realm of Ash, and The Jasmine Throne are inspired by Indian history and mythology, and Malice by Heather Walter spins a fairytale completely on its head. These books have lush writing and beautiful characterizations, which is what I’m most drawn to in these fantasies. I also enjoy in-depth world-building and unique perspectives (literally everything about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and A Darker Shade of Magic), have thoroughly enjoyed dragon stories (Priory of the Orange Tree and His Majesty’s Dragon), am seeking more previously-established-relationships among ensemble casts with one POV (a la Kings of the Wyld), and I want to find my own Queen of Blood, Bone Ships, or The Wolf and the Whale.

  Pie-in-the-sky manuscript: What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading. I would especially love to see this from marginalized and underrepresented voices.

  Historical Fantasy || Though a branch off fantasy (“low fantasy”), this category is for all those books that have a hint of magic within the historical narrative. Not necessarily magical realism––but a tiny little something sparks that energy and spins into the fantastical. Babel is a stunning examination of colonialism, imperialism, racism, and translation,  In Another Time explores wormholes in WWII, The Familiars leaves you wondering if she really was a witch, The Winter Witch adds an element of intrigue on a quiet Welsh farm, Outlander has a hint of time travel but is otherwise historical, and A Secret History of Witches explores generations of women in one family and the impact their magic has on the community. I would love to see more gothic-, religiously-, politically-infused historical fantasies like The Book of Gothel, The Once and Future Witches, and The Year of the Witching––I would fall over to represent something like that! Basically if it involves witches, a hint of magic, and the ways in which a community unravels, I’m down.

  Pie-in-the-sky: A fresh and unique spin on historical events that then asks, “what if…?” What if witches were real during XYZ historical event? What if witches were behind A? What if magic was the cause of B? What if someone with XYZ abilities could’ve changed the outcome to C? What if magic/witches were the root of religion? Take the idea and run with it.

  Women’s Fiction || I adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit/romcom — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with Don’t You Forget About Me, The Friend Zone, Ayesha at Last, The Matzah Ball, A Holly Jolly Diwali, and The Flatshare. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  Pie-in-the-sky: I’ve found I’m drawn to two particular sorts of protagonists and life journeys in women’s fiction. The first is the character that thinks they’re content when actually they’re lonely. Though these characters are typically older or curmudgeonly––and that’s okay––a kind and young character can experience this too. I’m drawn to the ways in which another character/event challenges them to break routine. The second is the character that has something preventing them from moving forward in life––grief, finances, a relationship––and the snowball effect that has throughout the narrative. I want to read something joyful and uplifting, with levity and humor throughout.

  Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns, first female to ___), like client Clarissa Harwood‘s Impossible Saints. In 2021, my favorite books included The Book of Longings, Hamnet, and The Giver of Stars. Admittedly, I’m most familiar with European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and the writing style is relatable to a modern audience.

  Pie-in-the-sky: Lately I’ve been craving Gilded Age/turn-of-the-century narratives, particularly in the ways American wealth supported British aristocracy. I also want to read about women we know (Wu Zetian, Elizabeth Bathory, Mette Magrete Tvistman), women behind great men in history, and women being the first in smaller [and oftentimes fictional] ways––like the first to run her family’s Victorian shop, with Sarah Waters vibes, for example.

  Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink, Possession, The Lost Apothecary) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.

  YOUNG ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy & Historical Fantasy || The YA world is difficult to break into, especially in fantasy. But I’m such a sucker for YA fantasy — I love all the worlds and ideas and originality that floods the market. That’s the issue at stake, though: it needs to be original. So while I love fairytale retellings, they need to be proper retellings, with twists and turns and (for goodness’s sake) new names––just like my clients Lisa DeSelm’s The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. I love culturally-influenced or mythology-inspired stories (like Six Crimson Cranes and Don’t Call the Wolf), as well as historically-inspired fantasies and elemental magic narratives like Shielded by KayLynn Flanders. If you have a YA fantasy, send it my way, especially if they fit into any of the above criteria.

  Pie-in-the-sky: (As stated in the adult fiction section, since it applies here too) What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading. They’re entertaining, but I’m here for the meat of the story, not the garnish. I would especially love to see this from marginalized and underrepresented voices.

  Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs and unique hobbies (A Pho Love Story and Happily Ever Afters). I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end. This year especially, I want to see more joy and uplifting reads!

  Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life for a modern audience. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!

  ~~~

  For a final once-over, feel free to read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, check out my clients page and book deals records, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. I want my clients’ projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, to show that these books need to be on bookshelves. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I’ve never closed queries in the eight years I’ve been an agent. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I do not close to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), Greek or Roman-inspired narratives (I’m sorry, I’m just not into it), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), scripts or screenplays, short story collections, picture books, chapter books, paranormal romance, smut, erotica. If your project uses any of these descriptors, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~~~

  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts in 2023!

  Posted in agenting | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, personal

• MSWL for 2022

  Posted at 11:16 am by Laura, on December 29, 2021

  Also known as
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2022

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2022, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, but with an emphasis on joyful and uplifting stories, especially with contemporary narratives.

  As I mentioned in a recent post, the industry is slammed and publishers are being even more selective, making it even harder for debuts. So I’m being extra picky as well––and I’m hopeful this post helps provide insight to my wishlist!

  Keep in mind, a manuscript is more than a recipe combining themes of Book A, characters like those found in Book B, with a plot like Book C. It’s in the essence of the writing, the make-up of the narrative, the style of the voice––that’s what captures attention. A really great manuscript infuses the tone, atmosphere, and emotion into every word, applying careful attention to detail to evoke a sensation from the page to the reader’s mind. That’s what agents are looking for. We’re enticed by your recipe and hope to be moved by the outcome. So while I am pointing out published books that accomplished elements of what I love and what I’m seeking, I’m also pointing out books that most accurately display the essence of what I’m looking for.

  ~~~

  ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy || I adore fantasy inspired by historical events, cultures, folklore, and fairytales. More often than not, these fantasies tend to be set in secondary worlds, where magic may or may not exist, but the feel of the novel is certainly magical. My absolute favorites are The City of Brass (Islamic- and Arabic-inspired, set in 18th-c outside Cairo), Uprooted and Spinning Silver (Eastern European and Jewish fairytale retellings), The Wolf of Oren-Yaro (Filipino-inspired culture), and Daughter of the Forest (Irish Celtic mythology). Award-winning author and client Tasha Suri‘s Empire of Sand, Realm of Ash, and The Jasmine Throne are inspired by Indian history and mythology, and Malice by Heather Walter spins a fairytale completely on its head. These books have lush writing and beautiful characterizations, which is what I’m most drawn to in these fantasies. I also enjoy in-depth world-building and unique perspectives (literally everything about A Darker Shade of Magic), have thoroughly enjoyed dragon stories (Priory of the Orange Tree and His Majesty’s Dragon), am seeking more previously-established-relationships among ensemble casts with one POV (a la Kings of the Wyld), and I want to find my own Queen of Blood, Bone Ships, or The Wolf and the Whale.

  Pie-in-the-sky manuscript: What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading. I would especially love to see this from marginalized and underrepresented voices.

  Historical Fantasy || Though a branch off fantasy (“low fantasy”), this category is for all those books that have a hint of magic within the historical narrative. Not necessarily magical realism––but a tiny little something sparks that energy and spins into the fantastical. In Another Time explores wormholes in WWII, The Familiars leaves you wondering if she really was a witch, The Winter Witch adds an element of intrigue on a quiet Welsh farm, Outlander has a hint of time travel but is otherwise historical, and A Secret History of Witches explores generations of women in one family and the impact their magic has on the community. I would love to see more gothic-, religiously-, politically-infused historical fantasies like The Once and Future Witches and The Year of the Witching––I would fall over to represent something like that! Basically if it involves witches, a hint of magic, and the ways in which a community unravels, I’m down.

  Pie-in-the-sky: A fresh and unique spin on historical events that then asks, “what if…?” What if witches were real during XYZ historical event? What if witches were behind A? What if magic was the cause of B? What if someone with XYZ abilities could’ve changed the outcome to C? What if magic/witches were the root of religion? Take the idea and run with it.

  Women’s Fiction || I adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit/romcom — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with Don’t You Forget About Me, The Friend Zone, Ayesha at Last, The Matzah Ball, A Holly Jolly Diwali, and The Flatshare. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  Pie-in-the-sky: I’ve found I’m drawn to two particular sorts of protagonists and life journeys in women’s fiction. The first is the character that thinks they’re content when actually they’re lonely. Though these characters are typically older or curmudgeonly––and that’s okay––a kind and young character can experience this too. I’m drawn to the ways in which another character/event challenges them to break routine. The second is the character that has something preventing them from moving forward in life––grief, finances, a relationship––and the snowball effect that has throughout the narrative. I want to read something joyful and uplifting, with levity and humor throughout.

  Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns, first female to ___), like client Clarissa Harwood‘s Impossible Saints. In 2021, my favorite books included The Book of Longings, Hamnet, and The Giver of Stars. Admittedly, I’m most familiar with European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and the writing style is relatable to a modern audience.

  Pie-in-the-sky: Lately I’ve been craving Gilded Age/turn-of-the-century narratives, particularly in the ways American wealth supported British aristocracy. I also want to read about women we know (Wu Zetian, Elizabeth Bathory, Mette Magrete Tvistman), women behind great men in history, and women being the first in smaller [and oftentimes fictional] ways––like the first to run her family’s Victorian shop, with Sarah Waters vibes, for example.

  Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink, Possession, The Lost Apothecary) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.

  YOUNG ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy & Historical Fantasy || The YA world is difficult to break into, especially in fantasy. But I’m such a sucker for YA fantasy — I love all the worlds and ideas and originality that floods the market. That’s the issue at stake, though: it needs to be original. So while I love fairytale retellings, they need to be proper retellings, with twists and turns and (for goodness’s sake) new names––just like my clients Lisa DeSelm’s The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. I love culturally-influenced or mythology-inspired stories (like Six Crimson Cranes and Don’t Call the Wolf), but I’m not interested in Greek or Roman mythology whatsoever. (Never have been.) I love historically-inspired fantasies, too, such as Walk on Earth a Stranger. That said, I’m very much into elemental magic — when magic is innate, a part of the world, or part of the world’s faith/mythology — over all other kinds of fantasies, like Shielded by my client KayLynn Flanders. Think Star-Touched Queen, Shadowfell, Sorcery of Thorns, and Hunted. If you have a YA fantasy, send it my way, especially if they fit into any of the above criteria.

  Pie-in-the-sky: (As stated in the adult fiction section, since it applies here too) What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading. They’re entertaining, but I’m here for the meat of the story, not the garnish. I would especially love to see this from marginalized and underrepresented voices.

  Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs and unique hobbies (A Pho Love Story and Happily Ever Afters). I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end. This year especially, I want to see more joy and uplifting reads!

  Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!

  ~~~

  For a final once-over, feel free to read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, check out my clients page and book deals records, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), Greek or Roman-inspired narratives (I’m sorry, I’m just not into it), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), scripts or screenplays, paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~~~

  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts and selling lots in 2022!

  Posted in agenting | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, personal

• MSWL for 2021

  Posted at 12:15 pm by Laura, on January 1, 2021

  Also known as
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2021

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2021, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to 2018, 2019, and 2020, but with some adjustments and additions (pie-in-the-sky dream projects).

  Keep in mind, a manuscript is more than a recipe combining themes of Book A, characters like those found in Book B, with a plot like Book C. It’s in the essence of the writing, the make-up of the narrative, the style of the voice––that’s what captures attention. A really great manuscript infuses the tone, atmosphere, and emotion into every word, applying careful attention to detail to evoke a sensation from the page to the reader’s mind. That’s what agents are looking for. We’re enticed by your recipe and hope to be moved by the outcome. So while I am pointing out published books that accomplished elements of what I love and what I’m seeking, I’m also pointing out books that most accurately display the essence of what I’m looking for.

  ~~~

  ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy || I adore fantasy inspired by historical events, cultures, folklore, and fairytales. More often than not, these fantasies tend to be set in secondary worlds, where magic may or may not exist, but the feel of the novel is certainly magical. My absolute favorites are The City of Brass (Islamic- and Arabic-inspired, set in 18th-c outside Cairo), Uprooted and Spinning Silver (Eastern European and Jewish fairytale retellings), The Wolf of Oren-Yaro (Filipino-inspired culture), and Daughter of the Forest (Irish Celtic mythology). Award-winning author and client Tasha Suri‘s Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash are based on 15th-c Mughal-Indian mythology, and upcoming Malice by Heather Walter spins a fairytale completely on its head. Each of these books have lush writing and beautiful characterizations, which is what I’m most drawn to in these fantasies. I also enjoy in-depth world-building and unique perspectives (literally everything about A Darker Shade of Magic), have thoroughly enjoyed dragon stories (Priory of the Orange Tree and His Majesty’s Dragon), am seeking more previously-established ensemble casts with one POV (a la Kings of the Wyld), and I want to find my own Queen of Blood, Bone Ships, or The Wolf and the Whale.

  Pie-in-the-sky manuscript: What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading.

  Historical Fantasy || Though a branch off fantasy (“low fantasy”), this category is for all those books that have a hint of magic within the historical narrative. Not necessarily magical realism––but a tiny little something sparks that energy and spins into the fantastical. In Another Time explores wormholes in WWII, The Familiars leaves you wondering if she really was a witch, The Winter Witch adds an element of intrigue in a quiet Welsh farm, Outlander has a hint of time travel but is otherwise historical, and A Secret History of Witches explores generations of women in one family and the impact their magic has on the community. My favorite books in 2020 included The Once and Future Witches and The Year of the Witching, and I would fall over to represent something like that! Basically if it involves witches, a hint of magic, and the ways in which a community unravels, I’m down.

  Pie-in-the-sky: A fresh and unique spin on historical events that then asks, “what if…?” What if witches were real during XYZ historical event? What if witches were behind A? What if magic was the cause of B? What if someone with XYZ abilities could’ve changed the outcome to C? What if magic/witches were the root of religion? Take the idea and run with it.

  Women’s Fiction || I adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with Don’t You Forget About Me, The Friend Zone, Ayesha at Last, and The Flatshare. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  Pie-in-the-sky: I’ve found I’m drawn to two particular sorts of protagonists and life journeys in women’s fiction. The first is the character that thinks they’re content when actually they’re lonely. Though these characters are typically older or curmudgeonly––and that’s okay––a kind and young character can experience this too. I’m drawn to the ways in which another character/event challenges them to break routine. The second is the character that has something preventing them from moving forward in life––grief, finances, a relationship––and the snowball effect that has throughout the narrative.

  Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns, first female to ___), like client Clarissa Harwood‘s Impossible Saints. Admittedly, I’m most familiar with European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and fresh and the writing style relatable to a modern audience.

  Pie-in-the-sky: Lately I’ve been craving Gilded Age/turn-of-the-century narratives, particularly in the ways American wealth supported British aristocracy. I also want to read about women we know (Wu Zetian, Elizabeth Bathory, Mette Magrete Tvistman), women behind great men in history, and women being the first in smaller [and oftentimes fictional] ways––like the first to run her family’s Victorian shop, with Sarah Waters vibes, for example.

  Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink and Possession) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.

  YOUNG ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy & Historical Fantasy || The YA world is difficult to break into, especially in fantasy. But I’m such a sucker for YA fantasy — I love all the worlds and ideas and originality that floods the market. That’s the issue at stake, though: it needs to be original. So while I love fairytale retellings, they need to be proper retellings, with twists and turns and (for goodness’s sake) new names––just like my clients Lisa DeSelm’s The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. I love culturally-influenced or mythology-inspired stories (like Spin the Dawn and Don’t Call the Wolf), but I’m not interested in Greek or Roman mythology whatsoever. (Never have been.) I love historically-inspired fantasies, too, such as Walk on Earth a Stranger. That said, I’m very much into elemental magic — when magic is innate, a part of the world, or part of the world’s faith/mythology — over all other kinds of fantasies, like Shielded by my client KayLynn Flanders. Think Star-Touched Queen, Shadowfell, Sorcery of Thorns, and Hunted. If you have a YA fantasy, send it my way, especially if they fit into any of the above criteria.

  Pie-in-the-sky: (As stated in the adult fiction section, since it applies here too) What every single book mentioned above accomplishes is the ability to take a creature, character, or tradition from a culture, tale, or faith and make it entirely new, unique, fresh. I want to see golems, djinn, wendigos, vetalas, almasties––I’m tired of the typical werewolf/vampire/angel/fairy. Give me something rarely covered in Western literature. Give me depth to the world and the characters. I don’t need heists and sword fights and action-action-action to propel my reading. They’re entertaining, but I’m here for the meat of the story, not the garnish.

  Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs and unique hobbies. I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end.

  Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!

  ~~~

  For a final once-over, feel free to follow my #mswl and #MSWLaesthetic on Twitter, read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, check out my clients page and book deals records, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), Greek or Roman-inspired narratives (I’m sorry, I’m just not into it), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), scripts or screenplays, paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~~~

  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts and selling lots in 2021!

  Posted in agenting | 1 Comment | Tagged agenting, personal

• MSWL for 2020

  Posted at 10:00 am by Laura, on January 1, 2020

  Also known as
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2020

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2020, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to 2018 and 2019, but with some adjustments and additions.

  The biggest “change” this year is I’m seeking more in fantasy. I was hesitant in 2019 since my inbox was already flooded. But last year’s book deals have proven that my deepest and most successful love appears to be in fantasy. So I’m diving into my particular taste below!

  ~~~

  ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy || I adore fantasy inspired by historical events, cultures, folklore, and fairytales. My absolute favorites are The City of Brass (Islamic- and Arabic-inspired, set in 18th-c outside Cairo), Uprooted and Spinning Silver (Eastern European and Jewish fairytale retellings), and Daughter of the Forest (Irish Celtic mythology). Award-winning author and client Tasha Suri‘s Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash are based on 15th-c Mughal-Indian mythology. Each of these books have lush writing and beautiful characterizations, which is what I’m most drawn to in these fantasies. I also enjoy in-depth world-building and unique perspectives, have recently thoroughly enjoyed dragon stories (Priory of the Orange Tree and His Majesty’s Dragon), am seeking more ensemble casts with one POV (a la Kings of the Wyld), and I want to find my own Queen of Blood, Bone Ships, or The Wolf and the Whale.

  Historical Fantasy || Though a branch off fantasy (“low fantasy”), this category is for all those books that have a hint of magic within the historical narrative. Not necessarily magical realism––I like the laws of magic to exist––but a tiny little something sparks that energy and spins into the fantastical. In Another Time explores wormholes in WWII, The Familiars leaves you wondering if she really was a witch, The Winter Witch adds an element of intrigue in a quiet Welsh farm, Outlander has a hint of time travel but is otherwise historical, and A Secret History of Witches explores generations of women in one family and the impact their magic has on the community. Basically if it involves witches, a hint of magic, and the ways in which a community unravels, I’m down.

  Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns). Admittedly, I’m most familiar with European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and fresh and the writing style relatable to a modern audience.

  Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink and Possession) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.

  Women’s Fiction || I adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with Don’t You Forget About Me, The Friend Zone, Ayesha at Last, and Attachments. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  YOUNG ADULT FICTION

  Fantasy & Historical Fantasy || The YA world is difficult to break into, especially in fantasy. But I’m such a sucker for YA fantasy — I love all the worlds and ideas and originality that floods the market. That’s the issue at stake, though: it needs to be original. So while I love fairytale retellings, they need to be proper retellings, with twists and turns and (for goodness’s sake) new names. I love culturally-influenced or mythology-inspired stories (like Spin the Dawn and Don’t Call the Wolf), but I’m not interested in Greek or Roman mythology whatsoever. (Never have been.) I love historically-inspired fantasies, too, such as Walk on Earth a Stranger. That said, I’m very much into elemental magic — when magic is innate, a part of the world, or part of the world’s faith/mythology — over all other kinds of fantasies. Think Star-Touched Queen, Shadowfell, Sorcery of Thorns, and Hunted. If you have a YA fantasy, send it my way, especially if they fit into any of the above criteria. I’m especially hunting down a Viking-inspired fantasy…

  Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!

  Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs, unique hobbies, and (as a past drum major) more marching band narratives! I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel, rather than something dark and gritty from the get go and very little humor to carry throughout. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end.

  ~~~

  For a final once-over, feel free to follow my #mswl and #MSWLaesthetic on Twitter, read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~~~

  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts and selling lots in 2020!

  Posted in agenting | 2 Comments | Tagged agenting, personal

• MSWL for 2019

  Posted at 5:15 pm by Laura, on January 1, 2019

  Also Known As
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2019

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2019, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to 2018, but with some adjustments.

  Please note: my inbox is flooded with YA and Adult fantasy. I don’t mind that one bit! But I’m already pretty particular about fantasy, and I do represent a variety of fantasy writers already. To really expand my list, I’d like to see more in these categories and genres…

  ~

  Adult Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns). Admittedly, I’m most drawn to European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and fresh.

  Adult Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink and Possession) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.

  Adult Contemporary Women’s Fiction || Some of my favorite contemporary women’s fiction tends to be a bit on the morally ambiguous side of things, tackling taboo topics or shedding light on a hot-button issue in a new way. The queen of this, I think, is Jodi Picoult. I also adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with The Hating Game, Attachments, and You and Me, Always. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  Adult Historical Fantasy || I’m such a sucker for these, especially if there are elements of romance. The voice and the writing in historical fantasy is exactly what I love about the two genres separately. It’s accessible, even when it’s a world entirely different from our own. The characters’ voices are enticing, their daily life is familiar, as if I’ve always been a part of it, thanks to the historical aspects of the world. Some of my favorite books and series, such as Outlander, Daughter of the Forest, and The Winter Witch, are historical fantasies. Others, such as City of Brass, Uprooted, The Bear and the Nightingale, and The Queen of Blood, are inspired by history and folklore, though not necessarily part of actual historical pasts. I’d love to see more historical fantasies inspired by other cultures’ histories and folklore, much like my client Tasha Suri’s Empire of Sand.

  Young Adult Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), books that handle mental states with honesty like When We Collided and What to Say Next, and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs, unique hobbies, and (as a past drum major) more marching band narratives! I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel, rather than something dark and gritty from the get go and very little humor to carry throughout. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end.

  Young Adult Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!

  ~

  For a final once-over, feel free to follow my #mswl and #MSWLaesthetic on Twitter, read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~

  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts and selling lots in 2019!

  Posted in agenting | 1 Comment | Tagged agenting, personal

• Book Cake Tag: (belated-)Birthday Edition!

  Posted at 6:25 am by Laura, on March 9, 2018

  It’s my birthday (yay!) — or rather, it was on Sunday — so I thought I would do The Book Cake Tag, originally found on Morgan’s blog and inspired by GBBO! Because cake. (And also because Morgan tagged me almost a year ago and I still haven’t done this yet!)

  

  LOL OMG LOVE

  SELF-RISING FLOUR: A BOOK THAT IS SLOW TO START OFF BUT REALLY PICKED UP AS YOU WENT ALONG

  Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell I’m recalling starting off a bit slow but I absolutely loved as it gained momentum. Honestly, really great historical fiction can sometimes be like that. It takes a bit to immerse yourself — but once you’re in, you’re in.

  BUTTER OR MARGARINE: A BOOK WITH A RICH, GREAT PLOT

  The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty. I promise I’ll post my review of it soon! I PROMISE.

  EGGS: A BOOK YOU THOUGHT WOULD BE BAD BUT TURNED OUT TO BE QUITE ENJOYABLE

  It’s not that I thought it would be bad, but I was wary of First & Then by Emma Mills. I’m so glad I loved it, because she’s now an auto-buy/auto-read author for me!

  

  SUGAR: A SWEET BOOK

  Disclaimer: the whole book is not sugary sweet, but the sibling relationship portrayed in this book is possibly the sweetest, kindest, and yet most authentic sibling relationship I’ve seen for MG readers in ages! The Silver Gate by Kristin Bailey is a must-read.

  CHOCOLATE/FRUIT FILLING LAYER: A BOOK THAT SURPRISED YOU OR A CHARACTER WITH HIDDEN LAYERS

  The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton has all sorts of threads and layers, and when a book club member suggested a Fight Club-like scenario that completely blew me away, I can’t look at this book without wondering “what if…?” and assuming that theory is true. Because if it is…damn. Those are some intense layers.

  BAKING TIME: A SLOW-BURN ROMANCE

  Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier (ha! Another tag to put this book in. I LOVE IT TO PIECES.)

  

  ICING: A BOOK THAT COVERS ALL THE ELEMENTS YOU ENJOY IN BOOKS

  Ohhhh this is difficult. The biggest thing for me in books is voice, followed by writing style, setting, and pacing. So with those in mind, regardless of genre, it’s probably The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

  SPRINKLES: A BOOK YOU CAN TURN TO FOR A PICK-ME-UP

  Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. It makes me laugh and smile and really puts things into perspective!

  On the other hand, Harry Potter never fails. Sometimes you gotta go in for a bit of childhood nostalgia.

  CHERRY ON TOP: FAVORITE BOOK SO FAR THIS YEAR

  Definitely The City of Brass. I’m a bit behind on reading this year, but I’m super pumped about the books on my nightstand right now (Between Two Fires, Tess of the Road, Children of Blood and Bone, Blood Water Paint) so hopefully I’ll catch up soon!

  

  Posted in books | 2 Comments | Tagged book tag, books, personal

• MSWL for 2018

  Posted at 9:55 pm by Laura, on January 1, 2018

  Also known as
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox for 2018

  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2018, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox.

  My inbox typically floods with fantasy manuscripts across the age categories. I don’t mind that one bit! But I’m already pretty particular about fantasy, and I do represent a variety of fantasy writers already. To really expand my list, I’d like to see more in these categories and genres.

  ~

  Adult Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). My favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), Letters from Skye (WWI/WWII parallel narrative told entirely in epistolary format), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks). I’m attracted to Between Two Fires (early Welsh history), The White Russian (because I find Russian history fascinating), and Hild (life of a nun). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics). Admittedly, I’m most drawn to European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and fresh.

  Adult Contemporary Women’s Fiction || Some of my favorite contemporary women’s fiction tends to be a bit on the morally ambiguous side of things, tackling taboo topics or shedding light on a hot-button issue in a new way. The queen of this, I think, is Jodi Picoult. I also adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as A Window Opens, Leave Me, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with The Hating Game, Attachments, and You and Me, Always. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!

  Adult Historical Fantasy || I’m such a sucker for these, especially if there are elements of romance. The voice and the writing in historical fantasy is exactly what I love about the two genres separately. It’s accessible, even when it’s a world entirely different from our own. The characters’ voices are enticing, their daily life is familiar, as if I’ve always been a part of it, thanks to the historical aspects of the world. Some of my favorite books and series, such as Outlander, Daughter of the Forest, and The Winter Witch, are historical fantasies. Others, such as City of Brass, Uprooted, and The Queen of Blood, are inspired by history and folklore, though not necessarily part of actual historical pasts. I’d love to see more historical fantasies inspired by other cultures’ histories and folklore.

  Young Adult Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. It needs to feel and sound authentic to the teen reader, as they are the target audience. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. It’s not a matter of nostalgia, but a bit like living in my memory — every emotion, every action, how angry and elated I would feel after certain events transpired, how important specific things were for me and why. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen, you get them. Talk to any secondary education teacher or school or YA librarian, and they really understand them.

  That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes), books that handle mental states with honesty like When We Collided and What to Say Next, and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel, rather than something dark and gritty from the get go and very little humor to carry throughout. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end.

  Young Adult Fantasy || The YA world is difficult to break into, especially in fantasy. But I’m such a sucker for YA fantasy — I love all the worlds and ideas and originality that floods the market. That’s the issue at stake, though: it needs to be original. So while I love fairytale retellings, they need to be proper retellings, with twists and turns and (for goodness’s sake) new names. I love culturally-influenced or mythology-inspired stories, but I’m not interested in Greek or Roman mythology whatsoever. (Never have been.) I love historically-inspired fantasies, too, such as Walk on Earth a Stranger. That said, I’m very much into elemental magic — when magic is innate, a part of the world, or part of the world’s faith/mythology — over all other kinds of fantasies. Think Star-Touched Queen, Shadowfell, and Hunted. If you have a YA fantasy, send it my way, especially if they fit into any of the above criteria. I’m especially hunting down a Viking-inspired fantasy…

  Young Adult Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. But that usually limits it to WWII novels or fantasy. So what do I want that’s different from that? Simple. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life.

  ~

  For a final once-over, feel free to follow my #mswl on Twitter and on #MSWL website, follow #MSWLaesthetic, read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:

  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. We each experience life differently because of diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.

  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling or anything — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.

  NEVER seeking: anything in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), all nonfiction projects (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.

  ~

  I hope this is helpful! I look forward to reading and selling excellent manuscripts in 2018!

  Posted in agenting | 4 Comments | Tagged agenting, personal

• End of Year Book Survey III

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on December 28, 2016

  

  This is the third year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. Last year it was so much fun to share my bookish life through Hermione gifs, I decided to share it through Pevensie gifs! I am looking forward to reading your 2016 book survey, too.

  Note: This includes all books read in 2016 – they do not have to be published in 2016. 

  

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 52
  Number of Re-Reads: 1
  Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary

  

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2016

  ARG! Goodness. The first that comes to mind is The Lie Tree. It had everything I could ever want from a novel: compelling, excellent voice, intelligent protagonist, unique circumstances, beautiful atmosphere. While it’s historical fiction with a touch of fantasy (magical realism?), it’s first and foremost a Gothic novel. And ya’ll know I love me some Gothic.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  It’s a tie between Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here and Summer Days and Summer Nights. Everyone raved about Epstein being the snarkier, more forward version of Fangirl and I was not into it whatsoever. And I so looked forward to Summer Days and Summer Nights and found I wasn’t interested in many of the short stories from some of my own favorite authors! Wah wah. (Also, yes, I realize in my review I typed “Claire” instead of “Clare” and that’s because I still think of her fanfic days and I can’t be arsed to correct it.)

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2016?

  Re Jane definitely surprised me. I’m of the view no one should touch the precious Jane Eyre, but Patricia Park really knew how to modernize this classic and make it stand on its own. Toss in the beautiful way she incorporated Own Voices, and this was a treat and absolute pleasure to read.

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2016?

  The Hating Game was pushed on me by my client Nina, and then I recommended it to Ginger, Lindsey, Morgan…next thing I know, it’s all over the place in the blogging community. I’m not saying Nina or I started it, but it was certainly a whirlwind!

  

  

  

  

  5. Best Series You Started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

  Series Started: The Queens of Renthia series with The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst OR Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
  Sequel: Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter
  Series Ender: Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins, though it was the only series ender I read this year

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2016?

  Emma Mills with her book First & Then captured my heart. I’m eager to dive into This Adventure Ends now.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

  Fever at Dawn was out of my comfort zone because it’s a translation. Sometimes the heart and emotion in the story, in the voice, can be lost in translation. This novel though? So good. I really enjoyed it.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman, but that’s not a surprise at all! Her novels always leave my heart pounding.

  9. Book You Read in 2016 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Perhaps Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella because WHY NOT *heart eyes*

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2016?

  A tie between Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman and Traitor Angels. I love ships in bottles (both IRL and on covers), as they remind me of my grandfather, and the art department did a great job of making the bottle really stand out. As for Blankman’s book, please just look at that dripping-ink-that-looks-like-melted-chocolate. Balzer + Bray’s art department is fantastic.

  

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2016?

  Lou in Me Before You is one incredible young woman, inside and out.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2016?

  The language, voice, and artistry of The Star-Touched Queen left me longing for more!

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2016?

  Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys should come to no surprise. Sepetys always makes me think and wonder, and her books do change my life.

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2016 to Finally Read?

  Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ KINSELLA?!

  

  

  

  

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2016?

  “I saw a girl who races to help others but doesn’t help herself. And right now you need to help yourself. No one should walk up the aisle feeling inferior or in a different league or trying to be something they’re not.”
  –I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2016?

  Shortest: Buddha in the Attic
  Longest: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, only because I was happily surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I haven’t read any of her other books, and The Jane Austen Project has been pretty successful thus far. I was just genuinely shocked how much I adored it, and how much the reviews were right.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  I didn’t read a whole lot of shippy stuff this year! WHAT. So how about I go with a manuscript I read this year that I will go down with and you will all hear about in 2017? Matt and Tabby in Jared Reck’s The Short History of the Girl Next Door.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Ven and Daleina in The Queen of Blood, possibly. I can see where people would root for them to get together, but he’s at least 15 years her senior and he’s her Champion (intructor and defender of sorts). But their platonic dynamics were perfect!

  

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller, hands down. I learned so much in that book, too!

  21. Best Book You Read in 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  Hands down, it was Walk on Earth a Stranger, and I’m glad I did. Everyone was raving over it, and over Carson’s previous books, plus there was the appeal of the Oregon Trail story, so of course I gave in. And loved it.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2016?

  See, I didn’t read many shippy books! Maybe Jonah in When We Collided. He’s such a sweetheart.

  23. Best 2016 Debut You Read?

  The Star-Touched Queen, of course! Such a beautiful, stunning book!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst, easily. All of the trees, the spirits, the structure of the government and culture — so vivid! Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice would make a close second. I think I would need to read the following books to really sink into the world for that one.

  

  

  

  

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella (will be published in February 2017, review to come!) and Arsenic for Tea (or Poison is Not Polite) by Robin Stevens. Kinsella because she always does, and Stevens because her mystery series is so well-crafted and charming!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2016?

  A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Mara had me at near tears by the end. What a powerful read.

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Geek Girl: Picture Perfect by Holly Smale is the third in the Geek Girl series and it deserves all the attention in the US that it receives in the UK. I love this series! So fun and quirky and perfect chick lit for YA!

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  Me Before You probably. Tears for days.

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2016?

  Buddha in the Attic was told in collective perspective, rather than following one single person’s narrative. It followed countless Japanese women from Japan to America and the various lives they formed shortly before WWII. That form of storytelling is probably the most unique I’ve ever read.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Rebel of the Sands, because I wanted to love it and I didn’t. Not at all. Far from it. I think I’m more disappointed in myself for not enjoying it than I am at the book.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2016? 

  This year I didn’t “discover” new book blogs, but I did meet several bloggers I interact with all the time on Twitter. We would hang out at BEA and see movies and get breakfast and dinner together. Collectively, I was closer to the blogging community that way — but I didn’t discover a new blog. If anything, I became much closer to Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. She is such a remarkable and fun person. I want to travel with her!

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

  My entire Kinsella series was fun to review. That One Time I Binged on Kinsella was fun to write, and I was eager to do a Part II was well.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  If We Were Having Coffee is a good post series I plan to continue doing in 2017. It’s a great way for me to let my bookish guard down and just TALK to you! I hope you enjoy them as much as I love writing them!

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  BEA! It was so much fun reuniting and meeting with so many people — editors, authors, bloggers — in a city near my home. While Book Expo is bound to be different in 2017 (and I’m curious to see how the changes work out), I look forward to this event because it feels like one massive reunion.

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2016?

  In my blogging life, I was thrilled to finally meet Stacey @ Pretty Books! I was in London for about a week in June and we went out for a delicious pizza dinner and shopping at Waterstones. I don’t know if she remembers this at all, but I first followed her on tumblr back when we were both finishing up university. She inspired me to create a book blog, and we’ve been following each other ever since! It was about time we met in person.

  In my bookish life, my best moment by far was Jared Reck’s deal announcement!

  

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  Jared’s deal announcement and my first If We Were Having Coffee post received the most not-book-review views and comments, and Salt to the Sea continuously receives the most views throughout 2016.

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  On Reading Epiphanies was fun to write, and I would’ve loved to discuss it more with other readers! Are there reading habits you’ve lost or picked up since blogging? Since beginning a new job? Since beginning a job in the book industry?

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  Personal book discovery, though completely old hat to Londoners: Daunt Books. OH MY GOD Daunt Books. What a gorgeous bookstore. This is what bookstores should look like always.

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  *laughs hysterically* Oh, boy. I was supposed to read 5 classics this year, and I only read 1. I was supposed to reread 5 books, but I only reread 2. While those were failures, I read 8 of 5 fantasy books, 17 of 12 already-purchased-but-unread books, 20 of 10 library books, and fewer ARCs (only 9 this year). So yes, I over-completed some, and severely undercompleted  others, but I do think overall this was a good reading year!

  

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

  So many series enders, like Winner’s Kiss, and second novels like Outrun the Moon or Like a River Glorious.

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2017 (non-debut)?

  Oh, there are so many! I think even my teen self would agree with my adult self: Sarah Dessen’s next book Once and For All.

  3. 2017 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, which I’ve already started reading. I’m quite looking forward to finishing it!

  

  

  

  

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2017?

  Series Ending: William Ritter’s final Jackaby book!
  Series Sequel: Sparks of Light by Janet B. Taylor

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2017?

  Announce more book deals!

  6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Jared Reck’s A Short History of the Girl Next Door, for obvious (agenting) reasons. As well as Tara Sim’s second in the Timekeeper trilogy (I can’t announce the title yet!). Then there’s Sophie Kinsella’s My Not So Perfect Life coming to stores in February I absolutely ADORED and had trouble maintaining a straight face while reading in public.

  

  ^ I love that scene

  Posted in books, Update Post | 11 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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