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  • Author Archives: Laura

    • 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
    • Favorite Reads of 2022

      Posted at 10:15 am by Laura, on December 29, 2022

      Hello, bookworms! I know it’s been quiet on the blog when it comes to book reviews. It was a busy year at work, and so writing any kind of review on the blog––books I enjoyed reading for fun––fell by the wayside. But I’ve been keeping track over on Instagram, and I am so happy to share that reading for quality instead of quantity the last few years is really paying off! This year was full of four- and five-star books, and below I’m sharing my absolute favorites!

      Empire of Gold || The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue || Part of Your World || The Huntress
      The Book of Gothel || A River Enchanted || Babel

      Over the summer I shared my reviews for the first four books (check it out!). This fall I read the last three, with reviews below. I loved these books to pieces, and I think it’s such a great representation of my reading taste overall. Magical, inspiring, sweeping emotions; hilarious, honest, and real; intriguing, tense, and curious. 

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      Curious about my thoughts? Read the reviews after this break!

      Continue reading →

      Posted in books, Reviews 2022 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, mini review, review
    • Deal Announcement: Annie Cardi, YA Contemporary

      Posted at 2:47 pm by Laura, on December 8, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I am so overwhelmingly thrilled to share the news that Annie Cardi is coming out with a new book, tentatively titled Red! 

      Ardi Alspach at Union Square Kids has bought, in a preempt, YA contemporary novel Red by Annie Cardi (The Chance You Won’t Return). Pitched as a nod to The Scarlet Letter in the #MeToo era, for readers of Speak and Grown, Red follows teenager Tess as her very personal decision goes public and, rejected and harassed, she seeks solace in music and uses her voice to end the cycle of abuse in her small town. Publication is planned for January 2024; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS did the deal for world rights.

      Once upon a time…

      Annie is such a perfect example of resilience and determination in this industry. She debuted in 2014 with The Chance You Won’t Return, represented by another agency. When she was querying for new representation, I read a sweet and fun manuscript of hers back in November 2017. I offered rep, and we’ve been working together since February 2018! We went on submission with two other projects over the years, all the while Annie was brewing a passion project…

      When I first read a sample of Red in summer 2019, I cried. I urged Annie to continue with it, and I was able to read a full manuscript in December 2020. Tess came alive, and Annie was touching upon deep issues that resonate with teens and adults across generations––the healing power of music and community, the toxicity of extremism and propaganda, the comfort and the struggles of religious faith, and (biggest of all) the physical and emotional impact of gaslighting and grooming. It was as if Annie read my soul and was also writing my dream passion project all at once. 

      Submission for this kind of project is extremely difficult. It taps into very heated topics of religion and politics, so I had to be careful with the submission and not take it personally if someone passed. But Ardi read the pitch, read the manuscript, and said to me: Wow. This was incredibly powerful and moving. She and Union Square Kids saw the same depth we did, felt the same gut-punch, and gave us an offer we couldn’t––and wouldn’t!––refuse. 

      And the rest…is history.

      Congratulations, Annie! Everyone, go add Red to your TBR! This is one you don’t want to miss. You will see yourself, a friend, a family member, in Tess. Keep an eye on this one…great things are in store for Annie and Red!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • Deal Announcement: Molly Horan, YA Contemporary

      Posted at 2:04 pm by Laura, on November 15, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I’m thrilled to share that Molly Horan, author of Epically Earnest, has a new book coming out in Fall 2024!

      Lily Kessinger at Clarion has acquired an untitled book by Molly Horan (Epically Earnest), a contemporary YA novel in which 17-year-old Mia accidentally finds herself at the center of her classmates’ drama when her role as the theater club’s unofficial counselor goes public and her advice on life and love becomes a hot commodity, to mixed results. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Laura Crockett at Triada US negotiated the deal for world rights.

      As you can see, this is not Molly’s first book nor is it her first with Triada––but it is our first together! Molly’s agent last year was Elle Thompson, and when Elle left to pursue a career in law (we’re all rooting for her!) I offered to represent Molly’s incredibly voicey YA. I feel very lucky to work with her!

      And boy is this next book full of voice and humor and wit and character (and ace rep!)! Molly’s writing is so snappy and thoughtful and well-paced. I found myself laughing out loud in the opening chapters and nodding along. Swap the drama department for the music department (artsy kids, am I right?), and it’s like being back in high school. There’s a great undercurrent of raw teen emotion…I honestly feel like I’m sixteen again when I read her writing. I feel like I’m Mia.

      Keep your eyes peeled for a cover and title reveal! 

      Congrats, Molly! A second novel is on its way to publication!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • Deal Announcement: Ana Holguin, Romcom

      Posted at 3:49 pm by Laura, on November 8, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I’m over-the-moon excited to share the announcement for the publication of two of Ana Holguin’s novels: a romcom currently titled The Upside to Being Wrong, and a romantic women’s fiction currently titled Music People!

      Ana Holguin’s THE UPSIDE TO BEING WRONG, an enemies-to-lovers romcom about a Latinx Peloton/SoulCycle-esque spin instructor and a skeptical journalist hoping to dig up some dirt for his cover story on her rise to fame; and MUSIC PEOPLE, a romantic women’s fiction about a Latinx film composer who finally gets the her chance to break the industry’s glass ceiling but only if she agrees to work alongside her old music school rival, to Sam Brody at Forever, for publication in spring 2025, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency (world English).

      Once upon a time…

      When Ana queried The Upside to Being Wrong, I knew I stumbled upon the next Abby Jimenez. Though it’s a play on the Peloton/SoulCycle hype, I could definitely get behind it because I’m in a barre studio, and there’s something so wonderfully powerful and exciting being a part of a group like that and quasi-influencer trainers supporting you and leading the way. Throw in a grumpy journalist digging for dirt? Yes please. I was so deeply in love with her adult romance voice that I made an offer of rep for Upside. We had a great conversation on the call and via email about her writing, where she sees herself in the future, what her dream career would look like, and where my own strengths and interests overlap as well.

      And so began our journey into romance submissions. The market is so hard to break into, and many editors were saying they were overwhelmed with romcom submissions so it would take some time. To keep her mind off the submission wheel, Ana then wrote another manuscript. I swear, it was like she took a peek into my head and wrote it just for me, because Music People is such a me-book! Female composers, film/TV composers, the difficulty of a career in music (let alone one within Hollywood), combined with big feels, a large, warm family, and misunderstandings/hate-to-love? Yes yes yes.

      Ana has such a great, engaging voice in her writing, but Upside and Music had two different tones to the narratives. I put that on submission too, pitching it as more women’s fiction. While this was a little tricky to navigate, in the end it all worked out. Sam Brody is the perfect editor to bring Ana’s voicey romances to the world, and Forever is the perfect home for Ana’s books!

      And the rest…is history.

      Congratulations, Ana!! You’re going to be a published author!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • Deal Announcement: Kaitlyn Hill, YA Contemporary

      Posted at 2:51 pm by Laura, on October 7, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I’m so pleased to share that Kaitlyn Hill will be coming out with two more books!

      Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press has bought Wild About You and a second untitled novel by Love from Scratch author Kaitlyn Hill (no relation). In this grumpy-sunshine YA romance, indoorsy theater girl Natalie must team up with surly nature-lover Finn in an Amazing Race-style reality competition show set in the Appalachian wilderness that could earn them a huge college scholarship—if they don’t kill (or kiss) each other first. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.

      With the successful launch of her first book, Love From Scratch, and now six months till book two’s release, Not Here to Stay Friends, Kaitlyn is so excited to round out her “reality TV trilogy” by revisiting a beloved secondary character from LFS and then––gasp!––possibly pivoting and writing other YA contemporary!

      Wild About You is so funny, filled with Kaitlyn’s classic charm and humor, but it also handles mental health extremely well. For me, Natalie is like reuniting with a best friend…or even just a glimpse into my brain and all the ways it hamster-wheels when things don’t turn out the way we expect or hope them to. Toss in Finn, and you’ve got my favorite couple trope: grumpy-sunshine!

      Debut released, another book on its way to publication, and now two more in the pipeline! Congratulations, Kaitlyn!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, MG Contemporary

      Posted at 9:37 am by Laura, on August 22, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I’m thrilled to share the news that Nina’s Join the Club, Maggie Diaz was so loved, Scholastic asked for another book!

      Author of JOIN THE CLUB, MAGGIE DIAZ Nina Moreno’s PACK YOUR BAGS, MAGGIE DIAZ, which follows a seventh grader as she prepares for the school’s spring break trip, while her friends are more excited for the dance and navigating first crushes, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Shelly Romero while at Scholastic, with Tiffany Colon editing, in a nice deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

      We’re so excited to team up with Courtney Lovett again for this next Maggie adventure! Keep your eyes peeled for Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz in Scholastic book fairs very early next year, and on shelves in spring 2023!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • Deal Announcement: Abbey Nash, YA Contemporary

      Posted at 11:11 am by Laura, on July 22, 2022

      dealannouncement

      I’m excited to share the announcement of the publication of Abbey Nash’s YA contemporary romance, Breathing Underwater!

      Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired Breathing Underwater by Abbey Nash, a YA novel about a competitive swimmer whose carefully planned future is threatened by an epilepsy diagnosis just before a national meet. As she struggles with change and uncertainty, an unexpected romance shows her there may be more to life than making plans. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency sold world rights.

      Once upon a time…

      This deal came about in a rather curious and untraditional (for me, at least) way.

      Earlier in 2021, Abbey queried me this compelling and unique project. My husband’s younger sister is a competitive swimmer, and I latched onto this Type A, driven, accomplished character immediately. I felt there was a lot of potential here and requested a revision to address the pacing. Abbey was incredible and edited like a queen, really making the pages turn and the plot propel forward, while keeping the characters engaging and full of depth, warmth, and heart.

      But (shame on me) I was slow to get my butt moving on submissions due to other factors in the industry. And so (kuddos to Abbey) Abbey submitted the manuscript to an open call at Holiday House. Holiday House came back with an offer, and Abbey approached me asking for my thoughts and feedback on the revision and, ultimately, representation and assistance on negotiating the offer. I was excited to dive back into Breathing Underwater, and Abbey and I hopped on the phone to discuss her other project ideas. I want to represent a person for their career, and after chatting with Abbey I knew I wanted to champion her current and future work––YA, adult, contemporary, romcoms, women’s fiction, the whole spectrum, no question!

      So once she signed with me, I began negotiating her offer with Holiday House. And now we have a deal!

      And the rest…is history.

      Abbey’s journey to publication is an incredibly special one! I’m excited to see where it takes us, and I can’t wait for you to meet Tess and Charlie in summer 2024!

      Congratulations, Abbey!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
    • 2022 Favorites: First Half of the Year

      Posted at 2:00 pm by Laura, on June 18, 2022

      Hello, hello! Life is nuts, the world’s on fire, my to-do list grows and grows––but I still manage to find little pockets of time here and there to read for fun. Ever since I started prioritizing my reading for quality over quantity, I’ve really started to hone in on what I truly enjoy. While I’d love to be the kind of person who could read 100 books a year (on top of the reading I already do at work!), it’s definitely nice to be able to end the day or week (or even month, in some cases) with a book that wholly transports me.

      I’ve read 12 books so far. 5 of them were for book clubs, 1 of them a buddy read, 2 read during the flights to and from our honeymoon, 4 of them on my “2022 goals” list to read this year, 2 of them I picked up out of pure curiosity, 3 of them audiobooks. Of this collection, 4 received 5(+) stars! Here are my five-star favorites from January through mid-June! Read after the break to glimpse my mini reviews!

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      Continue reading →

      Posted in books, Reviews 2022 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, mini review, review
    • Deal Announcement: Heather Walter, Fantasy

      Posted at 11:18 am by Laura, on February 16, 2022

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      I’m beyond thrilled to share that Heather Walter’s CRIMSON CROWN will finally be in readers’ hands!

      Author of MALICE and the forthcoming MISRULE Heather Walter’s CRIMSON CROWN, pitched as a Tudor-inspired retelling of the rise of Snow White’s Evil Queen, in which a witch hunted by a zealous king infiltrates the religious faction that seeks to eradicate her kind, and must choose between loyalty to her coven or her heart, to Tricia Narwani at Del Rey, in a good deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2024, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency (world).

      In Heather’s deal announcement post for MALICE, I shared a story about going on submission with Heather’s first project, a Snow White prologue/villain origin story. One editor in particular (spoiler, it was Tricia) resonated with the story, but not enough to make an offer. 

      When MALICE sold to Del Rey, we set CRIMSON aside. But all through edits, launch, writing MISRULE, and MISRULE’s edits, Heather and I kept going back to CRIMSON. It was such a special project for us, and we really wanted to share the Evil Queen’s story someday. What could be done to make it better? What could be done that would make Tricia say yes! again?

      And then Heather emailed me a big what if: what if…this was Anne Boleyn’s story?

      Everything fell into place after that. Reimagining Tudor England into a whole new world was easy with this queer Snow White villain origin tale. I want to gush about literally everything that made this mash-up so perfect, but I don’t want to spoil it for readers. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

      Heather’s editorial experience with her previous books helped reshape our original project together. When I say to clients that books are never shelved completely, this is why. The first manuscript didn’t sell––it simply wasn’t ready––but this sparkling, bloody, witchy, wicked tale that CRIMSON CROWN became, after a few years in a drawer, did. The heart of her remains present, yet I am in awe of how much more elevated and heart-poundingly wonderful it has become!

      Congratulations, Heather!!

      Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
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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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