Category: deal announcement

• Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance

  Posted at 9:33 am by Laura, on December 30, 2025

  

  I am so happy to share (again, on the blog!) the wonderful news that Nina Moreno is returning to YA contemporary romances!

  Carolina Mancheno Ortiz at HarperCollins/Avon A has acquired world rights to The Boyfriend Distribution System by Nina Moreno. The YA novel follows a hopeless romantic, who always finds herself inexplicably and spontaneously falling into a new relationship after the last one ends, and is determined to prove she knows what true love is to her long-time best friend, who may just be “the one.” Publication is planned for winter 2027; Laura Crockett at Triada US brokered the deal.

  Avon A is the upper YA/crossover/New Adult imprint within HarperCollins. This is where Nina has always written for her YAs––only now the industry is making internal changes to suit the market’s interests. In other words, there is now a proper home for these upper/older YA books with crossover appeal and/or set around the college years. What you loved in Nina’s Don’t Date Rosa Santos and Our Way Back to Always will appear here in The Boyfriend Distribution System!

  Ever since her middle grade projects, Nina has been hard at work in trying something new––new genres, new audiences. It has meant trial and error with the project, and a lot of exploration and growth for Nina. I look forward to the day when we’re able to talk about its sale!

  While we were knee-deep in revisions for that project, Carolina approached me wondering if perhaps Nina might still be interested in YA romances. Of course she is! After lots of discussion, brainstorming, and sample writing, we all agreed that The Boyfriend Distribution System should be Nina’s next release! This is so fun, heartwarming, beautiful and thoughtful. Trademark Nina!

  Congratulations and welcome back to YA, Nina!

  (And readers, keep your eyes peeled for this book and fingers crossed for Nina’s current WIP!)

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

• Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy

  Posted at 9:52 am by Laura, on December 29, 2025

  

  I am so happy to share the news (now on the blog) that Sharon Choe‘s debut, The Queen of the Spirit Woods, will be on shelves in Fall 2026!

  Kristie Choi at Atheneum has acquired The Queen of the Spirit Woods and a sequel, a YA debut by Sharon Choe, pitched as The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea meets The Cruel Prince. In this epic YA romantic fantasy inspired by Korean history, a girl who has faked her way into becoming a royal kitchen maid is embroiled in palace intrigue and forbidden love after stumbling into the mysterious Spirit Woods and unwittingly becoming a vessel for 10,000 nature spirits. Publication is set for fall 2026; Laura Crockett at Triada US handled the deal for world rights.

  Sharon is one of those authors whose writing I will follow to the ends of the earth. Poetic, lush, brutally beautiful. She is a woman of many talents, with impressive time management skills. We connected while she was working on her PhD, and now she’s in her postdoc era making waves in her field! We’ve had a project on submission, we’ve revised and resubmitted, we’ve worked on other projects that have now been pulled apart and married with others––she’s so prolific. It just became a matter of finding the right project to launch her into the stratosphere, for others to see what I see in her too.

  Kristie approached me, mentioning that she’d heard through the grapevine of Sharon’s particular brand of prose and style. When the two connected, it was only right that what would come from this conversation became a fantasy duology, the first of which is The Queen of the Spirit Woods. Blending Korean history and folklore with Sharon’s depth of character and gorgeous voice, this is bound to be a success. I can’t wait for you to read it––and to finally get a taste of Sharon’s greatness!

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

   

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

• Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary

  Posted at 9:36 am by Laura, on December 29, 2025

  

  I’m excited to share the news (officially on the blog!) that Hanna’s debut novel, When You Write Back, will become a published book!

  Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has acquired debut author and 2025 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award winner Hanna R. Neier‘s When You Write Back, a middle grade novel written in letters between 12-year-old Ellie and her school-assigned pen pal, Daniel. When Ellie realizes their letters are traveling through time, and that Daniel is a Jewish kid living in 1942 Nazi-occupied Paris, she is determined to save him before time runs out. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Laura Crockett at Triada US brokered the deal for world English rights.

  Hanna and I connected over her adult historical fiction a few years ago. At the time she was firmly in the adult historical space, and we went on wide submission with this incredible novel inspired by true stories and family history. Someday I hope to return to it, but as a year or two went by, Hanna admitted to me that she was interested in middle grade. One of the benefits of being a Triada client is that if the client is interested in a different market or genre than their agent’s forte or wishlist, there’s likely someone else at the agency who could rep the client for that specific project. Though I’m not actively seeking middle grade, I do know the market, the editors, and their wishlists for that space, so I’m happy to continue representing my clients’ projects here. In other words, Hanna and I could continue this partnership as usual!

  We had lots of discussions about the middle grade market, what sells to publishers, how they perform once available to the public, setting our expectations, etc. She took my advice to heart, and also bent the guidelines along the way (*wink* haha! She knows.). I was genuinely very nervous about how this would turn out because middle grade is difficult to sell these days.

  She submitted her draft to the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award judging panel in fall 2024, because why not. She also sent it to me. I read the manuscript and got all teary, it was so beautifully crafted. We had a few tweaks to make here and there, but otherwise I felt it was strong and ready for submission. We just needed to wait for the judges to make their decision, as the rules stipulated the manuscript couldn’t be sent to publishers till after the winner was announced.

  New Year’s Eve 2024, Hanna called, texted, and emailed me in all caps, celebratory emojis, exclamation points, a shaky but happy voice. It was almost like receiving an offer of publication call, only flipped around because I was the one receiving the messages, not delivering them! I called her back and she shared the wonderful news: she won the award!

  And boy did we use that to our advantage for submission! Publishers were interested in her project, and it wasn’t very long until Rachel came forward and spoke so highly of When You Write Back, how it moved her, touched her, spoke to her. I had Rachel and Hanna speak to each other, and everything seemed to click into place. It felt right.

  …and the rest is history!

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

  The Goodreads librarians already have it ready for you to add to your TBR!

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

• Deal Announcement: Lynn D. Jung, Adult Dark Academia

  Posted at 3:24 pm by Laura, on December 26, 2025

  

  A week before Christmas in 2024, I was in the middle of making mince pies while simultaneously negotiating this particular book deal. I’m so pleased to finally announce here on the blog (the news has been live since early 2025) the sale of Lynn D. Jung‘s Mothsblood!

  Lynn D. Jung’s MOTHSBLOOD, set in modern-day Paris, following an ambitious alchemist who must uncover the dark secrets of her university when the murder of an immortal professor forces her to confront the mysterious past she’s trying to escape, pitched for fans of THE STARLESS SEA and NINTH HOUSE, to Kenli Manning at Bloomsbury, in a pre-empt, for publication in fall 2026, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency (NA).

  Lynn D. Jung’s MOTHSBLOOD, to Sam Bradbury at Del Rey UK, with Feranmi Ojutiku editing, in a very nice deal, at auction, for publication in fall 2026, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency (UK Comm). 

  Lynn has her own YouTube channel where she talks about writing and shares her querying, representation, and publishing journey. This video is such a great explanation for how Lynn and I found each other from a writer’s perspective. This video is a neat client perspective on selling Mothsblood to Bloomsbury, and this one is about the auction I held in the UK selling the same project to Del Rey UK. Basically Lynn already said it all!

  But I do want to share a small snippet of an agent’s perspective in all of this. Lynn came to me from a client referral. I trust my clients’ character references and reading taste, and they know mine well too. So when a client tells me to keep an eye out for a particular name and query, I do so. Lynn’s Mothsblood reached my desk and I requested right away. But admittedly, I wasn’t very fast with it––lots of other things were going on at the time taking up my attention (other clients’ manuscripts, submissions, foreign rights).

  So when Lynn shared she had an offer of rep on the table, I pushed everything aside and read it along with my intern. We fell in love, head over heels for this wonderful project, and I threw my hat into the ring! It was exactly the kind of dark academia I was seeking. Lynn and I spoke on the phone and we had a lovely discussion about the manuscript, about Lynn’s expectations for an agent and my expectations for a client (as I knew she was previously represented), about her other WIPs. When she chose me, I was over the moon. I had no doubt in my mind that we’d sell to a wonderful publisher.

  And we did! About 4 or 5 months after securing representation, revising, and going on submission, we sold to Bloomsbury for North American rights. And the first week after the holidays I submitted to the UK for Commonwealth rights, which led to (I was not surprised whatsoever) a rather heated auction in late February. Lynn’s project is so spectacular, I knew it would resonate with readers on both sides of the pond.

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

  Keep your eyes peeled for Mothsblood in Fall 2026!

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

• Deal Announcement: Amber Chen, YA Fantasy

  Posted at 2:03 pm by Laura, on July 11, 2025

  

  I am absolutely overjoyed to share the news that Amber Chen, author of the #1 Sunday Times bestselling duology Of Jade and Dragons and The Blood Phoenix, will be coming out with a brand new duology in fall 2026 and 2027, beginning with An Auction of Souls!

  Kelsey Murphy at Viking has acquired An Auction of Souls by Amber Chen (Of Jade and Dragons), a YA fantasy duology that follows a girl who runs a legendary magical auction house, whose life is upended after a stranger shows up wanting to sell a soul. She must embark on a dangerous journey with two Hell guardians to save her grandmother and unravel the mystery of the soul—before hell is literally set loose on earth. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Laura Crockett at Triada US negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.

  A few years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing the manuscript that became Of Jade and Dragons. I remember thinking how great it was, too. Though I did not offer representation at the time, Amber was an author whose career I wanted to follow. Her manuscript stuck with me. I’m not sure if other agents feel this way, but there are a few authors out there whose work I’ve read at the querying stage (and enjoyed but passed) who have great careers now, and it makes me smile to see them thriving with their agent. I don’t necessarily see it as a missed opportunity for passing on their projects or not offering rep (or offering rep and not being selected)––because I truly, firmly believe they are with their perfect agent match.

  But sometimes things happen in publishing and the author needs to seek new rep. I was so happy to have been on Amber’s radar still, and when I saw the premise and sample of An Auction of Souls as well as some other project ideas in the works, I knew I needed to work with her. I wasn’t going to let this second chance pass me by!

  …and the rest is history!

  Congratulations, Amber! And if you haven’t already, add An Auction of Souls to your TBR!

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

• Deal Announcement: Chloe Gong, YA Dystopian

  Posted at 1:46 pm by Laura, on July 11, 2025

  

  I am extremely delayed in sharing this news on the blog, but still so very excited to share the news that Chloe Gong’s YA dystopian trilogy, beginning with COLDWIRE, will be publishing in Fall 2025, 2026, and 2027!

  Sarah McCabe at McElderry Books has acquired Coldwire by Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights), the first in a YA dystopian trilogy. It’s set in the near future where life has moved to virtual reality, following an ousted corporate soldier racing to clear her name of treason alongside the enemy who is truly guilty. Publication is set for fall 2025; Laura Crockett at Triada US did the high six-figure deal for North American rights.

  Readers outside the US, rejoice! Hodderscape acquired the rights for UK Commonwealth, and it will also be translated into Portuguese (in Brazil and in Portugal), German, Polish, and Spanish. Hopefully more languages to come!

  The wonderful news was announced publicly in June 2024, but actually this deal was negotiated way back in July 2023. I was in the beginning stages of addressing my burnout, and was [admittedly] so nervous about pitching a dystopian, science fiction project…and a trilogy to boot. That genre and that series format is so immensely, indescribably difficult to break into and convince a publisher to acquire, to take that risk and commit. But Chloe, Sarah, and I managed to make the magic happen, and we are so beyond thrilled to be at the head of this dystopian revival in YA literature! It’s amazing how much can change in two summers.

  Check out all the ways you can preorder COLDWIRE by visiting Chloe’s website!

  Congratulations, Chloe!!!

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

• Deal Announcement: Crystal Seitz, YA Fantasy

  Posted at 4:52 pm by Laura, on December 12, 2024

  

  I am absolutely overjoyed to share the news that Crystal Seitz, author of debut Inheritance of Scars, will be coming out with two new YA standalones, beginning with Beast Becomes Her!

  Sarah McCabe at McElderry Books has bought Crystal Seitz’s (Inheritance of Scars) next YA fantasy, Beast Becomes Her, and an untitled standalone in a six-figure, two-book deal. Pitched as an exploration of feminine rage and toxic masculinity via Wednesday meets Stalking Jack the Ripper with a Norse myth spin, the novel follows Edith, who is sent to Skallagrim Academy to be among berserkir like herself. But when a student is attacked, and a handsome huntsman suspects Edith is behind it, Edith must set out to prove her innocence and avoid the hunter’s crosshairs or become the killer’s next victim. Publication is set for spring 2026; Laura Crockett at Triada US sold North American rights.

  You could say Crystal and I were in each other’s orbits for a while. A few years ago she had queried me what became Inheritance of Scars. I’d read a sample of it and saw a lot of promise. She found representation elsewhere, and was able to sell the project to Sarah McCabe at S&S Children’s McElderry imprint. But between the sale and the time to turn in option materials (next project for publisher consideration), Crystal and the agent had parted ways.* When Crystal asked Sarah for agent recommendations, Sarah provided a list––and my name was on it!

  I am so thrilled I was one of Sarah’s suggestions, because within a day of Crystal sending the proposal materials to me I knew I wanted to represent Crystal for her career. She learned so much on her journey with Inheritance, and Beast Becomes Her is just SO feminist and angsty and full of rage and commentary on toxic masculinity and UGH YES, and seeing the pitches of her other WIPs (works in progress) made me so excited for all the possibilities of her career. We clicked on the offer call, and as they say…the rest is history!

  Add Beast Becomes Her to your TBR, and getting into the wintery spirit of the season by purchasing Inheritance of Scars!

  * This is the nature and truth of the business. Sometimes the author and agent grow apart creatively. Sometimes the author and agent struggle to communicate or they want different things. I’ve lost a few clients for these reasons, and almost a third of my clients were previously represented elsewhere before our partnership. Seeking new representation is quite common! I’m sharing this because I want others who may be in a similar boat to know that you’re not alone if you find yourself seeking new representation. At the end of the day, you want an agent––your advocate and business partner––who is not only excited and passionate about the subjective, artistic, creative material you’ve produced, but is also on the same page as you in regards to supporting and strategizing your career. I am glad Crystal queried me again!

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

• Deal Announcement: Annie Cardi, YA Contemporary

  Posted at 10:39 am by Laura, on December 12, 2024

  

  I’m happy to share that Annie Cardi, author of the powerfully moving novel Red, will have another equally urgent and powerful novel coming out in 2026: Winter White!

  Ardyce Alspach at Union Square Kids has acquired Annie Cardi’s (Red) next retelling, Winter White. This YA adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, centered around domestic abuse and the opioid epidemic, follows a teen girl living in rural Maine with her domineering father. When a boy from her past reappears, she finds solace in his kindness and strength in his help as she uncovers the mystery of her identity. Publication is slated for early 2026; Laura Crockett at Triada US Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.

  After Red‘s publication, Annie’s publisher expressed interest in seeing more classic retellings, and Annie was happy to oblige. We created a massive list of ideas, with summaries and pitches and (in some cases) whole outlines for different classic narratives paired with modern issues and topics that teens face daily. The publisher narrowed it down, and then Annie followed her gut from those options and wrote a proposal for the project that most interested her and she felt most passionate about.

  I’m so glad Ardyce and Union Square agreed! Winter White is going to be a balm for teens within and adjacent to similar circumstances. Edits are currently underway, and I’ve already been moved to tears. This is gonna be a great book, friends––keep your eyes peeled!

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

• Deal Announcement: Laura E. Weymouth, Adult Fantasy

  Posted at 10:56 am by Laura, on December 11, 2024

  

  I’m thrilled to share––even belatedly––that the wonderful Laura E. Weymouth is finally publishing her adult magnum opus: the Daughters of Light duology containing The Castle & the Cloister and The Starlight & the Flame!

  YA author Laura E. Weymouth’s adult debut THE CASTLE & THE CLOISTER and THE STARLIGHT & THE FLAME, a political duology following a wet nurse, a pacifist queen, and a warrior priest as they attempt to alter the fate of a continent shattered by war, pitched for fans of PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE and the Farseer trilogy, to Nivia Evans at Saga Press, in a very nice deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2026, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency (NA). UK rights to Kate McHale at Del Rey UK, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal.

  As I shared in the YA deal announcement, Laura and I have danced around one another for years, and to finally be able to work with her and bring this special project to shelves is an absolute dream come true for both us. I’m excited for you to read it! Add The Castle & the Cloister to your TBR shelves!

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

• Deal Announcement: Laura E. Weymouth, YA Fantasy

  Posted at 2:37 pm by Laura, on June 6, 2024

  

  I am so excited to share (albeit a little belated!) that Laura E. Weymouth is coming out with a new YA fantasy, Steel & Spellfire!

  Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books has acquired Laura E. Weymouth’s (The Voice Upstairs) next YA fantasy, Steel & Spellfire, pitched for fans of Divine Rivals and The Witch Haven. A gifted mage with clandestine romantic connections to a Royal Guard joins the court social season in an attempt to undo past wrongs, only to fall under suspicion when a creature with powers like her own begins slaughtering her fellow debutantes. Publication is set for summer 2025; Laura Crockett at Triada US did the deal for North American rights.

  Laura is no stranger to publishing, nor to our agency. But I am elated to represent her and her work. She has such a gorgeous way of writing fantasy worlds with compelling characters that grip your heart. Steel & Spellfire is no different!

  Funny story, though. Years and years ago, in the early days of my career, Laura had queried me a much earlier version of this project. There was a nugget of something there, something intriguing. Over time Laura honed her skills and grew in her craft. To be reunited with this project is such a joy––to see how far the project and Laura have come is a true pleasure as an agent.

  (I’ve seen the cover on this one. Friends, you’re gonna love it!)

  Add Laura’s Steel & Spellfire to your TBR and stay tuned for more news to come!

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

• 

• 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 travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

• Search the Blog

  Search for:

• Currently Reading

  

• Book Review Rating Key

  ★★★ — It’s good
  ★★★★ — It’s great
  ★★★★★ — OMG LOVE!!!

• Recent Posts

  • MSWL for 2026
  • Favorite Reads of 2025
  • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance
  • Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary