Category: Update Post

• Top Five Books of 2015

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on December 20, 2015

  

  The most difficult post: selecting five fantastic books from the 66, as of December 20th, I read this year! Thankfully, the season rewind helped me narrow down my favorites from the year even further.

  

  

  

  A Madness So Discreet || Daughter of the Forest || Into the Dim

  A MADNESS SO DISCREET by Mindy McGinnis is, by far, the best YA book I read this year. Historically set, a close analyzation of mental illness and suffrage, and a thrilling mystery throughout. Also? No romance. YA can be successful without romance, folks.

  DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier because I can’t get enough of Marillier and she needs to be on every top list ever ever ever.

  INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor is not available to the public yet (not till March!), nor have I posted a review for it yet (not till February!), but wow. This was the answer to a YA Outlander, with a more scientific/less-fantasy spin.

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky || The Royal We

  UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee grabbed me from the very first line. Simply written, an unusual (“unusual” in that it’s rarely written about) point in American history, with a variety of characters and backgrounds. An absolute joy to read — and I can’t wait to read Lee’s future work!

  THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is purely my candy choice. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it was an immediate winner for this royal-phile. You could call it my guilty pleasure, if you want. I loved it.

  Honorable mentions: The Lake House by Kate Morton, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

  Which books made it to your Top Books of 2015 list?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, top five books

• December Hiatus

  Posted at 5:55 am by Laura, on December 2, 2015

  

  Never fear — I will be back! You will see so many posts with January releases I’m excited about, the Seasonal Rewind, Top Five Books of 2015, Secret Santa, and the End of Year Book Survey. But because it will be silent on the blog for most of December, I wanted to let you know why.

  December was always a crazy month in my life. Since childhood, December is the month packed with Christmas concerts — performing in, attending, or organizing. The entire week leading up to Christmas is blocked with rehearsals and parties and concerts on that front. It’s the most magical time of year! (And the perfect excuse to listen to Nutcracker over and over and over and over…)

  But this December will be extra busy. I will be overseas for the first two weeks. With limited access to internet, it’ll be pretty hard for me to blog and/or promote posts. I’ll do my best to keep up with you on Twitter, but even that might be a bit touch-and-go.

  Bloggers: I will see you soon! Can’t wait to chat books, be nostalgic about the great reads from 2015, and gear up for a fantastic 2016!!

  Querying Writers: You will receive an automated response if you email me, but I’ll reiterate here as well.

  • If you send a query between December 3 and December 15, I will respond to your query by December 23 if I wish to read more. If you have not received a response by December 23, I’m afraid it’s an automatic decline.
  • If you wish to wait till I can respond to emails, I suggest querying me December 16 on to receive a guaranteed response. In other words, business as usual.
  • NOTE: Please do not re-query.

  Have a wonderful December, everyone! Will see you in a few weeks!

  Posted in agenting, books, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged personal

• Book Buying Habits

  Posted at 9:37 am by Laura, on November 2, 2015

  In lieu of an Advance Excitement at a Glance post for November*, I wanted to discuss one particular book buying habit I’ve formed over the past few years. Some might say it’s an addiction, others a compulsion. I personally think it’s a product of working at a bookstore + a literary agency + blogging all happening roughly at once. Nice discounts, free ARCs, and the need to share enthusiasm with the world. Alexa talked about this before, how once she entered the blogging world her book-buying habits amped up.

  Well, I’ve definitely noticed this issue in my own home. You know you have a problem when your TBR bookcase is starting to double-spine and double-stack. It’s like solving a really difficult Tetris puzzle when trying to cram one more newly acquired book on there.

  

  There’s a word for that. “Tsundoku” is a Japanese word for books you buy but don’t read. I’d like to point out that I do read books off my TBR bookcase, but the number packed in there is roughly a book a day for about a year.

  Why do I buy so many books?

  Because the jackets promise greatness? I don’t know! I think a large part of my compulsive buying has to do with my knowledge of the industry. The whole “when you see it, buy it” philosophy in retail rings so true with bookstores. Unless it’s constantly selling as front- or mid-list, the majority of new releases will end up in back-list and have to be ordered online or from the warehouse. I don’t want to do that. Call me lazy, call me crazy, but I do not like waiting for books!

  

  Swap “presents” for “books” and that’s me in a nutshell.

  But why do I buy books when I know I don’t have the space for them? It’s not easy for me to part with books, read or unread. If I don’t enjoy a purchased book enough to keep it, I automatically donate it or resell it. The books I keep are ones I want to read again, books that meant something to me at a certain time in my life. They’re like photo albums: full of memories. So when an unread book is on my bookcase, I’ve already read enough reviews about it, read the jacket enough throughout the year to confirm my potential enjoyment, that I have difficulty weeding those out, too.

  (Hmm…I really ought to join Alexa and Hannah’s Picky Pledge. Or adopt Kelly’s TBR Culling method.)

  Why do I collect editions?

  Many of you already know I collect Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and all the Austen novels. I’ve started collecting Kate Morton, The Night Circus, Laini Taylor, and Anne Blankman as well. When a book means something to me — I love the series, I enjoyed the writing, I read it at a time when I absolutely needed that book — I will look up other editions. If any of them are attractive, I tend to start buying them and creating lists. It just…happens.

  

  Brontës and Austen are classics. They’re brilliant works of fiction, and each mean something to me that other classics do not. And because they’re classics, there are new editions from every publisher imaginable all the time! If I’m on the hunt for an excellent hardcover, a rare copy, a particular imprint, or a unique printing of one with illustrations, I will turn it into a game when I walk into bookstores (chain, used, rare, independent): which edition will I find today?

  Recent publications with varying focus. Sometimes publishers have such different ideas on what the cover of a book should look like that I can’t help but agree with all of them. Night Circus is an excellent example of this. The hardcover and paperback US editions are different from one another, but still have that black, white, and red theme. Look at the covers around the world and they all carry that color scheme, but focus on different aspects of the story, while still using a paper-doll-esque look. It’s so intricate and exquisite! I want them all!

  Harry Potter. Need I say more? There are so many cool editions from all over the world! My bank account would cry if I collected them all, so I mostly stick to US and UK editions of anniversary sets, cool covers, or neat illustrations.

  What about galleys and completed copies?

  My purchasing habit when it came to reading an eARC was rather simple: if I really enjoyed it, I would buy the physical copy when it came out. About half the eARCs I’ve read ended up on my bookcases. That’s a lot of hardcovers!

  But what about physical ARCs? I came across this issue shortly after attending BEA. Several of the galleys weren’t in their final editing stages, so having the final copy would be great. But then again, the essence of the story is still there, galley or barcoded copy. Why not save money and keep the galley as is, start a collection of that (in a weird way)? Then again, support the author and buy the finished copy, right?

  

  HELP!

  What do you do after you’ve read an ARC, galley or digital? Do you even buy the final edition at all? If you buy the final edition, do you wait another year or so for the paperback? Or, if you’re even more of a bargain hunter, do you wait to find it in a used bookstore or at a heavily discounted price? (Can you tell I’m trying to figure out what I should do with my galley ARCs? *wink*)

  What do you do?

  How do you make your purchasing decisions? Do we share similar buying habits? Are our thought processes similar or vastly different? Leave a comment and share your thoughts! Part of me wants to know I’m not the only one, and part of me wants to fling myself into another’s method to form a new and healthier purchasing habit!

  

  *In case you were interested, I’m looking forward to the publication of Da Vinci’s Tiger, Dangerous Lies, and Until We Meet Again. Have you read these? Which books are you looking forward to in November?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 7 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book hoarding, books, bookshelves, discussion, personal

• Flipping Through the Pages: Summer Rewind 2015

  Posted at 8:35 am by Laura, on October 1, 2015

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  Happy birthday to Harry Potter! I’m not a Funko Pop collector at all, but when I saw him (and Voldemort), I couldn’t help myself. Also, Amanda got married! Here she is in all her stunning, prairie fairy glory, dancing with her father. Late in September, my mother and I went on a trip around Oregon together. This particular shot is from Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport.

  Life Highlights

  While I could go on and on about the wonderful things that happened this summer (Amanda’s beautiful wedding, being featured in Writer’s Digest, my first anniversary with TriadaUS, traveling to Oregon with Mom for a mother-daughter trip), the best and most wonderful thing ever was receiving the most perfect surprise from my amazing friends. They raised money to help fund a trip to England so that I could see the British Beau before June 2016!

  It was a complete surprise. On Wednesday nights, my med school friend and I get together to study (her) and read manuscripts (me) at Starbucks — creatively called Starbucks Wednesdays. When I showed up on September 2nd, I was surprised to find a couple of our friends there as well. “We have something to give you.” They handed me a fat envelope filled with money and cards and letters of love, including one from British Beau. Obviously I burst into tears and made a scene (of joy! OF JOY!). We had to leave and take a walk on a nearby trail so that I could process this. My family knew about it, the beau knew about it, and I was completely overwhelmed. The next day, I booked my flights for a December visit.

  I can’t thank them enough. Hugs and kisses to all!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Shut Up & Dance (With Me) by Walk the Moon. Do I really need a reason? It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in, I will dance to this song anywhere at any time. Plus, the video is super cool.

  Hannah and Maggie’s The Land & the Sea, or really anything by them that crops up when I listen to Spotify. They remind me of The Wailin’ Jennys.

  Thunder by Jessie J is an excellent shout-and-dance, blast-your-eardrums-out song. Add to your running playlist!

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. Slut-Shaming, Relationships, and Feminism in YA @ Bookmark Lit — Lauren wrote an excellent post on the difficulties of being a feminist (especially agreed with the line about objectification and feeling hypocritical), and portraying feminism and sexism realistically in YA literature. Girls are bullied and harassed on a daily basis, but when does it become too much in the span of a book? Can characters really learn quickly the consequences of their actions? Do authors need to spell things out? Give this great post a read!
  2. How to Manage Your TBR Like a Boss @ Belle of the Literati — I’m just gonna say it: Kelly really is the TBR Boss of TBR Bosses. She’s ruthless. She’s the Marie Kondo of TBR bookcases and Goodreads lists. If you need to tidy up your TBR, look no further. Kelly’s got your back.
  3. Reconstructing the Victorians @ Clarissa Harwood — Shortly after the Vox article appeared, about a couple living life as if they were Victorians, one of my clients discussed the extremes in reactions to it as well as the couple’s lifestyle. An interesting read for anyone who read the article and/or are interested in the Victorian era.
  4. Perception, Reality, and Our Super Reader Community @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie, like Hannah, always has some of the best discussion posts. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, in which Jamie discusses the echo chamber of the blogging community. Are we all reading the same things, and whether or not we are, are bloggers discouraged from promoting a book because “the author already has a lot of buzz”? The situation works in reverse as well, with books “lesser known” in the blogging community. Buzz is buzz, and every little bit helps an author. As Jamie said, the community doesn’t reflect sales. It’s the enthusiasm. Give this a read!
  5. A Brief History of Dickens Bashing @ Journal of Victorian Culture Online — Along those same lines, how do we perceive authors and/or their works now or from the past? Emily Bowles discusses all the good things Dickens revealed in his work, his social contributions and the positive things he did for Victorian society, juxtaposed with his rather sordid personal life. How do we judge an author: by their lifestyle, by their deeds, by their work? How does it alter our perception of them/their work? A post for nerds!

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. Top Ten Tuesday: Hyped Books I’ve Never Read — This was posted before Go Set a Watchman came out. And I think that’s what did me in…
  2. Book Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik — Uprooted was an excellent and unique fantasy. I read this shortly after all the major buzz hit newspapers and magazines, after several bloggers read and flailed over it.
  3. Top Ten Tuesday: Take My Money! — One of my favorite TTTs, featuring authors I will follow to the ends of the earth. As I wrote the post I had difficulty stopping at ten! Automatic buys, all of them.
  4. Book Review: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy — No surprise here that this was a hit post. Dumplin’ deserves all the attention. I cannot get enough of this book, and apparently neither can you!

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon ★★★★

  The Lake House by Kate Morton (review to come!)

  Beastly Bones by William Ritter ★★★★

  Dumplin‘ by Julie Murphy ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  “Mom, I feel good.” My voice starts out even and calm.
  “This dress makes me feel like someone I didn’t know I could be.
  I’ve never owned anything like it. But if when you see this —
  when you see me — you think it’s a pity, that it’s a shame
  I didn’t lose a few, then screw you, Mom. Try harder.”
  —Dumplin’, by Julie Murphy

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 6 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency || Emma
  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? || The Girl With the Glass Bird
  Murder is Bad Manners
  

  #ReRead2015: 3 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl
  Anna and the French Kiss

  Overall Challenge: 53 / 60*
  *yes! I up’d my challenge another 10 books!

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Poldark. If you didn’t watch it, do so now. It’s like Outlander and Downton Abbey had a baby in Cornwall and this masterpiece arrived.

  On Film: After finishing Gilmore Girls, it felt strange not having a show or movie to turn to to ease out of a constant marathon. When this happens, I turn to either 10 Things I Hate About You, Love Actually, or About Time. This summer, it was About Time. (I love it so much, I dedicated a whole blog post over on Lindsey’s blog!)

  In the Shopping Bag: Oh, ModCloth. I caved and broke my buying ban. Whenever they send out sales emails, I’m suckered in. Thankfully that meant snagging the best cardigan on the planet (I’m wearing it now!) and my new favorite purse!

  Miscellaneous: That coloring book craze everyone is into these days (as if art therapy was never a thing) piqued my curiosity. But I didn’t want to buy a coloring book if I wasn’t going to devote time to it. Andi @ Andi’s ABCs offered a solution: Colorfy app! Free, fun, like a coloring book but for your phone! // In the midst of my Gilmore Girls replacement, I was looking for something to watch or listen to while taking a break from agenting. British Beau offered some BBC Radio 4 shows (Book of the Week, Book at Bedtime, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, The Infinite Monkey Cage). Nerdtastic, which means it’s up your alley, too. // Whittard tea. DIVIIIIIIINE. Oh my gosh. Toss all other tea out the window. (Also, thank you to British Beau! What a life-changer.)

  Looking Towards the Future

  Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, there are plenty of things to look forward to October through December! First, I’ll be attending the Indiana Writing Workshop again this year in late October. November is Thanksgiving, which is always excellent because the house smells wonderful and family comes to town! Now December…December wins everything. I’ll start off the month in England visiting the British Beau, come back to a flurry of Christmas concerts and activities, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s — it’ll be the best December ever!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 7 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2015

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on July 1, 2015

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  Meeting Jenny Han at her book launch party in Brooklyn for PS I Still Love You was definitely the perfect launch into BEA. Also, I’m featuring this food post because ohmygod it was delicious. I ate breakfast for lunch (during lunch hour, so it’s technically not brunch, right?) with my friend Evan and his girlfriend at Another Broken Egg. Not quite pictured: a pancake I also devoured. YUM. Finally, a photo that’s still getting a lot of attention on instagram: my summer reading list!

  Life Highlights

  In the last week of April, I met five spectacular authors. Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad, Wicked Folly), Trisha Leaver (The Secrets We Keep), Shannon Lee Alexander (Love and Other Unknown Variables), and Lisa Aldin (One of the Guys) came to the bookstore for signings.

  Now, it may not be in my personal life, but I’d definitely say the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge ranked as a pretty good highlight. *waves English flag*

  At the end of May, I traveled back to Virginia to see Lindsey and she, Ashley, and I went to BEA! We met loads of bloggers, made contacts in the industry, and gathered several books. I’m so glad I finally got to experience BEA first hand, and I’m looking forward to Chicago next year. Lindsey and I capped off the trip by attending a beach concert and seeing Andy MacMahon (and it was on the date of our official friendiversary! May 30th was the day we first emailed each other about our guest blog posts (here and here)).

  In June I signed my first contract to have one of my authors publish a book! Be on the lookout for Tara Sim’s Timekeeper in Fall 2016!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Every time I hear Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson I think of one of my friends rocking out in his car so hard it shook. Now we run around like crazy kids, hopping up and down during the chorus and belting out the lyrics.

  Better Than Words by One Direction, because ever since Lindsey showed me this video (1:30) I can’t help but crack up and squeal in a disgustingly tweeny fashion.

  Really, the entire Mumford & Sons album. I was concerned, but I should know by now to trust those men. I can still speed down the highway with their music.

  Signs by Brett Eldridge. Or, again, the entire album.

  Raised by a Good Time by Steven Lee Olsen has a story behind it, a connection to my agenting. One of my authors has a wonderfully tense and heartbreaking YA Southern fiction manuscript, and this song reminds me of the male protagonist…if he had a better upbringing, that is. It fits his “would have been” character so well.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  There was a lot I enjoyed these last few months, bookish and not so bookish…

  1. 2015 Bookish Trends @ Love at First Page — Danielle talks about cover design trends in 2015. I’ve also seen more drawn artwork/typeface, a la Fangirl, and I’ve really liked that too.
  2. “Time Travel To” Feature @ Alexa Loves Books, So Obsessed With, and Belle of the Literati — These three ladies decided to transport readers through time by showcasing some of their favorite books written in/about a certain historical time period, and sharing books they plan to read as well. Alexa covers romantic Regency England, Hannah the American Civil War, and Kelly the exciting Tudor England.
  3. Matching songs to books with #UKYADay: Taylor Swift Meets UKYA @ Pretty Books and Tunes & Tales: Four @ Alexa Loves Books — Stacey’s post focuses solely on Taylor Swift songs and which books they’d go well with, while Alexa’s post was inspired by One Direction’s news (*sobs*) and thus 1D songs.
  4. Why I Won’t Stop Taking Pictures of my ARCs @ Lily’s Book Blog — What an interesting read. I used to think, years ago, that the mark of a great blogger meant how many ARCs you received from publishers. And while that’s a great asset to have, that’s not what blogging is about.
  5. Tune in Tonight: Belle @ So Obsessed With — BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T KNOW THIS ALREADY, BELLE IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER EVER EVER. And I died when I saw Hannah’s post.
  6. Four Bookish Blogs I’ve Added to My Reader Recently @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie discusses blogging friendships coming and going, the community and culture, and features four blogs (Scribbles & Wanderlust included!) she’s added to her to-visit list.
  7. 5 Classics I Want to Read Before August 1 @ LvsBks — Ashley was inspired by the BEA trip to revitalize her blog, and what better way than to discuss classics she plans to reread or discover in the summer. What are your favorite classics?
  8. Let’s Discuss Little House @ So Obsessed With and Little House Lit @ Alexa Loves Books — If you haven’t caught on yet, Hannah and Alexa have the best discussion posts. Seriously. Plus, Little House is what my mother lives and breathes. I couldn’t hide from this discussion.
  9. The Status of All Things: It’s Complicated @ Rather Be Reading — Estelle makes some excellent observations about online identities becoming a brand, how sometimes your online identity prevents you from sharing other aspects of yourself, and how we rely so much on technology we forget about living in the moment with friends and family.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. The Accidental April Book Haul — April was nuts. Absolutely nuts. Not only did I have a billion ARCs to read, but I accidentally won galleys, received books from editors, purchased books with my tax return…It was quite a lot, and apparently worth sharing!
  2. Stepping Back for the Summer — As a result of April madness, I decided to step back and read all those backlist titles I own. Several of you are doing the same thing, either with book-buying bans, stepping back from ARCs, or just plain reading what’s already on your TBR shelves.
  3. First Book Expo America Experience — Instead of gushing about what I did, I wanted to share my expectations, the reality, and the small (compared to others) book haul I gathered from the event. First BEA = success!
  4. Book Review: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan — I can definitely see why this was popular. The book’s publication was timed perfectly with the Duke and Duchess’s wedding anniversary and birth of Princess Charlotte. Also, come on, the book was awesome.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan ★★★★★

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman ★★★★★

  A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.
  –Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

  I wasn’t faerie, but I was part of this earth, and the earth was a part of me,
  and I’d be content to dance upon it for the rest of my life.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?
  —Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

  Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.
  –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 6 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency || Emma
  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? || The Girl With the Glass Bird
  Murder is Bad Manners
  

  #ReRead2015: 3 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl
  Anna and the French Kiss

  Overall Challenge: 42 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Gilmore Girls — WHY DIDN’T I WATCH THIS WHEN IT AIRED. I mean, really. If I were to leave a note to my YA self, I’d tell her to listen to Audrey and Mrs. A and watch Gilmore Girls. And I’m in that lovely middle age between Rory and Lorelai that I can appreciate all ends of the drama and love and laughter. As I’m typing this, I’m in the first third of the 6th season, so no spoilers! (Feel free to follow #LauraWatchesGG.)

  On Film: Far From the Madding Crowd was amazing. It’s hard to adapt Thomas Hardy novels, and this movie nailed it. Perfect score, brilliant cinematography, stunning costumes, and fantastic acting. I knew Carey Mulligan would be wonderful (I’ve got such a girl crush on her), but toss in those British men and wow Matthias Schoenaerts and I was a goner. Where’s my Gabriel Oak? Seriously. Let’s cover some hay stacks together.

  In the Shopping Bag: *snort* Nothing. I have to avoid my usual haunts (ModCloth, Book Depository, BookOutlet, Abe Books, Target, Etsy) because I’m on an everything-except-necessities-buying ban.

  Miscellaneous: Adagio’s Harry Potter Tea. Guys, this is amazing. Stina is amazing. She showed up to the Jennifer Niven event with a bag filled with different kinds of tea (including a chocolate tea!) and I’m still excited about it. They’re delicious, distinct flavors, and they come in really neat tins that I fully plan on keeping.

  Looking Towards the Future

  There’s really only one massive event for July through September, and that’s my childhood friend Amanda’s wedding. Apart from that, there are some neat events going on at my B&N, including an Outlander Day and Harry Potter Day. September is also the kick-off for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s 30th Anniversary season, and as VP of the Alumni Association I have to help coordinate some alumni events surrounding that.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Deal Announcement: Tara Sim, YA Historical Fantasy

  Posted at 9:24 am by Laura, on June 20, 2015

  

   

  Deal Announcements feature my most recent deal as an agent and the story behind it. Writers and readers should experience how an agent knows when they’ve struck gold and sign an author, the beginning of the journey to publication.

  I’m excited to finally announce the publication of Tara Sim‘s Timekeeper trilogy!

  In a deal at Skyhorse Publishing’s children’s imprint, Sky Pony Press, Alison Weiss bought world rights to Tara Sim’s debut LGBTQ steampunk trilogy, the Timekeeper. The three-book deal was brokered by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency. The series, set in an alternate Victorian era in which time in each city is controlled by a clock tower, follows teenage prodigy clock tower mechanic Danny. Hoping to save his father, who is trapped in a town outside of London, Danny is also battling a force seeking to destroy all of the towers and stop time. The first book in the series is slated for fall 2016.

  Tara’s story is much longer than mine, but I’m still compelled to share it. It’s not only the first deal I’ve made in my career as an agent, but I also think writers should see an agent’s side of the story. Writers should want an agent to cheer them on 100% from the very beginning.

  Once upon a time . . .

  One early November day, I received Tara’s query. I quickly deduced what kind of book it was — historical fantasy — without her having to state the genre repeatedly: “Set in an alternate Victorian era” (historical fiction, steampunk vibes) and “[Danny’s] apprentice was not a boy but the clock spirit” (gay romance). But what intrigued me was the concept of time. Clocks control time? Literally? Okay. Sure. Let’s see what she’s got.

  Guys, I was sucked in.

  I begged for her to send me the full manuscript, as my requested sample chapters weren’t enough. It was Thanksgiving Day when I read it, and I didn’t want to stop and catch up with my family. No, I wanted to read about Danny and his predicament, about his forbidden relationship with Colton, about the mysterious and heart-pounding bombings across England, making their way to Enfield / Colton’s tower. It was all I could talk about at the dinner table, this manuscript I was reading by this brilliant writer.

  I talked about it so much that day it left an impression. Come Christmas my family asked about the book again. “Did you sign her? Is she your author now?” Believe me, everyone, I was ecstatic to say yes, Tara was my author. She called me a few days prior to accept my offer of representation, so you can say it was a great Christmas gift.

  And the rest . . . is history.

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

  Posted in agenting, deal announcement, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, personal, Tara Sim

• First Book Expo America Experience

  Posted at 5:30 am by Laura, on June 6, 2015

  

  Part of me wants to dedicate this post to Jenny Han, because her launch party for PS I Love You the night before BEA really kicked off the whole experience in a good place.

  Over the years, I’ve watched the BEA phenomenon from all facets of the industry — from publishers on twitter, bloggers chatting online, to grad school friends coming back from NYC with dents in their shoulders. BEA was the Con of Cons for book nerds, and I’ve heard all sorts of stories, good and bad, that prepped me for my first trip last week.

  To see how my experience went, feel free to browse #LCsurvivesNYC

  

  Lines. Galleys everywhere. Crowded. Crazy awesome. Crazy overwhelming. Impossible to find food and water. Grabby hands. Biting mouths. Pushing. You’re-screwed-without-a-plan mentality. Sore feet. Aching back. Confusing layout. Amazing authors. Highly anticipated books. Big announcements. Night parties. Lots of time with others. What happens at BEA stays at BEA.

  In short, it sounded intense and wild, almost like sensory overload for this introvert. It’s not hard to be excited about books, especially when everyone else surrounding you is just as thrilled, but I wasn’t sure if I could handle that kind of rush for three days in a row in a city that’s never appealed to me in the first place.

  So what did I do?

  I made a plan! 

  • First thing’s first: food. I cannot travel anywhere without having a billion snacks on hand. I brought four quart-sized bags (one for each day + emergency pack) of goodies that included to-go applesauce, to-go peanut butter cups, chewy bars, and gummy bears.
  • Feet. I work in retail part time, so my feet know what it’s like to work nearly 40 hours a week constantly moving and standing. This wasn’t a huge concern for me, but I did want to wear something that could withstand BEA as well as the NYC sidewalks and subway.
  • Galleys. To prevent a billion galleys shoved my way that wouldn’t be read, I created a spreadsheet of books to look for (based on pub dates, information from imprints about author signings, BEA announcements about galley drops, etc). The sheet was then color-coded by level of importance (MUST HAVE to GRAB IF SEEN to MEH YOU CAN PASS) and arranged by booth number, with notes about signings and drop dates. Pretty soon I had it nearly memorized. Clearly five of those books were super important to me if I was able to memorize them.
  • Learning the subway. Unlike many of the people I knew who were going, I was going to travel back and forth from the hotel to Javits to publishers’ offices and back again each day. My time was going to be spent under Manhattan, really. So I downloaded the NYC metro app and Google Maps (both free!) to navigate the city.

  

  Intense lines only on Day 3. Galleys everywhere on the hour, and gone quickly. Crowded on Day 3 but Days 1 and 2 were spacious enough. Crazy awesome. Crazy overwhelming. Easy to find food and water. Polite conversations. Go-with-the-flow mentality. Sore legs. Easy layout. Amazing authors. Highly anticipated books and unique surprises. Little time with others. Night parties. Sharing BEA with others.

  It was everything and nothing like I expected. I went to BEA as a literary agent, spending about half of my time outside of Javits in meetings with editors and my agency. But the second I was in Javits, though my nametag said Literary Agent, I felt like I donned my blogger hat (for the galleys and hugs) or bookseller hat (browsing the catalogues and future publications).

  Toss the plan!

  • Be kind. I didn’t witness shoving and biting, though I did see a very young blogger cry over not getting a book (again, Day 3. Day 3 was more along the lines of what I expected all of BEA to be).
  • Network! I mingled with educators, librarians, publicists, editors on the floor and at their offices, and ran into and hugged many bloggers (Jamie, Jess, Lauren, Sarah, Ellie, Brittany, and Alexa in particular) and met new-to-me ones as well (Alyssa, Gillian, Michelle, Andi, Allison, Mandy, and Nikki).
  • Not everyone experiences BEA the same way, so it’s good to share galleys. Ashley, Lindsey, and I searched for books for bloggers who couldn’t grab a drop (Kelly) or couldn’t be at BEA (Morgan).
  • The food is easy to find. There’s nothing I can say about the food — in terms of quality or expense — but I can say that it’s everywhere and very tempting.
    • Searching for a meal outside Javits? I can highly recommend Serafina for breakfast, Macbar for lunch, and Hallo Berlin or Tír Na Nóg for dinner!
  • Keep calm. The people who came in with plans for the books to grab seemed more flustered than those of us making networking connections or waiting for our top five to arrive to the floor. Yes, it’s important to know who is signing what where, and when what is dropping where. But what’s more important? Also, have you breathed yet?
  • And as for all those other galleys people were passing out — if I didn’t want it, I didn’t grab it. It’s perfectly fine to do that. Someone else is on the hunt for that copy you don’t plan to read, so leave it for them.

  BEA is not a competition over how many books you can grab. It’s a place to reunite with or make new friends, hold business meetings over the future of the industry, discuss the art of writing, and make connections with marketing and publicity. It’s a professional setting, and I’m happy to report that my experience in and out of Javits maintained that atmosphere (that is, until Day 3). Maybe it was the people I experienced it with or maybe it’s because I expected something horrifying. Either way, Year One of BEA was a success.

  (And I didn’t get lost on the subway! #LCsurvivedNYC)

  

  BEA will be in Chicago for 2016, which is just a couple hours away. It would be crazy to not attend next year. My primary purpose to attend BEA is to get in touch with folks in NYC — otherwise, I’ve a feeling I would not be a regular attendee. Being an agent requires keeping up with the business and the business is in New York year-round, not just BEA May. The galleys are great and the people are great, but this little introvert who loves grass and trees and open skies would much prefer to meet others (the bloggers and readers) in a smaller, more intimate gathering than a convention. I do not regret it one bit, but despite planning and tossing said planning, it was still an awesome (the true meaning of the word!) experience.

  And now, for the part you’re most curious about…

  

  

  Days 1 & 2: Books I Actively Searched For

  Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy || My Secret to Tell by Natalie Richards
  Curiosity House by Oliver & Chester || Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon || Hanging Mary by Susan Higginbotham
  The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands || Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart

  

  Days 1 & 2: Gifted Books

  Love Always (sample chapters) from Swoon Reads || Awake by Natasha Preston
  Auggie & Me by RJ Palacio || The Song of Hartgrove Hall by Natasha Solomons

  

  Days 1 & 2: Books I Waited in Line to Get Signed for Others

  Rogue Wave by Jennifer Donnelly || City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg

  

  Day 3: Book Drops and Sneaky “Got Any More of Those”

  Beastly Bones by William Ritter || Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins
  None of the Above by IW Gregorio || Symphony for the City of the Dead by MT Anderson

  

  Day 3: Signed Books for Me

  Never Never by Brianna Shrum || Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall
  This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

  

  Days 1-3: Perks of Being a Literary Agent (receiving books not on the BEA floor)

  Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit || Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch
  Velvet Undercover by Tori Brown || Blood Song by Anthony Ryan

   Have you been to BEA before? What was your experience like? Are you planning to go to BEA in the future? Have you received any of these ARCs/know anything about them? Have you met other bloggers? Share your thoughts!

  Posted in books, Update Post | 15 Comments | Tagged bea, book expo america, books, personal

• Stepping Back for the Summer

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on May 23, 2015

  As my career as an agent has taken off, I’ve found it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the growing pile of TBR published books and ARCs. My priority reading belongs to my authors and potential clients. ARC reviewing is less fun when there are too many to read mixed with incredibly close deadlines (April, anyone?). When I look at the pile due for review the next month, my stomach fills with dread.

  This summer, I’m making a change. I’m going to focus the majority of my time and energy (outside of agenting) on the books I’ve purchased across the years and haven’t read yet.

  ARCs won’t be entirely off the radar, though. I’ll read one or two each month. These ARCs are ones I’m genuinely excited about and can’t imagine not reviewing.

  EDIT 5/23 @ 8:50pm: Writers, I am not closed to queries.

  But how do I choose what to read?

  Hannah @ So Obsessed With recently wrote a post on cutting back ARCs. The ARCs you choose to read are the ones you think you’ll really enjoy and be more than happy to review. When I started blogging, I wanted to read ARCs so that I could keep up with the industry and make this blog more accessible to others.

  But now, with two feet in three doors — agenting, bookselling, and blogging — it’s just too much. There’s no point in buying books published years ago if I never read them, just like there’s no point in requesting ARCs for books getting a lot of hype/sounds vaguely interesting if I never read them or end up DNFing anyway.

  I’m choosing to read books that, if they were on the shelves right now, I’d pick up out of personal interest. This can be based on the author, the plot, the connection I have to that particular imprint or editor — not the hype or the cover or vague, generic, maybe-it’ll-be-good, meh feeling.

  It’s time to step back and remember how to enjoy reading, before blogging ever happened. I’m going to be selective about the ARCs I read, stash away my wallet for this book-buying ban, and browse my TBR shelves for the next good read.

  What are my reading goals this summer?

  • A book a week. Though I read much faster than a book a week, I think 8-12 sounds about right for pacing purposes. I don’t want to feel rushed (like when reading ARCs), plus I’ve my livelihood — reading manuscripts — that I need to keep up with. It’s summer. It’s the time to be a little slow and laid back, right?
  • #ReRead2015. I’ve got to read at least two books from my #reread2015 list. It was like being sucked into a blissful vortex of rehashing memories this winter, and I’m sad haven’t been back since. I liked that vortex. That’s a nice vortex.
  • YA historical. Um, hello, I bought all these great books and haven’t read them yet! What is wrong with me?
  • YA contemporary. There’s a handful of summery, romancey, contemporary books that have been out for a while. I’ve definitely missed the bandwagon on them, but I’m happy to trot along far behind the tracks.
  • Adult historical. Talk about a mountain of adult fiction books! So many reviews, so many recommendations, to the point where it feels like I’ve read them already — but I haven’t! I want to cry and fall in love and learn (my favorite part of historical fiction). Let’s get started.

  Share your reading habits!

  Have you had similar reading lulls or pressures? How are you managing your book reviewing time? Do ARCs take first priority? Have you gone on a book-buying ban? What are you planning to read this summer? Share your thoughts and ideas!

  Posted in books, Update Post | 4 Comments | Tagged books, personal

• The Accidental April Book Haul

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on May 8, 2015

  April was a Hot Mess.

  Not just with the massive amount of ARCs I read, but the number of books I acquired, as well. I didn’t fully realize how many I acquired in one month till I rearranged my bookshelves (again). My instagram shot got a lot of feedback — and there were so many books, I forgot to picture one as well! Since then, I’ve acquired four more. EEEK.

  

  Not pictured: The Royal We, Rook, Miss Mayhem, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke, and Wondrous and the Wicked.

  Free Books!

  I received these books from editors and giveaways.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Guilt-Free Purchases!

  When I read an ARC and love it, I go and buy the finished copy.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  When I get a super nice tax return, I browse bargain selections at the store or on Book Outlet.

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Then I search for UK editions of books I’ve had my eye on for a while to justify the shipping and conversion fees (and save the rest for later, of course. I can be a fiscally responsible adult!).

  

  

  

  My poor bookcases…but look how pretty these are!

  What did you acquire in April? Have you had a large book haul recently?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 8 Comments | Tagged book haul, books, personal

• Flipping Through the Pages: Winter Rewind 2015

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 4, 2015

  

  As my blog gets more and more hits from writers researching agents and what they’re looking for, I thought that I could connect to the blogging community and writing community better by participating in the Monthly Rewind meme (for fantastic examples, check out Jamie, Hannah, and Lindsey’s blogs). It gives a better idea of who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m reading and enjoying outside of book reviews and #mswl tags on Twitter. Unfortunately, I do not have the time (or dedication) to do one every month, so I decided to do a Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  My childhood friend Amanda is getting married in July, and I went over to her place to help make hundreds of paper flowers. The one pictured is the flower I have to create by the wedding — and it takes about an hour to make just one!

  The B&N I work for has a partnership with a retirement community that has connections to celebrity tours. This was my way to meet Jane Seymour (yes, Dr. Quinn!). She’s lovely, and seems genuine and down-to-earth. I had a blast that day working the event with her.

  I went to Virginia and, among many things, I visited Shenandoah Valley. Pictured is one of the falls on the trail I hiked. The trees may not have been green and leafy, but this view was completely worth it.

  Life Highlights

  Jane Seymour! Of course. How could I include that photo and not say it was a life highlight? In March I celebrated my quarter-century birthday! Finally reached the age everyone thought I was three years ago. Also, when I said I went to Virginia, it’s because I visited Lindsey! This was definitely a highlight in my personal life and blogging life. Lindsey and I “met” through a TTT post, and later admitted to owning multiple copies of Jane Eyre as well. Soon we discovered we were basically the same person (except for our different preferences in dinosaurs…(another topic of conversation)) and now we text, tweet, and instagram one another every single day. I mentioned something about having a gorgeous dress with nowhere to wear it, she said “let’s go to an opera!” and I said “okay!” and BOOM! La Traviata, Shenandoah, and Williamsburg two months later. I highly recommend visiting people you meet in this community!

  Tunes on Repeat

  Hozier’s “Like Real People Do” gets me every time. I stop what I’m doing and listen.

  Ed Sheeran and John Mayer performing Ed’s “Thinking Out Loud” at the Grammys. I love Ed. I love John. I love this song. I love them together.

  Mikky Ekko’s “U” is one of the B&N in-store plays, and just about the only one I actually enjoy listening to (after She & Him, of course. Gosh, I love them).

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. #DOTFreadalong Group Review @ Bring My Books — Several of us got together in February to read Daughter of the Forest and do a group review together. Check out the results!
  2. Dive into Diversity: Religion in YA Books @ Rather Be Reading — This is a topic I find I need to talk to readers about more and more. The community where my B&N is located is a predominately white + Christian + wealthy community, and yet there’s not a whole lot of religion-bent books for YA and MG readers, Christian or otherwise. Something to chew on.
  3. #BookWorldProblems @ So Obsessed With — Um, Britney gifs. Win. Really, all of Hannah’s posts pertaining to organization and creativity, too, make my heart flutter.
  4. On the Acquisition of Books @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa is working on the Picky Pledge, wherein you examine your shelves and purge the books you haven’t read and are certain you’ll never get around to reading. You become pickier about the ARCs you request, and take the time to appreciate the books you do have. In this post, she examines her life before and after blogging. It’s quite eye-opening.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. TTT: All Time Favorite Books — This was incredibly fun to write, even though it was difficult to narrow down. It was extra exciting to see the response from other bloggers, readers, and authors (thanks, authors, for reaching out!).
  2. Book Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale — I’m so happy to see this on here! Geek Girl is fantastic and hilarious and I’m beyond thrilled it’s here in the US.
  3. TTT: Haven’t Read These YA Fantasy Books — Sorry, y’all, still no progress on this. Although, Morgan did send me a copy of Cinder, so we’ll see!
  4. Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary — I broke out of my usual blogging mode and decided to write a post on contemporary realistic YA. The response to this was overwhelming, and I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it! Have you had a connection to a particular genre? Have you thought about why that is?

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  The Start of Me & You by Emery Lord ★★★★★

  The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski ★★★★

  Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier ★★★★★

  At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen ★★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life.
  And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness,
  if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near,
  but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly.
  I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet,
  he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me.
  Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
  —Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Library Books: 2 / 10
  Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency

  #ReRead2015: 2 / 10
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl

  Overall Challenge: 19 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: Bletchley Circle — OHMAHGAWD I love this. Usually that’s guaranteed for BBC productions, but this one in particular is fascinating. The same brains as Sherlock (thinking outside the box, using all available evidence to come to daring conclusions), historical (post-WWII), all-female powerhouse cast…perfect.

  On Film: Imitation Game — My love for this comes from more than Benedict Cumberbatch, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode, and Keira Knightley…but they’re a huge reason why I loved the movie so much. Only brilliant acting can get this complex story across. What is human, what is machine? What is natural, what is obscene? Whom can you trust?

  In the Shopping Bag: ModCloth floral tunics. Really, anything ModCloth + floral. I can scroll that site for days.

  Miscellaneous: I’ve found I need to rely more and more on my old college study habits while I’m agenting: background noise. Not music, because I’ll sing along or go into my musician mode and analyze it. Not movies or TV shows, because the words will conflict with my reading. So I go straight to sound websites meant for peace and  productivity, like Noisli and Coffitivity. Lifesavers, folks. I can’t even begin to tell you how focused I’ve become with these sites!

  Looking Towards the Future

  The end of April and all of May will be packed with exciting events. First is the Jennifer Niven book-signing at my store. I’ve been looking forward to this since January, so you can bet I’m thrilled for this! Next up is a visit to Chicago and Milwaukee for the WD’s Writing Workshops. I’ll be there representing my agency and chatting with writers about their books! Later in May I’ll be back in NYC for Book Expo America! This would be my first time at BEA, and I’m looking forward to meeting other bloggers, authors, and chatting with editors. My whole life surrounds meeting people online and speaking to them over the phone, so it’ll be nice to put faces and text and voices together into living, breathing beings! (Follow me on Twitter and Instagram so we can plan a meet-up.) Last, but not least, just curling up with a good read and telling y’all about it.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• 

• 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!

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