if we were having coffee | Scribbles & Wanderlust

Tag: if we were having coffee
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 11:56 am by Laura, on December 11, 2024
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American.
  
  Gosh. I’ve not done this since 2021. Hello! It’s been a while. I’m taking a breather in this final week at work before the holidays to type up a very quick update for anyone who may be curious. (No gifs this time, sorry!)
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you all about the international trips I’ve taken with my husband, friends, and for work! My husband and I were finally able to go on our honeymoon to Switzerland in 2022 (stunning, absolutely stunning, we want to go back soon!). I traveled to Germany for the Frankfurt Book Fair with my colleagues in 2022. My husband and I visited Amsterdam, Ghent, Bruges, and Paris in 2023. And this year I went to Portugal with my girlfriends from book club! My husband and I are in the midst of planning a Scotland/England trip in 2025, and the agency registered to attend Frankfurt again next year as well––looking forward to even more travel to come!
  
  If we were having coffee…I would briefly touch upon the burnout breakdown I experienced in summer 2023. It felt like hitting a wall over and over, and all the tools in my mental health toolbox I learned from my undergrad studies proved to hit a breaking point too. I needed help and new tools, new ways of thinking, in order to forge a path forward––so I found a therapist. What a change! What a relief it brought me, too! I figured out new ways of organizing my inbox, learned to control what I can and give grace/let get of the things I cannot control, lived the mantra “not my circus, not my monkeys,” learned to step away/touch grass when recognizing if something was triggering a negative emotion, readjusted the time management, reprioritized different elements at work, and––biggest of all, with the greatest impact on my life as a whole outside of work––took on gratitude journaling. Big big fan of gratitude journaling! It’s been over 500 days of writing down three things I’m grateful for at the end of the day. There are a lot of repeats, and some of them feel really silly or dull (like toiletpaper or HVAC), but they are gratitudes nonetheless. It brings me peace and calm before bed each night, to reflect on my day and focus on the positives. WHAT A GAME CHANGER.
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d share the whirlwind ups and downs––and ultimately the awe and gratitude––of celebrating ten years as an agent in September this year. Upon reflection, it amazes me how much I’ve accomplished on micro and macro levels, everything I’ve learned, how much I’ve grown, how I’ve shaped and reshaped and developed my position, and all the wonderful, talented, incredible people I’ve met on this journey. It was a risk becoming an agent, and I’m so glad I’ve taken all the leaps and opportunities presented to me. If you are fairly new in the business and reading this, stick around. Those first few years are so so hard, but stick with it. It’ll all be worth it someday soon!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d gush about how much I love my new position at the agency as foreign rights manager (as well as continuing to be an agent). When the role transitioned to me earlier this year, I was nervous but so excited to have a hand in helping clients’ work move into translation around the globe. The scouts, coagents, and publishers I’ve met along the way have been so kind, thoughtful, patient, and generous, and I’m loving putting my organizational administrative skills to good use in another aspect of this industry!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d talk about the champagne problems of the additional load at work and how it has impacted my reading. For work it means I have to be even more particular in what I’ll pursue to represent. (It also means giving myself grace for how long I’m taking to get back to folks whose manuscripts I’ve requested.) And in my for-fun reading personal life, it means more and more to live and breathe reading for pleasure and reading for quality. For years I’ve said my goals are to read quality over quantity, but there’s still this little voice in the back of my head that says, “You only read x-amount this year? Woof.” So yes, there’s been a lot of DNFing, of several weeks going by where I haven’t listened to a single minute or read a single page of a book for fun. But when I do manage to get hooked in, whew. What a ride. So fun!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d suggest several shows that have taken up brain space this year, namely Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Bad Sisters, Trying, The New Look (Apple); Abbott Elementary; Somebody Somewhere, We’re Here (Max); Outlander; Call the Midwife; Great British Bake Off (Netflix). Saw Dune Part II in theaters, and had to stop myself from singing along to Wicked! And of course, I’m still singing in choir and (now!) playing in a handbell ensemble! I also participate in two book clubs, when I’m able, which is such a joy.
  
  Okay, back to work. More deal announcement posts to come!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 4:32 pm by Laura, on November 23, 2021
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American. Though it’s been so long since I’ve done this, I suppose it should say, “if we were having tea/coffee/cocoa over Zoom” *laughs* *weeps*
  
  Hello! I haven’t done this in a while. Not since January 2020, apparently. I also haven’t really been on this blog much either. So I thought, why not take a few minutes during this rare lull at work and just…give you a little update?
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d take a moment to complain about this new WordPress editing/posting/whatever-this-is set-up. Why can’t I go back to Classic Editor? What’s with all this fancy new block stuff? Clearly I’ve been away for too long. Oops. I’m sorry. (But seriously though, what gives?! *is old*)
  
  If we were having coffee…we would no doubt cover the pandemic topics and get them out of the way. Yes, I’m vaccinated, and I’m getting a booster on Sunday (yay!). Yes, I’m still wearing masks indoors. Yes, we had to reschedule our honeymoon for a third time and gosh darn it we’re going on it in spring 2022 and LIVING IT UP. YOLO. And our cat Rossetti’s loving all this 24/7-with-humans time she’s getting. Honestly the biggest hit for me––for us, really––was not being able to sing in choir in 2020. It’s been great to be back with them since August 2021, making music again safely. (For any other singers out there, this is the mask we wear for rehearsals, services, and concerts. Highly recommend.)
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about how wild this year has been, how unpredictable and odd and just…weird, in publishing! So I’ll do my best to explain it in non-pub-lingo and in as much of a nutshell as possible. 2020 was a lot, to say the least, but that exhaustion didn’t let up once the calendar changed. January 2021 hit, and agent inboxes flooded. FLOODED. So many writers with projects finished during 2020, including our own clients’ projects. And it didn’t let up. Now on the other side of the business, editors were also getting bombarded more than usual with these submissions from agents, on top of the usual workload editors are required to do. And then toss in printing and shipping and the bottleneck of supply chains across multiple industries, publicity and marketing teams pivoting monthly (weekly!) to changed dates and moved productions––it boggles the mind. Mix all of that overflowing digital paper, schedules, chains, and personal lives in a pot, and it’s boiling over.
  
  To say everyone was swamped this year is an extreme understatement. I’ve never had so many client projects out on submission at once, nor for so long––I’ve had to cross-reference the tabs of my spreadsheet to make sure I’m not overburdening some poor soul with more than one of my submissions (MAJOR APOLOGIES TO THE EXCEPTIONS *sobs, hugs*). I’ve also never been so behind* in my own requests folder. I took pride in reading fulls in a month, but as my client list grew and as the queries in my inbox became stronger (seriously, you guys, the querying writers are really hitting the mark lately and I have to be even more discerning! As a client once said to me, it’s a “champagne problem” for sure!), I’ve started averaging 3-4 months in my response time for request manuscripts. I don’t like taking so long, but my goodness. It’s been nuts. 2021 has been a true exercise of patience, grace, and empathy…and extreme gratitude for the success stories, too, of course! Phew!
  
  [*”so behind” LOL, look, I hear stories of agents getting back after a year (or two (or three!)), and it’s definitely not that. More like…six months max, but I still feel ashamed of it.]
  
  I wish I had the answers. I wish I knew when things would let up. But I feel exhausted too. And if I’m feeling it at an agency, I know my colleagues in publishing houses are feeling it 10x more.
  
  Deep breaths.
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about all the TV shows and movies I’ve seen, rather than the books I’ve read XD Partly because I’ve been watching a lot on so many streaming platforms, partly because I don’t want to talk about how ashamed I feel (there it is again, shame, the guilt and sadness!) that I haven’t read as much for fun as I’d like! I’m showing up to my two book clubs saying things like “Sorry, didn’t finish, so I’ll just stay muted and listen!” or “I read 40 pages but wasn’t into it,” or “WOW OMG YOU GUYS I READ IT!” For reference, the post on here about books I read in the first half of 2021 is basically all I’ve read…I’ve finished maybe two books since that post, so yeah, for fun reading is very slow-going. But streaming!! Watching a lot over there! Vikings, Peaky Blinders, Brooklyn 99, Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Dr Oakley: Yukon Vet, all the Marvel stuff (omgggg WandaVision!), all the latest GBBO duh, Watchmen, The Great, Master Chef: Junior, All Creatures Great & Small, Westworld, rewatching Band of Brothers, New Girl, Friends, and Gilmore Girls too…I’m probably forgetting some but those are the big ones. What have you been reading and watching?
  
  ~~~
  
  All that ^ said, I’ve just started reading Empire of Gold (finally brave enough to close out the trilogy), I feel hopeful for and confident in my clients and their hard work and perseverance, and I remain optimistic for a bright future ahead. This is a massive, massive pothole in the road, yes. But I’m immensely grateful and thankful for my job and doing what I love. I want nothing but the best for you and yours, too. May the rest of this year and the holiday season be full of light and wonder, and may 2022 be full of blessings!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 3 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 4:28 pm by Laura, on January 26, 2020
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American.
  
  Hello! Happy Sunday afternoon! Life’s been busy and hectic, and post-wedding became pre- and during-Christmas, which then became post-holidays and now I’m finally finding the time to sit down and blog. I’ve read books (a couple that I finished at the end of 2019 went up earlier today) and I even prepared a Seasonal Rewind for Summer and Fall 2019 that is so crammed and unfinished it just…makes me cringe.
  
  So in lieu of the Seasonal Rewind — which I’m thinking of revamping…we’ll see how that’ll look when I post it for the first time in April for Winter 2020 — I’m giving you a quick snapshot update of life pre-/post-wedding and pre-/post-Christmas. Grab your favorite hot beverage and let’s swap updates!
  
  If we were having coffee… I would show you the complete wedding photo gallery so you can see the hundreds of amazing, jaw-dropping shots my photographer took of our wedding! But because the internet is what it is, I’ll redirect you, dear Reader, to my IG page and the photographer’s blog instead. We had some preview shots not long after the wedding, and then as a wonderful Christmas gift we received all the pictures and a lovely golden flashdrive with the hi-res copies. I selected a few here and here to share with the world. And if that’s not enough, you’re welcome to go through the wedding highlight in the profile! All that planning, all that time and energy, was completely worth it. What a wonderful, beautiful, fantastic day we had!
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you how I hit the ground running coming back to work after the wedding, and had very little me-time to process it all, even during the holidays. It was stressful but in the best kind of way. I’m so thankful to have a job that I love. It makes all the crazy ups and downs completely worth it.
  
  If we were having coffee… I would tell you all about my new and severely delayed obsession with Parks & Rec and Ron Swanson. Oh my god, Ron. I love all of the characters, but Ron is truly my spirit animal. He says and does things I wish I could say and do when working with the public, and he’s so strong in his convictions and no one pushes him out of it (well, except maybe Leslie). He exudes the confidence and lack of interest in drama that I wish I could do publicly, bahaha! Instead I smile, keep quiet, and scream inside. *spins in the infinity desk chair*
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you how I’m trying to figure out how I want my social media to look and how to utilize these as tools rather than taking over my life. (A book review to come soon that inspired this.) (Spoiler alert: I went nuts about it on IG.) I want to go back to my hobbies of knitting and scrapbooking (pump the breaks, it’s not that intense — I just stick photos in an album with little captions — but I haven’t put photos into albums since 2016…), yet I claim there’s no time to do those things. But there is. There is time, I’m just scrolling endlessly on social media platforms that don’t always bring me joy. FB is slowly falling by the wayside, Twitter is work-only in promoting clients’ books, and IG was meant to be my escape, but even there it becomes toxic once in a while (for my mental health — they’re actually very calm in their discussions about big issues which I really appreciate!). I do miss the blogging days. I want to make an effort to bring this one back to life, to interact with my friends more on their blogs too, so we’ll see how that goes. Until then…less screen time on my phone, and closing out when I seem to be going down a rabbit hole.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you about the really cool people I’ve met on IG and overall bookish accounts that I thoroughly enjoy interacting with, namely @justagirlwithabook, @idlewildreads, @theardentbiblio, @thebrunettebookworm, and @bookrepository. Of course there are the usual crew from the blogging and Twitter days, but three I tend to find have the most relatable and discussion-worthy posts and two have really great fantasy recommendations.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you how there are big, happy changes in the air and I’m really looking forward to 2020 overall — even if my brain is hamster-wheeling at the moment. We’re preparing for our springtime Swiss honeymoon, which is all sorts of exciting and fun to look forward to (and then go on!). My clients are awesome and brilliant, and I hope to find more wonderful work in the year. Honestly, I haven’t been more excited for a fresh slate/year in…ever.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d pretty much just word-vomit in your general direction all the wild things bouncing around in my head that aren’t emergencies because generally my life is great and I’m happy and content. But at the same time, I’ve always been the kind of person to plan ahead, even though I know that all that planning could be for naught because that’s just how life works. You’re sent curve-balls and bumps and obstacles, and you learn and grow from them. (But I’ll still plan and save and think like crazy.)
  
  ~
  
  What’s new in your life? Which posts should I check out, here or on another platform, that you’d like to talk about? What would we chat about if we were having coffee?
  
  Posted in Update Post | 1 Comment | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 2:08 pm by Laura, on February 17, 2019
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American.
  
  Hello! Happy Sunday afternoon. It’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog, and I thought I’d gather ’round here and have a little chat about life. Grab your favorite hot beverage and let’s swap updates…
  
  If we were having coffee… I would tell you that I recently purchased a brand new laptop for work, which meant giving up all of my Adobe Creative Suite software. I’m now without my favorite Photoshop and InDesign programs, and relying on Canva until I decide which of the two I’m willing to subscribe to for the year. Y’all, seriously, I understand the cloud is great and everything, but do we really need to do subscription services each year for all of these programs, and therefore boatloads of money down the drain? I’d rather go back to disc downloads…*sigh* I used InDesign for my blog (though it’s not as if I’m designing a whole lot), and I used Photoshop for social media (and again, it’s not as if I was using it a lot), though the thought of going without one of the programs is daunting. Especially when I’m not a huge fan of what Canva can offer so far, at least on the free platform. What do you use?
  
  If we were having coffee… I would tell you that January was a very difficult month for my family. Without going into detail, let’s just say it made work life, personal life, and me-time a dark and stormy place. Thankfully we’re out of the woods and everything is much better and looking to only get better from here, but man! It really was scary, the beginning of this year.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that wedding planning is going well and on track. We have the hotel and attendants’ clothing locked in, we’ve narrowed down the florals, we’re going to have linen discussions in March, and all the marriage counseling and church-related elements are underway. We’re even thinking about our honeymoon in spring 2020! Whenever I tell people this they seem impressed and shocked — I guess that means we’re ahead of the game? What else would you expect when bride, groom, mother-of-the-bride, and mother-of-the-groom are all Type A? Spreadsheets are our friends.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that I’ve had a rough time of it with my reading for 2019. I’ve DNF’d as many books as I’ve actually completed reading so far this year (if not more than). I knew going into this year that my challenge would be to read books I genuinely enjoy and to set aside books that just aren’t hitting the right notes for me — to focus on quality over quantity. However, on the flip side, I’m carving out time for myself in the mornings to read for pleasure, and that’s been very rewarding. Instead of hitting snooze several times and racing out of bed to start my day in a rush, I’m getting up with the alarm, taking my time, easing into the day before 8am and feeling refreshed for work by 9am. It’s fantastic! What are your morning routines? In what ways do you carve out time for yourself?
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that I’m debating about doing some sort of social media detox. At least on FB and Twitter. (Perhaps it’ll be my thing to give up for Lent.) It feels so toxic, especially Twitter, with its echo chamber and voices shouting into the void and repetitive drama. At this point I’m here to help my clients promote their books, and that’s it. I’m rarely on there for anything else. Have you had issues with social media? Have you tried going on a detox before (and if so, how’d that turn out for you)?
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that agenting is going so well. I’m super proud of all my clients and what they’re accomplishing, and I can’t wait to share all sorts of good news! I’m also incredibly thankful for the encouragement and advice from other agents in the industry. It takes five to seven years (years) to really get your career off the ground, to start reaping the rewards of all the hard work and hours you put into this job, all for a tiny slice of commission. The first two years were very hard, the third year I started to get more clients, more deals, and year four was the best to date. I’m only partially in my fifth year and I can actually see myself living on this income. I can’t tell you how thrilling that is, especially because I’m in a field that’s entirely a game of luck and chance. I’m sure other self-employed / entrepreneurs out there get what I’m saying. 2019 is a catch-22 year for me, though, in terms of time and human ability to get All The Things Done, and I’m already falling behind on reading requested submissions. Cross fingers success continues, and perhaps I’ll be able to step away from my part-time work and truly enter agenting wholly, completely full-time.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d confess that I really miss Greece right now. Spring can hurry up and get here, but only if it includes the bluest of blues Aegean Sea and cloudless skies and endless cooling breeze on hot, sunny days. I’m such a fall/winter girl, but Syros really spoiled me for good summer weather.
  
  ~
  
  So, how are you doing? What’s new with you? Let’s chat!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 14 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 6:52 pm by Laura, on June 7, 2017
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American, even if I am an Anglophile.
  
  Lately I’ve posted book reviews and left it at that, so it seemed like it was time for another one of these posts! And because it’s approaching summer (oh god), I’m gonna use tea gifs! Sound good? Good.
  
  If we were having coffee…I would tell you how I’ve read so many books for fun this year so far, but seem to fall behind on writing reviews for them now. Not that reviewing isn’t fun, or that blogging is a chore. Neither of those things! I’m just…reading more than usual? Both as an agent and as a reader. It’s a great feeling finally going through my TBR, checking out books from the library, and setting out little monthly goals on Instagram. The pressure to read the hottest ARC seems to have fallen away, and I’ve become more selective on ARCs in general, too.
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d strongly suggest you watch Band of Brothers. It’s an HBO one-season series set in WWII about the 101st Airborne, and it came out in the early ’00s. The Beau strongly suggested we watch it together sometime, and I was a little wary. As much as I love war books, the movies can get intense. And yet, as intense as Band could be, the writing and cinematography and deep character development really grabbed my attention and I couldn’t stop watching. Have you seen this show? It’s so good!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you how I sold a manuscript and acquired a new client all within the same month and it made me so happy. My other clients are also working on new projects that I’m super stoked to share with the world. Keep sending good vibes to the Team Laura sector of #TeamTriada. Going out on submission with new material is super exciting for all involved!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about my trip to NYC. The excuse was Book Expo — bought a badge and everything — but I was rarely at Javits (and only received one galley from the floor. All the other galleys that came home with me were directly from editors’ desks to my hands, and that feels far more meaningful). I spent the majority of my time traveling all over Manhattan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings, mid-morning and afternoon imprint-wide meetings, and agency meals. It was so neat to put voices and faces to names, to see and meet the editors in person after years of exchanging emails and phone calls. All in all, this trip was far more fun and productive than previous NYC visits. This was also the first time the agency was all together, in person, in one room. Isn’t that nuts? I loved every second of it.
  
  Though I’m not a fan of the city itself (cities in general, let’s be honest — they stress me out), I was happy to be with enthusiastic bookish bookworms gushing over the latest novel, our cats, the news, dream travel destinations, and the delicious food in front of us. (That’s one thing cities have going for them: the variety of restaurants and cafes!) PLUS I was reunited with Lindsey @ Bring My Books and ran into Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books a few times. Oh, and flailed about Outlander and Sam Heughan with Sasha Alsberg when she was on her way to see her publisher. Haha!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d show you what a complete nerd I am by whipping out my phone, opening up the Forge of Empires app, and gushing about the game. Guys, I just reached the High Middle Ages (nearly there to the Late Middle Ages) and I’m so poor now because I’ve purchased so many homes, production buildings, and supply buildings. Time to crank up the supplies!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d grumble about my lack of self control when it comes to chips and queso. Oh my god. It’s just bad. Really bad. Like, I crave salt (and cheese) all the time. It’s my baseline. And I love sugar, too, so I’m all sorts of messed up in cravings. But chips and queso is my vice, my sin, my guilty pleasure. About a year ago I tried giving it up and doing more yoga instead but THAT DIDN’T WORK BAHAHA. Help me.
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d ramble on and on about this trip to Greece I’m going on next summer. I’ve been to cooler climates in Europe, so heading to the Mediterranean in the summer will certainly be something new to experience. Scenes from Mama Mia! and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants keep dancing in mind. Blue skies, white buildings, lots of water, great culture…Have you been to Greece? Any tidbits, advice, or fun facts?
  
  Short, quick, and something to break up all the reviews. Anything new in your life? Have you seen Band of Brothers? Did you go to Book Expo or Book Con (and if so, what’d you snag)? Are you into any particular app game? Comment below!
  
  If we were having coffee, what would we talk about? Let’s chat!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 7 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 12:10 pm by Laura, on December 10, 2016
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American, even if I am an Anglophile.
  
  Ah, yes! Another round of If We Were Having Coffee! This is mostly a moment to vent my thanks (and frustration) over the many blessings (and woes) of the last few months. Grab some coffee, tea, or cocoa, and let’s get started…
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you how thrilled I am to not be working in retail this holiday season. Normally December marks the beginning of the never-ending cold (which would lead to the never-ending inability to speak) and constant crankiness and general overwhelming stress. And though I do have some stressors this December, it has nothing to do with customers, illnesses, tinny pop Christmas tunes butchering the ears, management, etc. I don’t know how I lived through four Christmases in retail. It’s like selling your soul.
  
  To all of you who work retail, I am sending you good health and strength to maintain cheerfulness, and I hope you have beautiful, marvelous customers walking through the store’s doors!
  
  If we were having coffee…I would gush about how exciting it is to feel established in the library position. I’m ordering bookmarks for my Top 10 Favorite Adult Fiction Reads in 2016 to use on the staff display, preparing the book club’s list of reads for 2017 (that amazing group chose some great books to read and discuss, and I can’t wait to get started), creating displays to set up throughout the year, and looking forward to Genre Study’s (librarian book club) mystery reads in 2017!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you that it’s been an absolute nightmare trying to move into this apartment. Back in November, I provided the complex with all the material they needed with my application, and was told I could move in December 1. On November 30, when I still hadn’t heard from them about picking up the keys and signing the lease, I found out they needed more material from me. (Apparently they’d only just realized I’d marked “self-employed” on my application along with the library position, and that requires a lot of paperwork proving I’m a good citizen who pays taxes and doesn’t lie.) This means my move-in date has been delayed till just before Christmas. Hurray! Let’s add on some more tight schedules to the already packed holiday season!
  
  *pours Baileys into cocoa*
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you that despite my frustration with the maybe-move, my generous and loving parents have been very supportive, and the Beau has been incredibly helpful throughout all of this. We’ve moved the boxes and furniture around in the living room to fit the tree. The Beau has indulged me with chocolates and French vanilla and caramel cocoas, watched children’s Christmas movies with me, and lets me spend my agent days at his place so I don’t fall behind on work or stare woefully at all of my packed belongings.
  
  *adds marshmallows to the cocoa*
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about a neat opportunity I had with choir. Normally the section leaders sing one particular service at church as a small chamber choir. They were low on altos (I’m a mezzo soprano and have a weird range) and the director specifically requested that I join for the semester and into the Christmas season. It’s been a lovely experience and a joy to sing with people who, you know, have degrees in music.
  
  If we were having coffee…I would gush about Tara Sim’s success with Timekeeper! She’s appearing on so many “Best of” and “Top” lists, and the overwhelmingly positive response to her book is fantastic. I’m also very excited for Jared Reck’s A Short History of the Girl Next Door, and all the work going on behind the scenes right now. His cover is gorgeous and so perfect for the novel, too!
  
  It’s not a massive update, but one I still wanted to share regardless. The holiday season can add so much stress, both good and bad, and even though things are okay on my end, you’re more than welcome to reach out and chat about yours! I do my best to find a silver lining in things, and though I’m very frustrated with the apartment situation, I know I’m surrounded by good people who will not leave me out in the cold.
  
  If we were having coffee, what would we talk about? Let’s chat!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 10 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 6:10 am by Laura, on September 2, 2016
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American, even if I am an Anglophile.
  
  You may have noticed I haven’t blogged quite as much this summer. A lot has happened in 2016, and I’ll not pretend I’m the only one experiencing a lot of changes this year. Nearly everyone I’ve spoken to, online and IRL, seems to have had quite a tumultuous year so far, the good and the bad. So coming up you’ll have the pleasure of reading an unedited, walls-down, potentially grammatically incorrect blog post — and I just don’t give a flying rat’s ass about it. I’m typing this the way I’d speak it. So…cheers!
  
  Grab your favorite hot beverage and get comfy. Let’s share some personal updates. (Shock, I know. I try not to do too much of that on the blog!)
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you that my agent inbox exploded after Jared’s book deal and Tara’s ARC drop at ALA. This is wonderful and overwhelming. I couldn’t be happier! One of the best things about being an agent is getting to be the first (or, well, first professional ((“professional,” my gosh)) to read a manuscript, know that it’s a gem of a project, and find the perfect publisher to champion it. The onslaught of mail — and quality queries and manuscripts, too! — only means I have to be even more critical of what I’m reading. My summer has been far more dedicated to my current clients and reading new material. Thus…fewer blog posts.
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about my new part-time job as a reference assistant at the library! I’m the moderator of a book group for 20- and 30-somethings, which means I have a book a month to read from their list. The librarians also have their own in-house book clubs, and I’m in the genre study one. The theme this year is multi-cultural literature (perfect for WNDB and #ownvoices), so there’s another required reading book a month. You’ve read some of the reviews already (Re Jane, Buddha in the Attic, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky) for ones I felt needed and deserved attention. For the most part, though, it feels like homework reading instead of pleasure reading. Thus…fewer blog posts.
  
  There are other aspects of the library job I enjoy. Going through the collection and finding ways to promote material through bookmarks and programming, teaming up with a colleague (also a published author!) to develop a writing program for NaNo and beyond, and assisting patrons in finding materials are other perks. It’s just a much better environment for me than the bookstore. Retail really wasn’t my cup of tea.
  
  Speaking of tea…*sips*
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you how my mind wanders off on tangents, dreaming up the next big adventure. I really want to go to the London Book Fair in March 2017, but that dream is starting to look a little far-fetched. Maybe next year! However, my best friend (also a med student, bless her) and I are thinking of taking a little trip to San Francisco in the spring during one of her rare breaks in rotations. Any suggestions of places to visit, explore, or eat would be welcomed!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about this great guy I’ve known for a few years now, how we finally took a chance, and it’s been quite possibly the most amazing thing ever ever ever. Ever. He met my best friends and their husbands, passed the test, and now they’re all asking when they’ll see him next (in case you were curious: Labor Day weekend BBQs!). Also, he gives the best hugs. The best hugs.
  
  I’m meeting the rest of his friends and his massive family next month…wish me luck!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about my on-going search for an apartment. Now that I’m more comfortable financially, it’s time to finally move out and find my own place. The trouble I’m running into is finding a good place to live with low rent in a safe neighborhood. The search may take a few more months, and I may not move out till early 2017, but at least it’s happening!
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about my buckling bookshelves (another reason to move). It’s really getting out of hand, all the unread books that I own. Now that I’m at the library, my spending impulses have quickly died down in favor of checking out books instead. BUT…that doesn’t address the nearly 300 books crammed onto shelves in my room, piling on the floor, ARCs that keep arriving for review…! Wouldn’t it be nice to have more than 24 hours to the day, so that a good chunk of it was for reading (or even just doing anything you love)?
  
  If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about the Great Tostitos & Queso Takeover, and my lack of yoga. I just might have an addiction to salt more than sugar (though I LOOOOVE sugar), and it’s becoming a major issue. I love Tostitos Restaurant Style chips with the white queso. I could eat a party size bag entirely on my own. The problem? I get bloated after. Plus all that salt is NOT good for you at all. And to top it off, I’ve been slacking in the yoga department. I used to do it every day, and then after my Europe trip in June it turned to once or twice a week…and now it’s just sad. So, health wise, I need to get back into it! Cut back the chips and queso! Bring back the yoga!
  
  Tell me what’s going on in your life! If we were having coffee, what would we talk about?
  
  Posted in Update Post | 14 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- Birthday Post! // If We Were Sharing Cake…
  
  Posted at 9:30 am by Laura, on March 4, 2014
  
  Today’s my birthday! And I thought I’d spend some time on this post with something a bit more personal. A meme by Ashley of Your Super Awesome Life called “If We Were Having Coffee” breaks free from the “all business” mode of blogs and explores the personal stories behind the blogger. Since this post will be centered around a birthday celebration, I’m changing the name slightly to “If We Were Sharing Cake.” So sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and take a slice of cake!
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d tell you I recently received an amazing opportunity to work closely with an author on her social media, calendar, and bookish commitments. Her book will be out in July, published by Random House, and the whole experience of being a part of this process is fascinating and exciting.
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d do my best not to tell you how truly scared I am about the future. As someone who likes to have things planned out and in control, it’s nerve-wracking and stressful to not know what will happen in my life post-graduation. Where will I be? What will I be doing? Will I be happy? This is when the existence of a time lord is needed — just one tiny glimpse of my future five years from now would be fantastic and put my mind at ease. Or, you know, at the snap of my fingers the job market and economy would be fixed instantly and everyone would have hope for the future!
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d gush about how much I love book-to-vlog adaptations. While I thoroughly enjoyed “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries” and am completely engrossed with “Emma Approved,” my true love affair is with “The Autobiography of Jane Eyre.” Apart from the fact Jane Eyre is my favorite book, I have to say I really like the home video quality of this vlog. And the actors are so…natural! They feel far more real than the gussied-up actors with TLBD and EA, and I think it’s because it makes the whole vlogging aspect feel real. With AOJE, it’s not an actress playing Jane, she is Jane.
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I would tell you how I ache to live in two vastly different places: out west, in the mountains, or in London, where my heart belongs. Every memorable family vacation took place in the West, and there’s something about it that speaks to my introverted soul. And yet, with an equal pull, London (or any part of England, really) is calling. I studied abroad for a bit and cried when I came back to America.
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d share pictures of my beautiful black cat Rossetti, as it’s inevitable whenever anyone is around me. Follow me on Twitter and you can see some of my random updates about her quirks. Originally I wanted a black boy cat to name Byron, or an orange boy cat to name Keats (those two men speak to me), but when I met “Winifred” it was instant love and an instant name change to another wonderful poet. Byron and Keats will be saved for future pets — in the vault with a deaf kitty named Beethoven and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Cromwell (heehee).
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d ask you for book recommendations and TV show recommendations! I adore YA books, and will always want more recommendations (I tend to read fantasy or deeper/darker romances, but sometimes you need a good light and fluffy one too!). However, sometimes too much YA at once can create a bit of a whiny mental child, and so I’d need some more adult fiction recommendations too (some light, some historical, some mystery, some fantasy — anything). I tend to marathon TV shows too, and currently watch Once Upon a Time (Captain Swan!), How I Met Your Mother (what a crazy 48 hours it’s been…), Big Bang Theory, and New Girl. On my Netflix queue I have Bomb Girls, Land Girls, Doc Martin, Call the Midwife, and many other BBC/ITV shows that I’ve finished (Merlin, Downton Abbey, Robin Hood). Any suggestions for books or TV shows? Or movies??
  
  If We Were Sharing Cake . . . I’d recommend two books, a movie, and a TV show for you! Books: Indiana authors Sharon Biggs Waller’s A Mad, Wicked Folly (YA, historical, hilarious and heart-warming) and Jessica Brockmole’s Letters from Skye (adult, historical, powerful). Movie: It’s also a book, but if you haven’t seen Winter’s Tale yet you need to now. TV Show: Bomb Girls, if you haven’t already. So many great stories woven into a perilous time in history!
  
  Posted in books, Update Post | 8 Comments | Tagged books, if we were having coffee, movies, personal, pets, tv, vlogs
- 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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