Tag: book-review

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Aiden Siobhan of Laura Dail Literary Agency

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Aiden Siobhan (they/them) is a literary agent with Laura Dail Literary Agency.

Aiden graduated from UNC School of the Arts in 2023 with a Filmmaking BFA specializing in Screenwriting and Animation. Before becoming an agent, they interned at LDLA and were an Author Mentor Match mentee in 2022. When they’re not binge reading an LGBTQ+ YA novel, they work as the Art Director for two alternative newspapers, attend film festivals for their documentary projects, and go on road trips with their fiancé and dog.

Aiden loves any story that is diverse, heartfelt, beautifully written, and makes them stay up reading until 3 A.M. Send them your trope-filled, high-stakes, addicting novels that will hook them so well they’ll have to draw fan art (and they will)!

Find them on Twitter @aiden_png or on Instagram @aiden.png.

AIDEN IS SEEKING

Middle grade and young adult fiction: all genres, all fantasy subgenres. Diverse ensemble casts, clever voicey protagonists, action-packed, fast paced, ALL the tropes, high personal stakes, and compelling villains. Not the best fit for multiple POVs or stories about war. NO talking animals.

Adult Horror: psychological, cerebral. Contemporary, historical, and/or with speculative/paranormal elements. NO visceral horror/slashers.

Adult Romance: LGBTQ+ romances only. All genres. Enemies or friends to lovers, meet-cutes, strong independent women, fresh stories with strong hooks, and genre blending.

Graphic Novels: Author-Illustrators only. MG, YA, and Adult in all genres, fiction & nonfiction. Anything that fits categories above.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Gwyn Jordan of Gold Dust Literary

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Gwyn Jordan is a literary agent and the founder of Gold Dust Literary Agency.

“After years of working in the corporate world, I decided to transition to my true calling. I am the founder of Gold Dust Literary Agency, Gold Dust Editing & Book Promotions, and FiBs, a storytelling platform. I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and from Keller Graduate School of Management with a Master of Business Administration. Watching movies, traveling, and going to stage plays are some of my favorite pastimes.”

GWYN IS SEEKING:

“I accept mystery, thriller, suspense, and all heat levels of romance in the following subgenres: historical, contemporary, suspense, comedy, fantasy, and western. I do not accept: Paranormal, sci-fi, YA, religious/inspirational, or erotica (where there is no real plot). I especially like unique characters (ex. a professor who dresses like a rock star, a librarian who loves extreme sports), characters with quirks and flaws, and stories with rarely used occupations (acupuncturist, meteorologist, animator).

“I would absolutely love a historical romance where the main characters are commoners – the footman and the maid or the butler and the governess, or any other combination. My biggest desire is a love story between a widow and the butler (or a footman). Regardless of who your characters are or what situation they find themselves in, if it’s a romance, the story MUST end with an HEA/HFN. No exceptions.

“I’d love to get some mysteries (murder, thefts – you name it!), fast-paced thrillers, and large-scale schemes and scams (think Ocean’s 11 and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Put me on the edge of my seat or make me fall in the floor laughing. Dark and gritty and courtroom dramas are also welcome. Bring ’em on!”

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Patrice Caldwell of New Leaf Literary & Media

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Patrice Caldwell is a senior literary agent at New Leaf Literary & Media.

She seeks commercial, character-driven fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers as well as platform-driven nonfiction. Across the board, she is especially looking for science fiction & fantasy, mythology retellings and reimaginings, romance novels (including contemporary, paranormal, and romantasy), and anything that can be categorized as horror and/or gothic literature. Patrice also loves to champion stories from writers & illustrators from marginalized backgrounds. She does not represent picture books.

In 2021, Patrice was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media for her work founding People of Color in Publishing. She was also a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2018. Before becoming a literary agent, Patrice was an editor at Disney-Hyperion and, before that, Scholastic. She attended Wellesley College, where she studied Political Science and English, and lives in Dallas, Texas with her adorably mischievous cats, Quinn and Raven.