22 October Lauren Gardner #Agent121. Looking for: MG, YA, NA, ADULT FICTION/NON-FICTION

Description

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, NA/CROSSOVER, ADULT FICTION, ADULT NON-FICTION

Lauren Gardner joined Bell Lomax Moreton in 2014 and is very proud of the thriving and talented list of fiction and non-fiction bestselling, prize-winning authors across the children's and adult markets she has built since then. In July 2020, Lauren was selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Rising Stars’ in their annual list of ‘up and coming’ and ‘future leaders’ within the industry.

She represents authors and illustrators across Children's and Young Adult Fiction, New Adult/Crossover and Commercial Women's Fiction, and Adult Non-Fiction. Many of them have Sunday Times and International bestsellers under their belt and have won or been shortlisted for many prizes and accolades. They have collectively achieved many shortlists or prizes and allocates including the Waterstones Children’s Prize, The Carnegie Medal, The Branford Boase, The Barnes & Noble Children’s and YA Book Awards, The Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize and The Blue Peter Book Award.

Lauren loves love in books, whatever sub-genre you have written: real world romance elevated by unusual circumstances; tropes such as forced proximity, lovers to enemies, second chance romance, and fake dating; a romantic comedy set in a college or university; destination romance; supernatural, small town/wholesome romance; YA/crossover; genre blends - sports romantasy anyone? Contemporary romance authors Lauren loves include Emily Henry, BK Borison, Elsie Silver, Lynn Painter, Beth Reekles, Lindsey Kelk, Ali Hazelwood, Meg Cabot, Jenny Colgan, Talia Hibbert, Bolu Babalola and Beth O’Leary.

Speculative and historical romance in the style of Rebecca Serle, Alice Hoffman, Sophie Irwin, Lucinda Riley, Julia Quinn, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Stacey Halls are welcome in her submissions box.

In Romantasy consider works alongside Deborah Harkness, Rebecca Ross, Ava Reid, Nadia El-Fassi, Sarah Pinborough, Olivia Atwater, and Jennifer Mandula as these are among Lauren's favourite reads. As an agent she is seeking strong, voice-driven narratives with female protagonists and is always drawn to romance forward stories that offer a gentle gateway into this fantasy genre, and feature grounded magic or worldbuilding, and morally grey (but never morally black) characters.

Above all, don't be afraid to make Lauren laugh/cry/swoon/all of these emotions at whatever love story you are sharing.

Lauren would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document.

(In addition to the paid sessions, Lauren is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). 

By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting.

The submission deadline is: Thursday 15 October 2026 by 12 noon UK BST