Hi friends,
It is August 14th, 2024. My very first debut novel released on August 14th, 2014.
It has been exactly a decade.
Ten whole years.
And ten published books. (Plus, three on the way!)
I started writing novels for fun when I was 13 (back in 2003… 21 years ago now! Jeez, when I did get so old?!). The encouragement of my English teacher was the flint that sparked the flame; the joy I felt while writing were the logs that sustained the fire; my big dreams were the oxygen that intensified the blaze during the 8 years I toiled away, writing novel after novel in the hopes that one would feel different—better.
“I’ll know my debut when I see it,” I used to think. And sure enough, when I wrote The Only Thing Worse Than Witches in 2011, I knew it was special. A cut above my other attempts. Elevated.
(This picture is me 10 years ago, signing the very first finished copies of The Only Thing Worse Than Witches at my first ever author signing.)
I spent years of my childhood believing that being an author was something it definitely wasn’t: glamorous premieres and launches, interviews in magazines and on TV, sold-out events with throngs of readers, all cosplaying my characters. Fame, fortune, and a fancy fountain pen.
But these were ridiculous, childish caprices. When Little Lauren first conceived of this dream, she was full of whimsy, ungrounded in reality. Young Adult Lauren is the one who would see this dream play out and follow it through. And quickly, I began to understand that for most career authors, publishing is a lot QUIETER than the Twilight/Potter/Percy playbook.
At first, my expectations crashed hard with the reality of being a middle grade author. I was disappointed by small setbacks during debut year, devastated by rejections while on submission with Case Closed, and hindered by the fear that I would never see another book of mine in print. I am washed up and dried out, I fretted back in 2015 and 2016. I’m a one-contract wonder. I spent days/weeks/months worrying about worst-case scenarios; it impeded my productivity and crushed my spirit. My “what ifs” were out of control. (I think we call this anxiety.)
But somehow, somewhere, along this decade-long road, my attitude shifted, and it changed absolutely everything about how I navigate the publishing world.
Here are some of the ways my approach and mindset changed:
I learned to keep my head down and work. And work. And work. At some point, I came to realize that rejections themselves didn’t bother me… What really troubled me was the unknowable future: the fear that whichever book I had on submission—something I loved with all my heart—wouldn’t sell, wouldn’t land, wouldn’t find its person. But I know now that a fast submission doesn’t always end with the best deal terms, and a slow submission isn’t at all an indication of how a book will sell, and no news is no news. There are good eras and bad eras in publishing: boring years where nothing happens, cataclysmic years where bad things happen, and quick, joyful years where the good news is nonstop. There are easy markets and hard markets (and yes, mostly hard markets of late). So much of publishing is about luck and timing and staying seated as the rollercoaster dips, spins, and loops. In the end, I decided that the things out of my control in this industry are not worth my energy. What I can do is continue to write and hope and keep my resolve indomitable.
I learned to advocate for myself. I call myself the “lean in” friend. If you’re an author bud of mine, you know that I’m the first person to tell you to kindly push back, advocate for what you need, and ask for things you want. Ten years ago, I was so afraid of being perceived as difficult that I let publishing walk all over me. I find that thoughtful, well-reasoned, polite push back gets me so much more respect from the people I work with than folding ever did. No one is going to fight for your work harder than you… so I’ve practiced using my voice. And I’ve learned to expect communication in return. Nothing—nothing—is more important than honest, prompt, clear communication from an agent and editor.
I learned to bet on myself. Whenever I had the choice between something easy and something hard, I took the hard road. First: I quit my salaried job when almost every person I knew told me “don’t.” The gamble paid off, and I don’t think I would have had the brain-space to figure out Case Closed’s structure and format if I didn’t commit to it full-time. Second: I wrote Case Closed even when my agent at the time warned me it would be a hard sale… and it was a hard sale! But it was also the series that has been my most successful to date. Third: I walked away from a book deal that offered me crushing terms… and no regrets. Because if I don’t respect myself and my own work, why should I expect anyone else to? It was a scary, risky choice, but I believe in the power of betting on oneself.
Once I adjusted my attitude, I became so much more (cautiously) optimistic. And once I adjusted my expectations, I became so much more productive. Finally, I was able to lean into the parts of being an author that are even more fun than I had ever imagined!!!
Like, for example, my main job perk: I meet kids all the time at book festivals and school visits, and it’s marvelous. I get to chat with them, sometimes at length:
—Outgoing kids, who converse with me like we’ve been best friends for years
—Shy kids, who softly tell me about their hobbies and dreams
—Silly kids, who crack jokes
—Ambitious kids, who want to be writers or illustrators, who describe their creative pursuits to me
All these kids—their passion, their enthusiasm—is why I am always heart-first with middle grade.
More fun parts of being an author: I see my books in other languages! Spanish, Italian, French, Bulgarian, Catalan, Greek, Czech, and Turkish so far. There are so many books I’ve written that I can’t even read myself! Thank you to all my translators for your amazing work.
I get to see artwork for the things that I once only imagined in my head. Thank you to my cover illustrators! And the biggest special thank you to Mirelle Ortega for illustrating 60+ times per Mythics book, in addition to the cover!
I get to hear my work through someone else with audiobooks. The Mythics are my first books to get audio editions. There are sentences that Gail Shalan reads that sound different (and BETTER) than what was in my head. And other sentences that sound exactly like I had imagined. The story takes on a new life, a new voice. It gives me goosebumps in the best way.
I get to collaborate with my agent and my editors. I see the fruits of labor from design, production, managing editorial, marketing, publicity, and sales teams. I’ve come to realize just how much of a group effort it is to bring a novel to life. Like being on a sports team, but for book nerds.
I’ve made so many author friends—some lifelong, with my deepest confidences; some new and shiny; some that make me feel warm and happy, even if we don’t talk all the time. It is so wonderful to walk into a bookstore with a non-publishing person and be able to say, “I know them, I know them, I know them!” as I point to different books on a shelf.
And most thrilling of all:
I get to write stories for a living. I get to write stories for a living. That’s something marvelous and spectacular in and of itself. Things I invent in my head end up on paper, for others to read. They end up meaning something to people, in the way that my favorite books mean something to me. My books have helped turn kids into eager readers… My books have sparked imagination, play, fun, joy. My work has made kids solve puzzles. My work has made them laugh.
(This is me with my books today… and this isn’t even all of them!)
I will never get over just how cool every part of this experience is. Being an author was my childhood dream and is my adulthood paradise. Thanks to everyone who has been with me all this time, during this past decade. Thanks to everyone who has found me in recent years. THANK YOU to everyone who is sticking around for the future.
What I’m Writing
THE MYTHICS series (3/4ths available now): The Mythics 4 is off at the printer. And wow, it feels strange to have finished this story. But also… it’s not done for YOU yet. You’ve got one extremely exciting adventure ahead of you. (Or, if you haven’t started it yet, four extremely exciting adventures ahead of you!)
Marina and the Kraken, Hailey and the Dragon, and Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox = out now!
Ember and the Phoenix = available for preorder, releasing December 3rd.
THE INCORRUPTIBLES series (Summer 2025): Well, oddly enough, I am about to start drafting The Incorruptibles 2. I’ll never get over how strange it is that book two will basically be in finishing stages before book 1 even drops! Book 2 has a ton of plot twists and dramatic moments in store; I’m eager to reach some of those scenes!
And recently, I got fantastic and glowing feedback from an authenticity reader about the representation and inclusivity within book 1. I wish I could share the letter, but know that I was absolutely verklempt reading the comments. And I’m feeling more excited than ever to let you all into this story.
CASE CLOSED series (out now): There’s a reason these books are my most popular… They’re highly interactive, action-packed mysteries where YOU get to be the detective. If that sounds fun, it’s because it is fun!
Trauma Project (work in progress): Trauma project is back with my agent, and I’m waiting for feedback! It’s the draft that feels like it’s finally clicking together, like putting the last puzzle pieces on the board. I don’t know how to describe it, but there’s always a point around draft 2 or 3 or 4, where I can feel it working in the way it’s supposed to. And when I say I feel it, it’s because the excitement is physical: my tummy spins on tumble dry.
What I’m reading
Matteo by Michael Leali: Michael is the king of queer middle grade that is so real and deeply moving—he delivers gut punches and heart melts with equal dexterity. This story is a Pinocchio retelling that works so perfectly as a coming out metaphor: the lies you tell yourself and others, the fear of being different, wanting to be a “real boy” like everyone else. Augh, it’s so perfect. Highly recommend.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio: This adult book is my entire personality now. I couldn’t put it down… and the moment I finished, I had to go back and reread all of my favorite scenes. I’ve even dug up my old Shakespeare collection with a vow to reread the tragedies (let’s see how this goes haha). If We Were Villains is about infatuation, obsession, poetry, ambition, jealousy, rage, and guilt— all the best Shakespeare has to offer. Basically, if you’ve ever been a theater kid, this is your book!!! And if you’ve never been a theater kid, alas (poor Yorick) this is still your book.
Two Giveaways
Educator Back to School Giveaway: I’m giving away 50 books to 50 different classrooms looking for a read-aloud. I’ve got 25 copies of The Mythics: Marina and the Kraken and 25 copies of Case Closed: Mystery in the Mansion. Winning classrooms will get one book, a teacher’s guide, a class set of bookmarks, and a free 20 minute virtual visit with me (to be used any time before the end of 2024). You can enter via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Threads.
Water bottle: I’ve got ONE fox water bottle left. The next person who leaves a review of The Mythics: Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox on Amazon gets it (you must have a US mailing address though). All you have to do is email a link of your posted review to laurenmagazinerassistant@gmail.com.
Where to Find Me
Saturday September 28th: Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (10 am to 4 pm)
Saturday October 5th: Princeton Children’s Book Festival (11 am to 4 pm)
Sunday October 13th: Warwick Children’s Book Festival (11 am to 4 pm)
Saying Goodbye
I think it’s only fair to let you know what’s coming in my next decade of publishing:
—I will bring you more books, starting with: the conclusion of The Mythics series in December and the opening of The Incorruptibles series next summer.
—I hope to expand into adult books.
—I would love to write a series that’s 5-7 books long (take a chance on me, publishing!).
—I am determined to get another pick-your-path series out there.
—I want to work on a graphic novel.
—I am going to keep writing mystery and fantasy, but in addition: I would love to dive into my other two favorite genres: sci-fi and horror.
—I will continue to challenge myself by pushing my work in format, content, and audience. I’ve always prided myself on stretching the limits of what publishing “allows” by bending the rules. I hope I get to see the rulebook entirely shredded.
Thanks for the love and support. Cheers to the next decade!!! <3
Love,
Lauren
Happy 10 years Lauren! <3
Also, I LOVED the audio recording!!