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The January Issue: Upcoming Lucinda Literary Titles and a Valentine’s Gift for Writers!
Lucinda Halpern shared her latest publishing insights from this month. Read on to see her latest news, and if you’d like to receive her monthly newsletter directly in your inbox, sign up here.
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Already we’re in the throes of a new year and 2024 feels far behind us, but as writers—and humans!—it’s important to take stock of what we accomplished last year. It’s not just the accomplishments either, but understanding why we haven’t yet accomplished certain things. Like writing a book.
I swear by my 5-year journal, which helps me see where I get stymied—I can always spot the seasonal trends—and also helps me to remember small wins.
This new year, let’s begin with the satisfaction of what you have already accomplished. I’ll call it “the zero to one,” by which I mean:
- The act of writing it down somewhere that you plan to get your book published.
- Sharing your work with a trusted readers committee, or with an actual agent
- Beginning the book proposal
- Getting started on the manuscript
- Completing the first draft
- Sending out your first batch of queries
Where do you get stuck? Many writers will say they found it too hard to make the time. Usually, this is a cover for not believing in yourself; a fear of not being good enough.
But what would failure look like, if you haven’t entirely defined success?
If you care for my unsolicited opinions on success, finishing a book alone is a laudable act. But publishing a book cannot be an act of ego. It must be about understanding who your readers are, and connecting with them.
Even rejections you receive from agents, when you follow up correctly (something I give extensive tips on in Get Signed) can become learning opportunities for how to make your book even better.
Upcoming Titles from Lucinda Literary
Below, our agents share what they loved about singing and working with these first-time authors, who’s books will be released this year!
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Kip Wilson’s ALL THE LOVE UNDER THE VAST SKY (January, Penguin Books, Agent: Roseanne Wells)“Kip’s work is so special to me. We started working together on a YA prose novel, and then we pivoted to sell her YA debut, which kickstarted her career as a verse novelist. To now bring a stellar group of poet contributors together for this YA anthology is truly amazing. I hope that readers will come away knowing that they are less alone, that feeling everything so deeply is not a weakness but a strength.” |
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Michelle Bang’s SUN & SSUKGAT: THE KOREAN ART OF SELF-CARE, WELLNESS & LONGEVITY (February, HarperCollins, Agent: Lucinda Halpern
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Marcie Flinchum Atkin’s ONE STEP FORWARD (March, HarperCollins, Agent: Roseanne Wells)“Marcie and I went through many iterations of this YA suffrage project! Its final form is a testament of Marcie’s strength as a writer and dedication to telling women’s stories. Matilda Young is an incredible hero for teens and activists alike, fighting to find her voice and make it heard.” |
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Josie Balka’s I HOPE YOU REMEMBER (May, Simon & Schuster, Agent: Kelly Bergh)“I scouted Josie because I loved her content online and selfishly wanted her to write a book so I could read it! Working with her has been an absolute dream—she is so friendly, creative, and grateful. I’m so excited to see where her career goes after the release of her debut poetry book this spring!”
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Kristen Witte’s THE CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF TAROT (August, Macmillan, Agent: Kelly Bergh)“I met Kristen before I became an agent, and the second I began working with Lucinda Literary, I knew I wanted to represent her and her fresh take on tarot: making the medium accessible for young children. The illustrations are gorgeous and this is sure to be a popular gift for “witchy aunts” to gift little ones.”
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Katie Wood’s A SIMPLE SEED (August, Random House, Agent: Kelly Bergh)“Katie self-published this children’s gratitude journal a few years ago and saw immense success. Fast-forward to 2024, when Katie came to me with a deal in hand and we negotiated a reprint of the journal with Penguin Random House. The new edition of A SIMPLE SEED will be released just in time for parents to help their kids establish health habits for the new school year.” |
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Joey Kidney’s JUST REMEMBER (September, Andrews McMeel, Agent: Kelly Bergh)“Joey has spent the past decade creating content online, and some of his most popular videos have been simple reminders to his viewers that in the end, we’re all going to be alright. I’m so excited to see his spoken word poetry get turned into a book this fall. And keep your eye out for more big book news from Joey in the near future.” |
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Kyle Austin Young’s SUCCESS IS A NUMBERS GAME (November with Hay House Business, Agent: Lucinda Halpern)“Kyle was referred to us by a long-time client, but found another way to capture our interest: sharing a proposal for his idea in a consultation with me. I was struck by Kyle’s intelligence, his very good questions, and of course, the book idea itself, which is essentially a way of looking at statistical probabilities in order to make better decisions, in all aspects of life. While he didn’t bring a traditional platform, Kyle is a marketing strategist by trade, with published bylines in notable publications that proved his chops as a writer, and a network of authors and influencers to support his message. A true success story himself in beating the odds of book publishing as a first time author.”
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Chris Moore, PhD’s GUILT out December with Collins Canada (CAN) and BenBella (US) (Agent: Kelly Bergh)“If you spoke with me in person, at a conference, or in a coaching session last year, you definitely heard me talk about Chris and his debut book about the mystifying moral emotion of guilt. Chris queried me in summer 2023 and I knew the second I read his pitch that GUILT was right up my alley. The manuscript is in great shape and the countdown is on for publication at the end of the year!” |
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