• Fantasy, spec fiction, alternate history, and horror; fresh, original, unexpected reimaginings, especially those from less represented traditions or those that play with or reinvent classic or familiar tropes in unexpected ways. Bonus points for fantasy and spec fiction that explore real world issues, with inventive, multi-faceted world building, like SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN, THE MERCY MAKERS, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, DARKER BY FOUR, and the SCHOLOMANCE trilogy.
• Retellings in all categories that feel like they’re reinventing the underlying tradition, myth, work to which they allude, (especially 19th century British Lit, Shakespeare, Dante, fairy tales, Asian mythologies). Some examples are Madeline Miller and Mary Renault’s takes on Greco-Roman mythology, Maggie Stiefvater’s THE SCORPIO RACES, Naomi Novik’s SPINNING SILVER. Wildly original reimagining of ‘classics’ in all different traditions (I love mythology, folklore, fairy tales) in which the story feels like one only the author could tell it. For so many personal reasons, this author is the right person to tell this story.
• Gothic suspense or thrillers in the vein of MEXICAN GOTHIC, focused on other regions and histories. I’d love one set in Japan. 
• Romantasy that is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance
• High concept Rom-Coms that have both a captivating romance and a successful, intriguing idea that drives the story.
• Sexy historical romance in the vein of the TV show Bridgerton
• Modern literary or dark academia mystery like A.S. Byatt’s POSSESSION.
• Thrillers and mysteries with dynamic, unexpected characters; immersive, vivid world building; and rich psychological insights and authenticity like Tana French’s IN THE WOODS; Barry Eisler’s John Rain and Livia Lone series; Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn; and Attica Locke’s THE CUTTING SEASON. I love thrillers and mysteries based on this principle from Michael Connelly: “The best crime novels are not about how a detective works on a case; they are about how a case works on a detective.”

Laura gravitates toward the gorgeously written, the weirdly idiosyncratic, and the refreshingly unexpected. The common threads in the diverse range of projects she represents are conflicted, dynamic characters; a fresh, strong voice; an unusual point of view; and vivid world-building. She loves works that draw on literary traditions and reimagine them as something completely, captivatingly new. She has a special fondness for books that play with commercial tropes, but give them surprising emotional depth. Her sweet spot in the market is literary voice and commercial conception. 

She'd love to find fiction in all categories with an intriguing, thoughtful, feminist sensibility. She’s seeking speculative fiction, fantasies, and thrillers that use underrepresented traditions, histories, or cultures as the basis for their world-building. She looks for street cred and authenticity—whether of trade-craft, investigative technique, historical or geographical setting, culture, or psychology. She’s fascinated with hidden worlds and secret knowledge.

Some TV favorites are EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO, BODY GUARD, and THE OLD MAN, and she’d love to find fiction with a similar vibe. Having lived in Japan on and off for four years, she would also love to find a novel having anything to do with Japan or Japanese culture—in any category, like TOKYO EVER AFTER, by Emiko Jean (YA), and FAULT LINES, by Emily Etani (adult).

Laura is, for the most part, only interested in author—illustrator works in the graphic novel space.

Please note: Laura does not accept queries through email. She is closed to picture book queries at this time, with the exception of referrals. 

See more on Laura's Manuscript Wish List

Laura is currently OPEN to queries. 

To query Laura, please read and follow the submission guidelines on the Andrea Brown Literary Agency website. To submit your query, visit https://querymanager.com/query/LauraRennert. 

Follow the directions on Query Manager to submit your query. If Laura is interested in reading more, she will request the full manuscript. For illustrators submitting art samples only (not dummies), please put "SEEKING ART REPRESENTATION" in lieu of a title. And "0" or "1" for Word Count. In the sample section, simply write "n/a."

If you receive an offer from another agency, please let us know immediately, and we ask that you give us 2 weeks to review your submission once you've notified us of your offer.​
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ABLA Second Chance Inbox
At ABLA we take pride in our collaborative approach to agenting and we often share queries internally when we believe a colleague is a better fit for the material.
However, if a creator would like another opportunity to have their project considered by ABLA after their first choice agent passes, we invite you to submit your work to the Second Chance Inbox. All our agents have access to this inbox and will regularly look through it to discover new material! If an agent finds something they are interested in, they will reach out to that creator directly.
When submitting to the ABLA Second Chance Inbox, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. However, because this is a shared inbox and we want every agent to have the opportunity to look through it, we will not be sending passes to queries in the Second Chance Inbox. If you have not heard from one of our agents within 12 weeks of submitting to the Second Chance Inbox, please assume ABLA has passed on your project.​​

QUERY LAURA