Success stories
Our writers go on to publishing contracts with major publishers.

New Island have signed The Grateful Water by The Novelry graduate, Juliana Adelman—a historical debut set in Dublin in 1866 about an ensemble of characters seeking refuge or forgiveness from the River Liffey.

Juliana is represented by literary agency Greene & Heaton. 

Juliana says: “I was just dabbling around with little prospect of finishing anything when I took The Novelry courses. I got to the end which gave me the confidence to revise and revise some more with The Big Edit. The best thing about The Novelry is the people! A supportive environment fostered by Louise and the team and a whole crew of writers.”

Penguin Random House has acquired The Language of Birds by The Novelry graduate, K.A. Merson. Ballantine Books will publish the novel in hardback.

In The Language of the Birds, a brilliant but solitary teenager must unlock ciphers, unearth buried clues, and reckon with the outside world as she pursues an ancient secret in this brainteasing, puzzle-filled mystery.

K.A. Merson says: “There may be numerous paths to publication, but I’d argue that most of them are long, winding, and full of danger. It pays to hire guides who know the way and can identify the hazards. For me, one of those guides was The Novelry. After making many of the changes suggested by The Novelry, my agent queries garnered significantly more interest in the form of full MS requests. It can really pay to hire professionals.”

Picador, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, will publish The Accidental Malay by The Novelry graduate, Karina Robles Bahrin.

The novel was the winner of the Epigram Books Fiction Prize.

Karina says: “Thank you for all the support The Novelry team gave me :-) I couldn’t have finished the manuscript without the help of everyone there.”

Welbeck, an imprint of Hachette, will publish two books by The Novelry graduate Kate Gray, acquired in a six-figure deal following a four-way auction.

Kate says: “In desperate need of some TLC, I joined The Novelry. I wanted to feel part of a gang, share writing wins and woes, and remind myself that I’d done it before and I could do it again, no matter how daunting the blank page first appears. I hoped that if I surrounded myself with like-minded writers, I would soon be fired up with creativity and rediscover that escape I desperately craved. I looked forward to the weekly team chats, and the live author Q&A sessions where I wrote down all the advice and notes in my new Moleskine until my hand ached.

“One of the things I loved so much about The Novelry was the One Hour a Day method. This became an almost meditative form of self-care for me, especially during that first draft of The Honeymoon. I decided to write the sort of book that I would want to read. A fast-paced thriller with twists aplenty, relatable characters in situations that you as a reader could easily find yourself in and gritty themes; everything I adore in suspense fiction. Within two months I had a finished first draft. Unheard of in my writing career. Within four months it went on submission. Then it went to best and final bids at auction a fortnight later. This story, one that hadn’t existed even half a year ago, was now going to be a lead title for Welbeck.”

Penguin Random House and Bloomsbury published The Novelry graduate Kate Weinberg’s “crackling, comical, tender and mysterious” novel, There’s Nothing Wrong With Her.

‍U.S. rights were sold to Putnam (Penguin Random House) by Janklow & Nesbit and Bloomsbury acquired U.K. and Commonwealth rights.

‍There’s Nothing Wrong With Her is about a woman suffering an unnamed condition that confines her to a physical and mental state she calls The Pit. This is a book “about mental health, the certainties of medicine, buried trauma, love, death and time lost in the crushing—and comical—hopes of modern life.”

Kate says: “I’ve used the inspiring resources of The Novelry for help in developing both of my novels, The Truants and There’s Nothing Wrong With Her. I can say, hand-on-heart, that it has given me more tools and confidence—in both the art and craft of novel-writing—than my year-long prestigious Masters degree in Creative Writing ever did.”

Kelly Mullen, a graduate of The Novelry, has published her second novel, A Murder in Eight Cocktails, with Century (an imprint of Penguin Random House).I

n the seaside haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Willa Keane’s marriage is in a rut. As a retired interior-designer-turned-influencer, she’s sure life begins at fifty-five, whereas her husband, Marty, is more interested in watching his beloved birds.

So when Willa is invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes the evening will rekindle their flame. But arriving at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it’s being hosted by her charming ex-husband, Paul.

The night is thrown into even deeper chaos when the bar’s enigmatic owner is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests there’s no foul play, but Willa’s heightened senses aren’t so sure. Now she must solve the mystery together with her husband…and her ex-husband.

Can they find the killer before another victim is served their last cocktail?
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HarperCollins will publish the debut novel from The Novelry graduate Lucy Barker in a ‘significant’ two-book deal.

In the U.K., Katie Bowden, editorial director at 4th Estate, secured U.K. and Commonwealth rights to The Other Side of Mrs Wood.

The Other Side of Mrs Wood is described as “an irresistible historical comedy about two warring mediums in Victorian London, inspired by the real-life rivalry between famous spiritualists Agnes Guppy and Florence Cook in the 1870s.”

Lucy says: “I signed up to The Novelry to force myself to finish a languishing draft, thinking I’d use it as a prompt rather than a “school”—I’d done enough writing courses and wasn’t expecting to learn much more from the lessons. But WOW! Louise has developed a cornucopia of thought-provoking sessions and exercises that challenged the way I saw my practice and stretched my thinking and experience well beyond my comfort zone, resulting in a first draft I never thought I’d ever be able to write. And, just as predicted, I really did quickly start to come to my writing with confidence and joy. As a writer, you can’t ask for much more. I’m hugely grateful that I discovered this fantastic writing course and the marvellously inspiring Louise Dean and her equally inspiring coaches. Thank you!”

Crooked Lane Books has published The Lost Hours by The Novelry graduate, Lynn Tavernier.

‍The Lost Hours was a Finalist for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award and described as “if Dennis Lehane and F.Scott Fitzgerald co-wrote a book” by Peter Farrelly, Academy Award-winning co-writer and director of Green Book.

Lynn says: “I’d begun submitting to literary agents hoping to secure representation, but the results were less than encouraging. One agent offered kind words, but passed explaining the book still needed work and I should consider professional editorial assistance. He suggested I look into The Novelry. Tash Barsby’s lengthy report addressed every component of the book. I went to work and edited based on Tash’s recommendations, and the result was nothing short of amazing. My novel won the Claymore Award for best mystery at the Killer Nashville writers’ conference, and then became a finalist for the Debut Dagger Award. Soon after, I secured agent representation and then, the holy grail: a book deal.

“I can encourage anyone in need of editorial assistance to find it at The Novelry.”

Talitha McQueen, a graduate of The Novelry, has signed with literary agent James Wills at Watson, Little for her gothic historical novel based on the life of Rose Edith Kelly, the first wife of infamous occultist Aleister Crowley.

Talitha says: “Joining The Novelry was the best decision I made for myself and my writing career. For years I had thought about writing a novel, but I wasn’t really sure where to start. I found the daily lessons very inspiring, and I was able to complete a first draft. The daily Golden Hour made it a joy to turn up each day and has instilled a daily writing habit that has changed my life. The Big Edit has given me the skills I need to edit my own work. Through my submission process I had support and guidance from The Novelry team. I am so glad that I found my home here at The Novelry and I am now represented by James Wills of Watson, Little. I cannot wait to continue to grow as a writer within The Novelry community.”

Tiffany Hawk has signed with literary agent Chris Bucci at Aevitas with her thrilling, high-stakes novel, Thank You For Your Silence.

Thank You For Your Silence follows a military wife plotting an escape from her marriage, and her drone-pilot husband, who begins spying on her from 25,000 feet—only to discover her new lover is hiding a dangerous secret.

Tiffany is a graduate of The Novelry and was introduced to her agent through our bespoke submission service.

Tiffany says: “I came to The Novelry as a working writer and previously published novelist who hadn’t written a new book in more than a decade, needed a new literary agent, and had no idea how to write a thriller. My investment paid off in spades. Sunday Times bestselling author Clare Mackintosh was an absolutely brilliant coach—and so much fun! Then working with Tash Barsby throughout the submission process was one of the highlights of my 20+ year career in publishing. From her editorial savvy to her unflagging support and her expert management of submissions, she was my fairy godmother. In the end, I got five offers from agents at some of the world’s top agencies!”

Victoria O’Brien, a graduate of The Novelry, has signed with literary agent Maria Cardona Serra at Aevitas Creative Management.

Set in 1944 in a Bavarian mountain village, Victoria’s debut historical fiction novel, Marianna Kauffman is No Longer Dead, tells the story of two sisters who discover their priest’s housekeeper dead in the woods and vow to stay silent—until, eighteen years later, when a psychiatrist encourages one sister to confess everything.

Victoria was introduced to her agent through The Novelry’s bespoke submission service.

Victoria says: “I’d been trying to write a novel for a while, but as soon as I joined The Novelry I immediately felt part of a very different world: a focused support group, and access to coaches and editors like Josie and Lizzy, all of whom are so profoundly professional they treat you as an equal and take your work seriously from day one, whatever stage in the writing process you are. That was incredible for me—to have the framework, videos, blogs, live online talks, and to be surrounded by other writers. All of it supported my goal, and whenever I was wandering off course (which was often) The Novelry nudged me back in the right direction, which was exactly what I needed.”