Estelle Laure
Agent, Senior Content Development Editor
As a Literary Agent/Senior Content Development Editor at Folio Jr., Estelle edits picture books, middle grade, young and new adult, and acquires and develops existing talent alongside Emily van Beek. Since 2012, Estelle has been working as an editorial consultant and developmental editor with established authors, many of whom are bestsellers and award winners; and while she is committed to supporting published authors, she has also developed a keen eye for new talent and a passion for working to bring a fresh perspective to their work and assist as they move toward publication confidently and with the highest level of artistic creativity.
A few of the authors & illustrators I represent...
Please note, Estelle works in lockstep with Emily van Beek and they share a query email. Any query to Estelle should be considered a query to them as a team.
YOUNG ADULT: We’re eager to find novels that are high concept and also masterfully conceived. Give us something bold and fresh with a voice that’s impossible to put aside, and romantic stories to make readers ache and long. Thrillers, grounded fantasies, and horror are also on the wishlist. We’re not the best choice for “message” or hard science fiction. We’re also not right for straightforward contemporary realistic without a speculative twist or original frame, or for derivative high fantasy. Regardless of genre, we dream of the intersection between stellar writing and plot, something that leaves us puffy-eyed or laughing out loud. Comedic and undeniable voices are more than welcome, as are whimsy and sparkle.
MIDDLE GRADE: Stellar, exquisitely imagined stories please; a middle grade crush, first-tremors-of-love book; a comedy, or a humorously mischievous story; original fantasy; undeniable characters; hilarity. We love the idea of doing something unexpected with illustration or hybrid approaches to storytelling, as well as genre benders such as rom-com or locked-room mysteries, for the younger set. We also love speculative, high concept, and magic in middle grade. We’re totally open to shorter middle grade geared toward reluctant readers, with plenty of fun included. We want to be taken by story as much as any ten-year-old, and we would love to shepherd authors who are focused on wonder, joy, and revealing the world to young readers.
We are not looking for picture books, chapter books, new adult, or romantasy at this time. In all cases, we enthusiastically welcome projects from authors of diverse backgrounds, as well as the LGBTQ+ community.