Keep trying to write the story that speaks to you and make it yours by imbuing it with your own personal experience and your own worldview, because I think that's what makes the story unique. And then just keep going, keep studying craft, keep rewriting scenes or portions of the manuscript.
Don't be afraid to revise.
Thank you
, , , , and the many others who tuned into my live video with Reese’s Book Club author . Now you can watch the replay above!This interview is the first in a Live Substack series I’m calling Well Published! Next up will be a live conversation with debut author
about her brand new memoir The River’s Daughter on Wednesday, June 11, at noon PT.Here are a few takeaways from my inspiring conversation with Lauren!
The Road to Publication
Third time's the charm: "Society of Lies" was actually Lauren’s third novel attempt (first two received only rejections)
Strategic approach: After initial failures, she studied the query process extensively, researching agents, formatting, and industry practices
Query methodology. To get her agent, Lauren:
Created spreadsheet with 70+ agent names
Found agents through acknowledgment sections of similar books
Personalized each query letter
Sent queries in batches of 5-10
Pitch events: Used PitMad and ThrillerFest to get agent attention. The Pitchfest at Thrillerfest is a kind of speed-dating event, where you get to pitch numerous agents in one day.
The breakthrough: Got one offer of representation, then leveraged that to get multiple offers
Reese's Book Club Selection
The call: Lauren received the news while on vacation in Dominican Republic (after a bee sting and kite surfing injury!)
Behind the scenes: Publishers submit books; book clubs have scouts/readers who narrow down selections; Reese makes final decisions
Impact on publication:
Release date moved from August to October
Cover redesigned to include Reese's Book Club sticker
No traditional book tour - focused on virtual events and podcasts instead
Writing Process & Craft
Lauren’s current writing process:
Extensive outlining (up to a year, 35-page outlines)
First draft aims for 60-70k words
Builds in layers through revision to 120k+ words
Then cuts back down
Genre focus: Targets "upmarket" category - thrillers with deeper themes and messages
Influences: Celeste Ng, Gabrielle Zevin, Jodi Picoult, Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Reese's Book Club Experience
Not like Oprah: No major media appearances, but invitations to Hello Sunshine events
Community building: Creates supportive network among Reese's Book Club authors
Sales impact: Became USA Today bestseller; steady ongoing sales through word-of-mouth
Meaningful feedback: Readers connecting with multiracial representation in the story
Business Insights
Lauren had a two-book deal: Sold both first and second novels together before Reese's selection
Current approach: Has folder of 100+ story ideas; tests top concepts with family/friends before committing
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Write authentically: Imbue stories with personal experience and worldview
Embrace revision: Stories are built in layers; first draft is just scaffolding
Study the craft: Continuously learn and don't be afraid to rewrite
Persistence: Keep trying different approaches and don't give up after rejections
Research: Study successful books in your target category and understand the query process
Key Success Factors
Strategic targeting: Lauren studied Reese's Book Club picks to understand the market
Professional approach: Treated querying like a business process with spreadsheets and research
Quality team: Having the right agent and editor proved crucial for career advancement
Authentic voice: Writing from personal experience as a multiracial woman resonated with readers
Genre positioning: Successfully hit the "upmarket thriller" category with deeper themes
For more about Lauren and her work, please read our first interview here:
How to Write a Bestselling Multiracial Thriller
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“In many ways it’s beautiful to be part-one race and part-another… because it lends a kind of unique perspective and empathy that not everyone has a chance to experience. It makes us realize that we are all shaped by our upbringing and that we can be more than one category at a time and shift between them.”
Coming Attractions from MFA Lore:
Tune in on your Substack app for upcoming MFA Lore LIVE chats:
Well Published! with Bridget Crocker - Wednesday, June 11 @ 12pmPT / 3pmET
Authors Unfiltered: LIVE with Darien Gee , Aimee Liu , and - Friday, June 20 @ 12pmPT / 3pmET
Loreate Salons for Paid Subscribers are now bimonthly!
By popular demand of our Zoom Loreates, we’re now going to gather online every two months on the third Saturday. This day and time seem to work for everyone from Hawaii to Switzerland, so our next gathering is Saturday, July 19 at 10amPT!
All paid subscribers are welcome. As we get to know each other, these gatherings will be less meet-and-greet and more discussion of the thorny issues bedeviling our collective writing life. Consider this online space our Loreate Salon!
Would you like an MFA-level response to your work?
Becoming a Premium Member of the MFA Lore community will entitle you to Aimee’s written feedback on your query and up to 5 pages (1250 words) of your creative work. Your “Take 5 Packet Letter” will highlight both the Strengths and the Opportunities in your work, helping you determine whether it’s time to “press send” to agents or reorient your revision. Price will go up next month, so subscribe or upgrade today!
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