Courses in Manchester

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Laura studied law at university and spent over 20 years at Virgin Atlantic which allowed her to indulge her passion for reading whilst travelling. On deciding to pursue a career in publishing, Laura joined the Darley Anderson Agency where she worked across the Women’s Fiction list, reading submissions, handling contracts and supporting authors on their path to publication and beyond. She co-founded Greenstone Literary with Tanera Simons in 2024 and is excited to build a list of authors. Laura is looking for commercial crime, thriller, suspense, bookclub, historical and romance fiction as well as select non-fiction. Above everything she wants to be entertained. Laura is looking for a book you can’t wait to talk to someone about, in the same way as a new film or the latest release on Netflix. A book that engrosses her from the first page to the last, desperate for someone she knows to read so they can discuss as soon as possible. It will always be an original hook that draws Laura in, a whole concept that can be summed up in one line that immediately stops her in my tracks and makes her think. Character and voice is also crucial. Laura is a huge fan of Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb, Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club cast and Lynda La Plante’s Jane Tennison. She would really love to see more strong, memorable women in crime. In bookclub fiction, voices that have stayed with her are Adduni in The Girl With The Louding Voice, Cyril in The Heart’s Invisible Furies and Molly in The Maid. Recently, Kitty in How To Kill Men and Get Away With It had Laura secretly rooting for her serial killer antics. Laura loves to be engrossed by a pacy, twisty, surprising plot. It doesn’t need to be overly complex – sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. She wants to be thrown curveballs she never saw coming and be kept guessing until the last page. Books Laura has devoured are Nightwatching, The Housemaid, The Last Mrs Parrish, Fourth Wing, None of This is True and American Dirt. Books that play with genre also capture Laura. Novels such as Wrong Place, Wrong Time which combined a crime mystery and the story of a mother’s love with a speculative element and The Time Traveller’s Wife, a high-concept love story which crossed time and age. Laura is a huge fan of true crime and would love to read a fiction version of podcasts she has been gripped by. She really enjoys cold cases being reopened as a result of new evidence or technology which exposes past injustices such as on Bone Valley, In The Dark or Who Killed Emma? She is particularly drawn to stories of deep deception or ‘scams’ such as those by Anna Delvey or Coco Berthmann, Tinder Swindler or Fyre Festival. Laura is always intrigued by anything involving investigation into cults, such as in BBC Sound’s World of Secrets. She also loves nothing more than sobbing her heart out over a book and being left emotionally wrung-out! Whether it be a devastating historical tragedy or star-crossed lovers torn apart by destiny. Books that have broken her heart include The Bridges of Madison County, The Kite Runner, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Birdsong, My Sister’s Keeper, Cilka’s Journey and Four Winds. In non-fiction, Laura is looking for an untold story or perspective or an unexplored area where you have expertise or real-life experience. As a reader of non-fiction she wants to be engaged in a relatable, accessible way. She loved the evocative settings and personal journeys in The Salt Path and The Wild Other. The laugh-out-loud More Than A Woman had her ordering this for many friends. Three Women and Educated are brilliant examples of non-fiction books that read like fiction. The awe-inspiring Do No Harm stayed with Laura long after reading.  Laura is not looking for poetry, novellas, screenplays, or children’s books. Laura would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Laura is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Thursday 12 September 2024

Nicola will help us to explore how our language and imagery for God plays out in prayer and spirituality, taking into account feminist and other critiques of dominant patriarchal and hierarchical God language and imagery. The evening will include input from Nicola, use of prayer and poetry, conversation in small groups and interaction with the speaker. Nicola Slee is a theologian, writer, poet and spiritual director. Nicola has wide-ranging experience of adult education and has a particular interest in feminist theology, practical theology and the role of poetry and the arts in Christian education and life. She has written numerous books and articles, exploring feminist theology, liturgy, spirituality, and much more. She is Professorial Research Fellow at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham; Professor of Feminist Practical Theology (the Queen’s chair) at The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Visiting Professor at the University of Chester. The main input will be recorded and made available on request. A reading list will be made available after the event.

Embark on a poetic journey with our Poetry course. From the basics of poetry writing to crafting epics, learn the art of imagery, metaphor, and versification. Perfect for aspiring poets seeking to refine their craft and embrace the world of poetry.

Level 4 QLS Endorsed Course | Endorsed Certificate Included | Plus 5 Career Guided Courses | CPD Accredited

Embark on a poetic journey with our Poetry course. From the basics of poetry writing to crafting epics, learn the art of imagery, metaphor, and versification. Perfect for aspiring poets seeking to refine their craft and embrace the world of poetry.

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