Jennifer Laughran

@literaticat

literary agent with a lot of opinions 👀 also a podcast 👀 also my puppy looks like baby chewbacca! www.jenniferlaughran.com / www.andreabrownlit.com

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Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· 25d

I fear The Odyssey might be my new personality 😭😭😭 I LOVED IT So did #FlatOdysseus

A paper figurine of Odysseus from Gareth Hind’s graphic novel adaptation of the Odyssey — at the movie theatre, propped up against some popcorn in a plastic bowl

A paper figurine of Odysseus from Gareth Hind’s graphic novel adaptation of the Odyssey — at the movie theatre, propped up against a poster of The Odyssey movie that features scary Laestrygonians (giant cannibal warriors)

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· 28d

Happy Book Birthday to THE STORY RUG by Sophie Blackall and @phoebewahl.bsky.social ! This book is SO lovely, an absolutely perfect blend of words and pictures. (And it will probably inspire you to want to BRAID something — it did for me, anyway!) 💖

A copy of the picture book STORY RUG by Sophie Blackall and Phoebe Wahl, featuring an illustration of various children making a braided rug; in front of the book is a multi-colored section of braided rug and a pair of pink scissors

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· 29d

Move over, Flat Stanley — meet FLAT ODYSSEUS! He’s ready to be downloaded, cut out and brought with you on all your summer adventures. Careful, though, he has kind of a reputation for being a trouble magnet… @garethhinds.bsky.social bit.ly/4f4WY96

A flat paper Odysseus doll that can be cut out with some informational text: “Embarking on an adventure? Take Odysseus with you! To the beach! To the movies! Into battle! Send him anywhere — no raft required!”

This is a fun promo item for author-illustrator Gareth Hinds’s graphic novel adaptation of THE ODYSSEY, newly out in a deluxe special edition from Candlewick Press.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· 29d

I am both overwhelmed with my to-do list and also for some reason decided to start BRAIDING A RUG (????) Well, there is a reason, it is because this book comes out tomorrow and I’m obsessed with it and I think YOU might be, as well. Read it and see if you don’t want to braid something immediately!

A picture book called STORY RUG by Sophie Blackall and illustrated by Phoebe Wahl. The cover illustration features five “folk art esque” children of various completions and body types, who are all in different stages of braiding rags together, against a soft blue background. The title, STORY RUG, is in a hand-written style in the center of the image. The book is on a display at the American Library Association conference and has three placards sticking out indicating that it has received three starred reviews so far.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Jun 19

This auction is cool but also there are some weird ones. Like why is Dr Ruth INSIDE Curious George, and also gripping The Poky Little Puppy? [insert highly inappropriate joke here]

A library “Read” poster featuring a smiling Dr Ruth Westheimer, who is wearing a red blouse with black polka-dots, and is posed holding a GIGANTIC copy of Curious George which engulfs half her body and from which her torso appears to be emerging; also in her left hand is clutched a regular sized copy of the Poky Little Puppy. On a blue background with mustard-yellow READ above her and a mustard and ketchup colored border. In the bottom left corner some yellow text reads “Dr Ruth Westheimer @ Your Library”

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· May 24

What in the Island of Dr Moreau is going on at Douglas Toys?

A plush pink sea slug toy with a rabbit face and long fur and sea slug tail and whatever-you-call the bottom of a sea slug — “slug bunny”

A plush yellow dog toy with a corn cob body. “Corn dog”

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Apr 27

I saw this girl on tiktok make butter by shaking heavy cream in a mason jar. I had heavy cream. I had a mason jar. Most importantly, I had ten minutes and a desire for butter. Babes I MADE ACTUAL BUTTER WITH JUST CREAM AND A MASON JAR AND BRUTE STRENGTH I’M BASICALLY A PILGRIM 😭😭😭😭😭😭

A photograph of a ramekin full of butter sitting on a cutting board in the center of the frame. An empty mason jar and a bowl of buttermilk are partially visible behind the ramekin.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Mar 5

You guys wtf is up with my watch face is this screwy or am I having a stroke IS THIS WHAT NUMBERS LOOK LIKE

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 24

HELP this is in the bathroom and now i have to burn the house down 😭😭😭

A giant ass centipede or SOMETHING???? FML

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 23

I’m going to visit madre; they don’t have Trader Joe’s there so she gave me a wishlist of snacks and spices to bring. Which is why I had to be quadruple screened and almost missed boarding; seems “everything but the bagel” seasoning looks a lot like the makings of an incendiary device 👀 THANKS MOM

A pic of some of the stuff my mom requested from California: Smoky and Hot Chili Powder (sadly discontinued), Salmon Rub. Everything but the bagel seasoning, and candied ginger slices.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 18

PS: this banana muffin tastes exactly — and I mean EXACTLY — like a banana flavored Runt. (How does a muffin have the same flavor AND TEXTURE as a Runt? Look, idk. I’m not a scientist.) I’m glad I didn’t give up muffins for lent tho because I would have hated to have missed this surprise 😮 🍌

A banana muffin that has been torn asunder to reveal suspiciously vividly yellow interior, on a brown paper wrapper.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 12

Watching the Ice Dancers Smart and Dieck 🇪🇸 who are doing a routine with a Dune theme. I assume he is supposed to be Paul. Not to make it *weird* or anything but… is she supposed to be… his MOM??? 👀

Ice dancers dressed in Dune 2 costumes, intertwined

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 10

Happy Book Birthday to the luminous new picture book BEATRIX AND THE UNICORN by Lita Judge! bookshop.org/p/books/beat...

The cover of the Picture Book BEATRIX AND THE UNICORN, which features a gold-framed painting of a young seated girl who appears to be a medieval peasant, reverentially gazing at and reaching out to a dappled white unicorn tapestry that seems to almost be coming alive. The title is in gold above the frame, and both frame and title are on a mulberry-and-mauve floral motif background.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 3

🧌OUT NOW!🧌 CAMP MONSTER, a MG graphic novel by @katemessner.com and Falynn Koch, is about a summer camp for Monsters. Can Goblins, Werewolf, Ogre and Yeti really put their differences aside & come together when *mysterious things* start happening at camp?! Perfect for fans of THE INVESTI-GATORS!

The cover of the book CAMP MONSTER, featuring a big goofy cartoon Yeti front and center, surrounded by various smaller cutely rendered monsters, on an outdoor/mountain background.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Feb 3

✂️OUT NOW!✂️ THE SNIPS: ENTER THE WIGMASTER by @raulthethird.bsky.social and Elaine Bay, is the second book in the zany MG graphic novel series about crime-fighting hairdresser superheroes whose scissors are as sharp as their wits. Great for pun-loving readers of DOG MAN and THE BAD GUYS.

Cover for the book THE SNIPS: ENTER THE WIGMASTER, featuring a crew of hairdressing superheroes armed with scissors; a villain with black gloves and a striped shirt and wild visage is looming over them

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Jan 25

A rare moment when both pets are in the same room and being calm. (A chase ensued within two minutes of this pic)

In the foreground, a copper-colored Cavalier poodle mix dog stretched out and looking at the camera. Behind her, there is a TV stand with a dilute tortoiseshell cat stretched out on top looking at the camera.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Jan 17

I honestly couldn’t have even imagined that was possible! This is what I pictured was happening on the other end:

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Dec 27

I saw a post from @fuse8.bsky.social aboy this documentary “Story and Pictures By” and had to watch it immediately. It’s about picture books and their creators, and follows Mac Barnett, Christian Robinson & Yuyi Morales! It’s really good! Rentable on AppleTV, prime and YouTube.

A black movie poster with a design featuring a red paintbrush and purple pen intertwined

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Dec 16

I’m wrapping pressies for various children. My sister (who, for the record, NEEDS TO WEAR GLASSES) squints at the wrapping paper and goes, “okay I get that it’s mostly Paddington’s regular outfit — but why is he also dressed as a rabbi?” Paddington: marmalade enthusiast AND dapper ursine rabbi?

Wrapping paper featuring Paddington Bear in various poses — fishing, reading, looking thoughtful, hailing a cab… and also, in one image, wearing a tuxedo. NO RABBI IS PICTURED.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Dec 5

How can both these things be true? 😩 👵🏼 I call shenanigans!

A Spotify wrapped graphic that says “your listening age is 78. Since you were into music from the early 60s. You’re an old soul!”

A Spotify Wrapped list that says “Your Top Artists: 1) Megan Thee Stallion. 2) Doechii. 3) Charli xcx. 4)GloRilla. 5) Kendrick Lamar.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Nov 25

Related, I got this sticker @oblongbooks.bsky.social yesterday bc it made me crack up

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Nov 16

I got home from an eventful night and day in the city to find THE CAT MISSING. She is an indoor baby but had snuck out — the dog found her hiding under the deck and told us where she was, but it took a solid hour of lying on the ground in the rain and waving churus to lure her 😭 stressing me OUT

A dilute tortoiseshell cat with big green eyes curled on a fluffy white and grey blanket looking solemn

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Nov 11

Somebody asked for a source for my allegation that ClaimsHero is deceptively luring authors on social media. Source 1: MY EYEBALLS, I’ve seen the ads. Source 2, an article from Law360, needs a login. I took a picture of a PDF and I’m sorry in advance but I simply cannot type all this into alt-text.

Page one of the Law360 article about the Anthropic ClaimsHero opt out scam titled: Anthropic Deal Opt-Outs May Have Been ‘Lured,” Authors Say.

Page two of the Law360 article about the Anthropic ClaimsHero opt out scam titled: Anthropic Deal Opt-Outs May Have Been ‘Lured,” Authors Say.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 31

Happy Halloween from Popshepsut the Sphinxadoodle! 😍

A copper-colored Cavapoo wearing an Egyptian Nemes headdress and a beaded collar, lying down with her paws out in a “sphinx-like” manner.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 28

This is the face of an animal who just ate a Blackwing pencil. And she’d do it again!

A fluffy and unrepentant copper-colored cavapoo reclining on a dinosaur-fabric covered beanbag.

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 22

HOW TO SAVE AN OTTER and HOW TO SAVE AN OWL are the first two installments of a delightfully sweet new chapter book series by @katemessner.com — WILDLIFE RESCUE is about two siblings, Ivy and Ezra, who are “critter couriers” and help animals in need! Perfect for young animal-lovers! ❤️❤️❤️

A book jacket for HOW TO SAVE AN OTTER, book 1 in the Wildlife Recue series, featuring an illustration of an adorable otter in the foreground and two kids peeking at the otter in the background

A book jacket for HOW TO SAVE AN OWL, book 2 in the Wildlife Recue series, featuring an illustration of an adorable owl in the foreground and two kids peeking at the owl in the background

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 17

We went to a different part of the park than usual and noticed an octagon-shaped structure that is evidently called a “Gaga Pit” for playing “Gaga Ball” — I am pretty confident that is not and has never been a game in my world, which means we must have found a pocket dimension / alternate timeline??

A grassy field with an 8-sided wooden fence, about 2 feet high (?) containing… more grass

A closeup of the wooden fence with a posted sign reading GAGA BALL RULES in large white font. Underneath there is a lengthy list of rules in too small a font for anyone to read unless they are next to the fence, which I am not

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 12

It’s hard to convey just how big and ambitious and gorgeous (and literally HEAVY) this graphic novel about Salem is 😭 I’m obsessed with Giles Corey so I’m IN. MORE WEIGHT: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey, published by @topshelfcomix.bsky.social

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Oct 9

I’m doing a module about workplace violence for the bookstore and there is a lot of talk about HORSEPLAY. I haven’t seen this term since I was a kid, one of the posted rules at the swimming pool was NO HORSEPLAY. HORSEPLAY doesn’t even feel like a real word anymore. HORSEPLAY🐴

A computer screen that reads”HORSEPLAY. In the last year, teasing or arguments at work have escalated in a way that made me feel unsafe” and then there is a graph (76% no, 12% idk, 12% yes)

Jennifer Laughran@literaticat· Sep 28

Listen, we are all gonna die at some point. Why not?