Estelle Laure

Estelle Laure – Editor

Senior Content Development Editor at one of New York's top agencies, specializing in children's literature.

Overview

I'm the author of ten published and/or forthcoming picture books and young adult novels, including acclaimed novel THIS RAGING LIGHT and Disney's City of Villains trilogy. I've been an Indie Next pick and a BEA Buzz Book author, and have worked for more than a decade as an agency associate with a major New York-based agency doing developmental edits and preparing manuscripts for submission (to date the number is upward of fifty published picture books and novels). I specialize in picture books, middle grade, and young adult, some of which have gone on to win awards, have been made into movies or TV shows, or have been bestsellers. I have also ghostwritten for celebrity memoir.


I hold an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA in Theatre Arts from New Mexico State University. I am passionate about finding the diamond in every story and I apply this with a focus on Young Adult and Children's work. I have also taught workshops and retreats with SCBWI and Inked Voices. I've contributed articles to Bloomsbury’s Writers & Artists, Uproxx, Huffington Post, and LitHub to name just a few.


I believe the best writing comes from the heart. It doesn't need to be based on something you've experienced, but it does need to connect with the reader on a visceral level. You want them glued from the first line, the first page, the first sentence, and you want them never to be able to look away, no matter how painful or awkward it gets. That is where my specialty lies.


Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Magical Realism Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (SA) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • BEA Buzz pick author
  • Indie Next Pick author
Certifications
  • MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2014 — Present

Folio Literary Management

May, 2012 — Present

I have spent the last five years doing editorial work at Folio Literary Management as associate to Emily van Beek. I write pitch letters, get manuscripts honed for publication, and my the diamond in every story and shine it up so everyone can see it. I have a deep knowledge of the publishing industry on the children's/teen side of things and know what people are looking for. Being an author myself, I am also sensitive to the writer. I know how difficult it is, but I've developed a method and am confident I have a sharp eye for what works.

Portfolio

Remember Me

Laure, Estelle

Mayhem: A Novel

Laure, Estelle

Since Ellie saved her home with her wonderful paintings, the zoo is back in business and the animals are more energetic than ever. All except for Lucy the giraffe, who hasn't been able to sleep with all the noise. Determined to help her friend, Ellie tries to ... read more
Stumpkin

Lucy Ruth Cummins

From the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of A Hungry Lion comes a unique Halloween story about a stemless pumpkin who dreams of becoming a jack-o-lantern.Stumpkin is the most handsome pumpkin on the block. He’s as orange as a traffic cone! Twice as... read more
Follow la vida y legado of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.When she came to America in 1921, Pura carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assi... read more
Deep Underwater

Irene Luxbacher

Sophia bravely dives down to discover the secrets under the sea. She encounters beautiful fish and floating forests. Farther down, the dark water is full of tentacles and treasures. Deep underwater, she is never alone. Do you dare dive down after her? The ocea... read more
Wings of Olympus

Kallie George

Starring Carmen!

Anika Denise

Meet Carmen! She LOVES the spotlight and applause. She's an actress, a singer, a dancer—a one-girl sensación! She exhausts her parents with her nightly performances and completely overshadows Eduardo, her adoring little brother. But when Eduardo shows his big ... read more
On the train ride to visit his grandpa, or Papa, Henri is only interested in his game. But then George the dog steals Henri's hat upon arrival, so Henri makes chase and finds himself in front of a trunk full of hats.Henri tries on each hat . . . and imagines h... read more
When Mona the Mouse stumbles across the wondrous world of the Heartwood Hotel in the middle of a storm, she desperately hopes they'll let her stay. As it turns out, Mona is precisely the maid they need at the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest, where animals co... read more
From the critically acclaimed author of The List comes a “transcendent love story” (Stephen Chbosky, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower) about a girl who must say goodbye to everything she knows after a storm wreaks havoc o... read more
Acclaimed writer Margo Rabb’s Kissing in America is “a wonderful novel about friendship, love, travel, life, hope, poetry, intelligence, and the inner lives of girls,” raves internationally bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love). In the two yea... read more
"Meet the new Ramona Quimby!" -- Entertainment WeeklyGertie Reece Foy is 100% Not-From-Concentrate awesome. She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her a... read more
Oona has found a very special egg. Oh, how she loves her baby! She'll do anything to protect this egg until it hatches. Then she can find out what's inside, even though it might just gobble her up! But Oona's precious bundle of eggy joy may never see the light... read more
Everyone is talking about Aftercare Instructions, Bonnie Pipkin’s electric debut novel:“Important, fierce. Pipkin stole my heart with this book.” ―A.S. King, author of Still Life with Tornado“Mighty, innovative, and nearly impossible to put down.” ―David Arnol... read more
Be True to Me

Adele Griffin

JEAN: Could it be true? Instead of a summer playing handmaiden to Daphne, was I being delivered something entirely different--a summer in the spotlight? A summer starring Gil Burke and me? Summer flings and sexy romances were Daphne's territory. Not mine. I wa... read more
Gayle Forman meets Francesca Lia Block in this dazzling story about two coma girls and the boy who connects their lives. From the author of This Raging Light, a debut that New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson calls “remarkable.”“Something does exist... read more
This Raging Light

Estelle Laure

For fans of Jandy Nelson and Rainbow Rowell comes a gorgeous debut novel about family, friends, and first love. Lucille Bennett is pushed into adulthood after her mom decides to “take a break”…from parenting, from responsibility, from Lucille and her little si... read more

Estelle has 44 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kaylen S.

Kaylen S.

Mar, 2024

I highly recommend working with Estelle. I received knowledgeable and actionable feedback within the timeframe we discussed, along with great industry insights. Thank you!
Estelle L.
Thank you so much, Kaylen. I loved your work and hope to see more!
Frank H.

Frank H.

Aug, 2023

Estelle was amazing to work with - delivered what I needed to hear with actionable and targeted guidance based on a professional diagnosis of the strengths and weaknesses within the voice and mechanics of my story. I also received information that I didn’t know I needed. All around, great experience which shaped me as an early stage writer. Really grateful for Estelle’s time, sharp eye, and...
Read more
Gale F.

Gale F.

May, 2023

After reviewing my query, Estelle asked all the right questions so that I could go back and revise with an informed, industry professional perspective. Her advice and questions were far more valuable than many talks I've heard at conferences because she was specifically addressing my query. Estelle also reviewed the first pages of my novel. Again, her notes and questions were excellent, proddin...
Read more
Estelle L.
Thank you so much, Gale! I look forward to our paths crossing in the future. :)
M.S.P. W.

M.S.P. W.

Dec, 2022

Estelle's editing expertise is astounding. One of the best investments I have ever made, and I am certain it will take my writing to a new level. Her insight, probing questions, and playing devil's advocate in regards to the choices I had both made and left behind made me question my story in ways that brought out the best in it, and me. Definitely recommend her to all those in need of an excel...
Read more
Estelle L.
Thank you so much for this! It means the world. Go forth and conquer!
Ellen C.

Ellen C.

Nov, 2022

Working with Estelle was an excellent experience. I feel she really had a good understanding of my project, offered terrific insight, and ideas. And was very pleasant to work with. I will happily work with Estelle again on my next project.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Estelle and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Estelle

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Jennie Cohen

Jennie C.

Proofreader and copy editor specializing in fiction and literary nonfiction. Fifteen years' experience with premier New York publishers.

Wilmington, VT, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Charlotte Colwill

Charlotte C.

A former bookseller turned editor and literary agent, I specialise in childrens and commercial fiction. I love polishing raw literary gems!

London, UK

100% reply rate

View profile
Susie Helme

Susie H.

Developmental Editor, Copy Editor, Proofreader. Award-winning author. Ex-magazine editor, with experience editing novels.

London, UK

100% reply rate

View profile