Lauren Albury is an Associate Agent at Holloway Literary who hunts for lyrical, character-driven literary and upmarket fiction—particularly stories rooted in Caribbean culture or the American South, with romance woven into the plot rather than driving it.
In brief
Lauren Albury's wishlist centers on a tight intersection: literary or upmarket fiction with beautiful prose, vivid settings (Caribbean and Southern especially), and romance as a subplot rather than a genre.
The exclusions are unusually specific—no ghosts, aliens, or torture, and no political or pandemic themes—signaling a preference for intimate, human-scale stories over high-concept or topical fare.
Albury came up through both FinePrint Literary (New York) and Holloway Literary's own intern-to-assistant pipeline, suggesting a rigorous editorial sensibility shaped by two distinct agency cultures.
No confirmed public sales record is available at this time, so the wishlist and interview statements are the primary taste signals—weight the specificity of Lauren's own words accordingly.
A query should open with setting and character voice; Albury explicitly wants to feel immersed in a world and has described a love for endings that are bittersweet or unhappy, so don't soften your pitch to sound commercial.
Lately
In a January 2025 agent spotlight, Albury described wanting fiction that makes readers feel as though they grew up inside another culture—rich, immersive world-building rooted in authentic place and community, particularly Caribbean voices and Southern settings.
What Lauren is looking for
This is Albury's core category. They want prose that showcases the full expressive range of the English language—lyrical, precise, and emotionally resonant. Compelling characters with surprising story arcs are essential. Albury is drawn to gritty, raw, and realistic work, and openly favors endings that are bittersweet or outright unhappy over tidy resolutions. Romance should exist as a complement to the main story, not the engine of it.
Commercial appeal paired with literary ambition. Albury wants immersive, richly textured storytelling that would work for discerning book-club audiences. Voice and setting are as important as plot.
History as backdrop for deeply human character stories. Albury values cultural immersion—the sense that a reader could finish the book feeling they grew up inside a particular place and era. Caribbean history and the American South are areas of particular interest.
Relationship-driven stories with emotional depth and richly drawn settings. Romantic themes are welcome here, but Albury consistently frames romance as a supporting element rather than the central conflict. Sharp wit and poignant emotional beats are both valued.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Lauren
Send to Lauren Albury's dedicated query email address at Holloway Literary; paste the first 15 pages of your manuscript into the body of the email—do not attach them as a separate file.
The subject line must follow a specific format: Agent Name / Manuscript Title / Genre. If you met Albury at a conference, include the conference name in the subject line too.
Open your pitch with a back-cover-style description that leads with character, setting, and stakes—Albury is explicitly drawn to immersive settings, so name the world early.
If your story has a bittersweet or unhappy ending, say so in the query; Albury has publicly flagged this as a draw, not a deterrent.
Frame any romantic element as secondary to the main plot—avoid language that positions the story as 'a romance with literary elements,' even if the romance is significant.
Caribbean cultural settings and Southern U.S. settings are active areas of interest; if your manuscript is rooted in either, highlight that in the opening lines.
Responses take approximately eight weeks; do not follow up before that window closes.
Include social media links in your author bio; Albury's submission guidelines specifically request them.
Do not include self-published credits unless the titles have sold substantial numbers—Albury's agency explicitly flags this.
Verify the live submission form status before sending, as open/closed standing can change at any time.