Laurie Dennison is an associate agent and film/TV associate at Creative Media Agency actively building a list anchored in psychological and domestic suspense, upmarket women's fiction, and commercially-hooked romance, with a strong pull toward complex characters, family dynamics, and authentic diversity.
In brief
Her stated wishlist and her current agency page are closely aligned, but the agency page adds one notable expansion: Young Adult across any genre with a strong commercial hook — a category absent from some older public profiles.
Her comp titles skew commercial and broadly accessible (First Lie Wins, Happy Place, Such a Fun Age), signaling she wants literary craft in service of readability, not prestige-lit for its own sake.
She explicitly calls out the film/TV associate role on her own page — a useful signal that she's thinking about subsidiary rights and is likely drawn to high-concept, adaptable premises.
She came to agenting through a decade-plus as a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and editor plus five years as a Pitch Wars mentor — meaning she's worked hands-on with developing manuscripts and is likely a line-level editorial agent, not just a deal-maker.
Her list is early-stage; writers who query now are getting in during active list-building, which historically means faster turnaround consideration and genuine openness to debut voices.
Lately
Someone is pretending to be me and reaching out directly to authors. Please beware! I only accept queries from my Query Manager account, and if I contact an author directly, it will come from my CMA email address ending in cmalit.com.
In October 2025, Dennison acknowledged she had been closed to queries for longer than she originally planned and offered an explanation for how an agent actively building a list could remain closed — signaling she is aware of the tension this creates for querying writers and is communicative about her availability.
What Laurie is looking for
Her lead fiction category and first-named genre on her own page. She's drawn to the kind of taut, character-driven suspense exemplified by First Lie Wins — where psychological tension and domestic stakes drive the story. She's also open to a light speculative thread woven into the suspense, provided it stays grounded in a real-world emotional reality rather than veering into full genre fantasy.
Contemporary romance with a strong commercial hook is her sweet spot here — she gravitates toward stories that feel warm, witty, and emotionally resonant. She is also open to light fantasy or paranormal romance that remains firmly rooted in the real world. The comps she names are all commercially accessible, emotionally-centered reads, suggesting she wants romance that has genuine heart and a marketable premise.
She groups these closely together on her page, and both appear repeatedly in her stated priorities. She wants upmarket writing — prose that has a literary quality — but paired with accessible, emotionally grounded stories about women's lives. Complicated relationships and family dynamics are a particular draw. Book club fiction implies layered themes and discussion-worthy emotional stakes, not just commercial plot.
This is the most noteworthy expansion visible on her current agency page — she is open to YA across any genre, provided the hook is strong and commercially compelling. No single sub-genre is specified, so writers of YA suspense, YA romance, YA fantasy, or YA contemporary should all feel welcome to query, as long as the commercial angle is front and center in the pitch.
She is looking for nonfiction authors who are genuine specialists — credentialed, experienced, or otherwise authoritative in their subject — and who bring a strong platform. The topic should feel timely and revelatory on questions of gender, feminism, cultural criticism, or women's lived experience. Platform is not optional here; she states it directly.
She describes this as 'big idea' nonfiction — books that help her see the world differently, written by authors with real expertise and an established audience. Pop culture, education, and social science are the sub-areas she flags. A clear thesis, demonstrable author authority, and a full book proposal with sample chapters are required for nonfiction submissions.
Not the right fit
On Laurie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Laurie
Open your query by naming your genre and word count precisely — she represents several distinct categories (suspense, romance, women's fiction, YA) and needs to know immediately which lane you're in.
For domestic or psychological suspense, anchor your pitch in character and emotional stakes first, then plot mechanics — her comp (First Lie Wins) is a character-forward thriller, not a puzzle-box procedural.
If you're writing romance, lead with the commercial hook. She names it as a requirement, so your query should make the high-concept premise obvious in the first paragraph.
For YA, emphasize the commercial hook explicitly — her page flags this as the key criterion. Don't assume a strong concept speaks for itself; state it plainly.
Include exactly the comp titles she requests — her own page asks for them, and the comps she names herself are all recent, widely-read books, so pitch to that level of commercial accessibility rather than reaching for obscure literary touchstones.
If you have a nonfiction project, your submission must include a full book proposal with sample chapters in the designated section — a query letter alone is insufficient.
If you've met her at a conference or workshop, note it in the referral section of her submission form — she specifically invites this.
Expect a 4–6 week turnaround on queries; additional requested material may take several months. If you receive an offer from another agent during this time, notify her immediately.
Her background is in hands-on editing and manuscript development — lean into craft and character depth in your pages, not just plot efficiency. The first ten pages she requests are your primary audition.
Because she has periodically closed to queries even while actively building her list, confirm the form is open on the day you plan to submit — do not rely on any cached status.