Joelle Delbourgo Associates, Inc.
Rachael Cerrotti’s WE SHARE THE SAME SKY: A Memoir of Memory and Migration has a new cover, which I love. “Rachael Cerrotti’s narrative, and all Holocaust-related memoirs, should be told and retold, read and reread. Though the survivors are leaving us now, their stories remain and will be part of our collective memory:
the part that makes us human again. “–Lois Lowry, author of THE GIVER
From the co-author of the For the Love of Austen series comes a feisty debut rom-com, How Freaking Romantic (Gallery Books, July 2025).
In this sharply funny solo debut, an aspiring lawyer is forced to work alongside the opposing counsel in her best friend’s divorce case, which leads to the biggest irreconcilable difference of all: love.
Beatrice Nilsson is what some might call “feisty” (those who love her) and others “combative” (those who don’t). But no matter what you call her, she’s a good lawyer and an even better friend. So when the marriage of her two closest pals ends in divorce, Bea picks a side and storms the office of attorney Nathan Asher to tell him exactly what he can do with his alimony petition. Unfortunately, what should end with a few choice words soon spirals into uncharted territory when Nate shows up at her NYU Law office a few days later as a newly-minted adjunct professor—and her new colleague.
Bea still hates Nathan, of course. But between weekly meetings and networking events, walks around Washington Square Park and late-night pizza, that hate begins to feel a lot like something else. And as uncomfortable truths emerge about the divorce that started it all, she might have to choose between her friends’ happily ever after and her own for the very first time.
“[A] witty debut. The zippy plot and endearing love story will leave readers wanting more.” ― Publishers Weekly
“The humorous chemistry and enemies-to-lovers trope between Beatrice and Nathan makes the story a fun read from a promising author.” ― Booklist
“A perfect balm for the love-shy heart.” ― Library Journal (starred review)
“Flawless. Harding is set to be a rom-com powerhouse.” — Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan
“The set-up! The snark! The spice! Emily Harding had me at ‘storming the office of her best friend’s ex-husband’s divorce lawyer’ and kept me cackling all the way through. This book is an absolute delight.” — Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
“With razor sharp wit and perfect prose, Emily Harding has crafted a romance that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Harding’s characters are heart-breakingly real, and Bea is the exact kind of heroine I love to root for. How Freaking Romantic is sexy and smart and completely captivating!” — Falon Ballard, USA Today bestselling author of Change of Heart
“Inject this cynical angry woman into my veins! How Freaking Romantic is truly for the ragey girls among us, and I loved every second of it. Emily Harding writes the scrappiest, wittiest, most heartfelt characters to root for, and we’re all the luckier for it.” — Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances
“With biting wit, a tender and truthful take on modern adulthood, and a romance that threatens to burn up the pages, How Freaking Romantic is one of my favorite reads this year. This book made me an Emily Harding fan for life.” — Sarah Dubb, author of Birding with Benefits
“The verdict is in: Emily Harding’s How Freaking Romantic delivers with snarky banter and steamy sexual tension. This book takes enemies-to-lovers to law school and schools us all—on the complexity of evolving friendships, on dropping our defenses in the name of love and on what to do when that new co-professor is hot as hell. (Give in! That’s what!).” — Nora Dahlia, author of Pick-Up
“Emily Harding has a forever fan in me! Harding’s prose absolutely sparkles in her delightful yet deeply resonant solo debut. I fell in love with her heroine Beatrice from the very first page. Heart-strong, hilarious, and hard-wired to her principles even when most might waver, Bea is used to being the friend who takes care of everyone else. Watching her relationship with Nathan bloom is the perfect antidote for anyone who ever wondered if they are too loud, too quirky, or just too much. With Bea and Nathan’s exceptionally original, oh-so-swoon-worthy love story, readers will be reminded that even when life is complicated, the best type of romance should be simple. I simply loved this book.” — Becky Chalsen, author of Kismet
Emily Harding is one-half of the writing duo behind the For the Love of Austen series, including Emma of 83rd Street and Elizabeth of East Hampton. She is a graduate of Emerson College with degrees in both creative writing and film. After working over fifteen years in television development and production, she found her way back to writing. Emily lives in Dallas with her husband, two children, and an incredibly spoiled Texas heeler.
“The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a multifaceted love story wrapped in a mystery that unfurls on the changing winds of history. A rollicking, page-turning tale, this unforgettable novel explores time travel, art, passion, the complexity of past sins, and the abundant promises embedded in the here and now. Katherine Scott Crawford has written a beautiful book steeped in humanity, truth, and wonder.”
—Connie May Fowler, author of Before Women had Wings
2004: In historic Charleston, recently divorced art conservator Gamble Vance throws herself into her career restoring centuries-old miniature portraits. But one portrait haunts her: a woman in a fox stole, with familiar hazel eyes. When Gamble meets a girl in an alley, she’ s convinced it’ s the same woman— and it’ s not the first time they’ ve met. For help, Gamble turns to African American Studies scholar Tolliver Jackson— a former foster kid with secrets of his own. But as Gamble’ s memories resurface, the pair discover a connection which may endanger more than one life… in more than one lifetime. 1804: Miniature portraitist and fallen-away
Quaker Daniel Petigru paints for Charleston’ s high society. Daniel and his sister live with a free Black family, their connection long and complicated. When Gamble arrives from the future and her presence puts them all at risk, Daniel must decide if he loves her enough to let her go. The Miniaturist’s Assistant (Regal House, May 2025) explores the mystery of time, how our choices ripple throughout history, and what it means to be a fully-realized woman— in any century.
“To read The Miniaturist’s Assistant is to be wooed by the intelligent and humorous voice of Gamble Vance. An art museum historian, Gamble takes you, the reader, by the hand on a journey through Charleston, South Carolina, passing in and out of the 21st and 19th centuries to reckon with a ghost, or is it a ghost? Lovers of art, of culture, of humanity, will want to follow Gamble’s trail. Crawford illustrates the worlds of time and place with a pen so clearly shaped like a paintbrush that you feel you have crawled inside the book, or is it an 1804 miniature?”
—Amy Wallen, bestselling novelist, memoirist & author of How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies: Sweet & Savory Secrets of the Writing Life
“From the moment museum conservator Gamble Vance recognizes a familiar face in a 200-year-old miniature portrait, I was swept away in this immersive time-slip story. Katherine Scott Crawford deftly weaves this art historical mystery with intertwined love stories spanning generations. Readers will find their heartstrings pulled across centuries, turning the pages to see where Gamble’s complicated choices ultimately will lead her.”
—Laura Morelli, art historian and USA Today bestselling historical novelist of The Last Masterpiece, The Stolen Lady, and The Night Portrait
“A richly woven, beautifully researched historical evocative of Susanna Kearsley. Katherine writes about the past as though she lived there. You will want to read this one slowly, so you can linger with these characters and savor the setting.”
—Terry Lynn Thomas, USA Today bestselling author of The Silent Woman
“Rich with historical details, this fabulously fun and transportive novel explores the great mystery of time, asking whether it’s possible to live more than one audacious life. I fell in love with the characters—and with Crawford’s delicious sense of adventure and assured storytelling. Highly recommended for fans of Susanna Kearsley and Diana Gabaldon, The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a delight from start to finish.”
—Heather Bell Adams, author of Maranatha Road and The Good Luck Stone
“Crawford’s sweeping, Southern, and lushly romantic epic slips through time effortlessly, laying out a historic mystery as well as a love story with an immensely satisfying conclusion.”
—Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and Gothictown
“A tiny work of art offers a world of secrets in this delightful time slip story, but only the most courageous will dare to unravel the layers of mystery to reveal the heartwarming truth.”
—Genevieve Graham, USA Today bestselling author of The Forgotten Home Child
“Katherine Scott Crawford is a daughter of the Carolinas and she writes as such, tackling this ambitious historical novel with an unflinching eye. Crawford doesn’t shy away from the tangled and troubled history of the region or her heroine, a contemporary feminist who is unapologetically lusty and smart, fully prepared to challenge mores in her own time as well as those of the past she visits. The careening romance and sobering realities in this novel will leave readers with much to contemplate, a surprisingly poignant dose of optimism for humanity, and ultimately, the enduring legacy of love.”
—Kimberly Brock, bestselling author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare and The Fabled Earth
“Full of mystery and intrigue, The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a riveting exploration of the power of stories to transcend time and place. Crawford’s prose is enchanting, the story rich and layered, and, as a bonus, she offers readers a crash course in the fascinating world of miniature portraits! Part art lesson, part romance, part history, part mystery, this novel is a thrilling testament to the myriad ways we are connected to one another and to the past.”
—Jennifer McGaha, author of Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out and The Joy Document: Creating a Midlife of Surprise and Delight
Due to an avalanche of submissions, we’ll be pausing new submissions as of 5/27/2025, unless we have specifically requested materials. Thank you for your understanding and good luck in your search for representation.–Joelle Delbourgo
In the spirit of E. F. Schumacher’s Small Is Beautiful, a dazzling and revelatory exploration of what ancient ideas and ways of living can teach us about creating a more sustainable world
How should we think and live in a world facing environmental catastrophe? In this urgent, original, and wide-ranging book, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher brings together ancient, indigenous, and modern ideas about how to live in this world and describes how we might begin to reconnect with Nature and heal our damaged planet and lives. The ancients hewed close to Nature, the source of their survival, in ways that most of us can scarcely conceive of today, and ancient philosophy often argues that humans should follow Nature’s lead. Usher makes the case that Nature’s resilience can serve as a model for our own responses to climate trauma and all the other harms caused by modern lifestyles.
Drawing on philosophy, science, economics, art, literature, history, and religion, Following Nature’s Lead is both an indictment of human overreach and a celebration of human ingenuity and the adaptability of Nature. Here, Plato meets German biologist Jakob von Uexküll, Lucretius illuminates King Lear, and
Diogenes the Cynic crosses swords with Henry Thoreau.
Filled with vital and inspiring insights, Following Nature’s Lead (Princeton University Press, May 2025) shows how the ancients can help teach us to live in accordance with Nature—and why it’s essential for human survival that we learn to do so without delay.
“Following Nature’s Lead brings ancient Greek and Roman philosophy to bear on our contemporary global ecological crisis. With wry sagacity and genial erudition, Mark Usher reminds us that those works that come down to us today as classics teach us humility in the face of Nature. Weaving meditations across the centuries from Lucretius to Bataille, this book makes clear we have much to learn about our new and uncertain predicament from ancient thinkers and their epigones. There is wisdom here, if we but heed it.”—Roy Scranton, author of Learning to Die in the Anthropocene: Reflections on the End of a Civilization
“Mark Usher makes a compelling case that we can learn, or relearn, to follow Nature’s lead through an engagement with ancient Greek and Roman literature. He offers memorable readings of a fantastically wide range of ancient and modern authors, from Epicurus and Aristotle to Thoreau and Whitman. The book is full of original and enriching insights; there is nothing else quite like it.”—Jason König, author of The Folds of Olympus: Mountains in Ancient Greek and Roman Culture
“In this master class on ancient ecologically minded philosophy, Mark Usher invites us to live differently, to realign our desires with models of sustainability, and to chart a path toward living full and meaningful lives even as climate change renders our environment increasingly hostile to traditional forms of human flourishing.”—Tom Hawkins, author of Hacking Classical Forms in Haitian Literature
In Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 Years of Mountain Rescue (Mountaineers Books, May 2025), author and emergency room doctor Christopher Van Tilburg looks at the history of America’s oldest all-volunteer mountain rescue team, the Hood River Crag Rats, and his own three-decade commitment to search and rescue. Centered on Oregon’s iconic 11,249-foot-high Mount Hood, considered by many to be the world’s most-climbed glaciated peak, this dramatic narrative leads readers through a century of life-and-death challenges. Covering the past, present, and future of Mount Hood, Van Tilburg highlights the titans of mountain rescue, the ways that outdoor recreation has changed over time, the challenging effects of climate change, and, most of all, the unwavering passion of search and rescue volunteers. Foreword Reviews says:
“…the unshakable camaraderie between the rescuers is made palpable through honest, riveting accounts of various crises. Crisis on Mount Hood is both a survival guide and a chronicle of dedicated mountaineering heroes.”
In his most explosive book to date, SCOUT CAMP: Sex, Death, and Secret Societies inside the Boy Scouts of America (Citadel, February 2025), acclaimed journalist, author, creator of the True Crime This Week podcast, and former Boy Scout James Renner, explores the dark side of an American institution, its pervasive culture of sexual abuse, and the traumatic—even deadly—repercussions of its long-buried secrets.
In the summer of 1995, at the largest Boy Scout camp in Ohio, a night of sexual violence ended with one counselor dead and another hospitalized. The death was ruled “accidental.” It wouldn’t be the last death associated with Seven Ranges Reservation.
James Renner, too, was a counselor at Seven Ranges that year. He was always sure there must be more to the story of Mike Klingler’s death, because Renner also
knew firsthand that the 900-acre camp was not the safe getaway it was portrayed to be. On Friday nights the boys were ushered into the woods for a frightening ceremony in which they learned the rules for becoming good young men—and, above all, that keeping secrets was a scout’s duty. No matter how dark the secrets were.
Determined to face his demons, Renner embarks on a journey back to that tumultuous summer and exposes a clandestine society that left indelible scars on the scouts and the staff who were there. For Renner himself, it meant opening up about his twisted upbringing, his issues with trust and sexuality, and a lifetime of self-medication. The result is a deeply personal, no-holds-barred, and vitally important true crime memoir.
“A story that transcends true crime. . . enormously personal and extremely important.” —Lance Reensteirna, host of Crawlspace podcast on Scout Camp
“A searing, timely account of abuse and its corrosive powers. Part-mystery and part-memoir, this a brave and necessary look at how predation can become part of the culture of the most esteemed institutions. A must-read.” —Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, hosts of The Murder Sheet podcast on Scout Camp
“Little, Crazy Children leads us slowly into the underside of an ordinary suburb, where trust is eroded by a terrible crime, neighbor turns on neighbor, and everyone casts stones at the scapegoat. Renner has unearthed a dreadful moment in time and followed its lasting repercussions. An engrossing, chilling read.” —Mikita Brottman, author of Couple Found Slain on Little, Crazy Children
“[Renner] is just plain fun to read.” —The New York Times Book Review on True Crime Addict
“You have not read a book like this before and, I’d wager, you’ll not engage with its like again. . . Renner is a tantalizing and almost gleeful tour guide to and through the impulses of the armchair detective.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune on True Crime Addict
“As the title suggests, [True Crime Addict] is an addictive read.” —Bustle
Former Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive and storyteller Tricia Cerrone and CEO of Global Talent Builders Edward J. van Luinen share a roadmap to building stronger leaders, happier teams, and big results in an increasingly competitive marketplace. (Bloomsbury, World Rights, Fall 2026)
Tommy Hays is an acclaimed Southern writer, whose fiction grows out of his emotional connections to places he’s lived and known—Greenville, South Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; and Atlanta. His novel, The Marriage Bed, was published by Blair in March 2026. His prior novels are The Pleasure Was Mine (St. Martin’s Press 2005), In the Family Way (Random House, 1999), Sam’s Crossing (Atheneum 1992), and YA novel What I Came to Tell You (Egmont, USA 2013). He has published stories, profiles and book reviews in magazines, newspapers and literary journals such as Redbook, Our State, The Atlanta Constitution, The Charlotte Observer, Smoky Mountain Living, Still:The Journal, The Chattahoochee Review and storySouth.
In 2022, Hays was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors, writers judged to have added to South Carolina’s literary legacy. In 2021 he was named to
the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the governor of North Carolina. In 2018, he received the Charlie Award at the Carolina Mountain Literary Festival, recognizing a writer who has made significant contributions as a writer and a community builder. He was a long-serving member of the Board of the North Carolina Writer’s Network and is a continuing member of National Book Critics Circle.
He is founder and retired Executive Director of the Great Smokies Writing Program, UNC Asheville’s community writing program as well as Lecturer Emeritus in the Master of Liberal Arts program. He has taught in the Converse University Low Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing, the Murray State University Low-residency MFA Program in Creative Writing, The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and The Wildacres Writer’s Workshop. He received his BA in English from Furman University and graduated from the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College.
For more about Tommy:
Website: tommyhays.com
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/tommyhays.author/
Facebook Personal: https://www.facebook.com/tommy.hays2
Instagram: @tommyhays.author
Head of breast medical oncology at Valley-Mount Sinai and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s patient-centered guide to breast cancer, focusing on the physical and mental health challenges of young breast cancer previvors survivors and thrivers. (Grand Central Balance/Hachette, world rights, Spring 2026)