✨Agent Alert!✨ Jennifer Herrera is looking for THIS ->

Welcome to Rising Tides Writers, a community of 1.8k aspiring and published writers. I’m Caroline Madden, author of The Marriage Vendetta (2025 HarperCollins/Bonnier) and The Village (April 2027). It took me more than a decade to get my first book deal and in this newsletter I’m sharing all the things I wish I’d known back when I was getting buried under rejections!

This week I’ve had the privilege of reading an advance copy of a fantastic novel written by an author I got to know through this newsletter - her novel is being traditionally published in 2027 (watch this space) and I’m thrilled for her. This is also the first time I’ve been asked to give a blurb, so I’m feeling like a 'real’ author now (it also helps that I’m really enjoying it!).

Another bonus is that reading her novel has given me an excuse to ignore the towering laundry pile on my bed, which my little muse is very happy about:

Also, huge congrats to another lovely subscriber, Edelle Dwyer, whose short story has been selected by Howl Writing for inclusion in their next issue. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you, Edelle 🎉

US literary agent Jennifer Herrera, of the David Black Agency in New York, is now open for fiction queries and loves:

• character-driven thrillers

• upmarket book club fiction

• imaginative fantasy

Jennifer is an experienced agent, having joined the David Black Agency in 2015 after working at Fletcher & Company and Europa Editions, where she was an early advocate of Elena Ferrante.

And she comes across as approachable and knowledgeable on her Insta account.

She’s also an author, which used to be a no-no for me (due to an unfortunate experience years ago with one of my early agents) but I actually wouldn’t let that put you off. My third agent was a published author but her writing didn’t distract from her agenting work — and she got me two book deals (eternally grateful, Kesia 🫶🏻). And she also understood what it’s like from the author perspective, so it was a plus.

You can find more info about the genres Jennifer is interested in, and query her, HERE.

This is a question that plagues both aspiring and published authors: should we keep trying? Should we keep writing? Or should we just go and try and live like ‘normal’ people with… what’s that thing called… oh yeah, a social life?!?

I remember after my first novel died (twice) on submission and I parted ways with two agents, wishing that someone could just tell me if it was all going to be worth it. If I should keep going or throw in the towel.

So in case you’re wrestling with the same questions, I decided to put together the decision tree that I would send to my younger self if I could, in the hope that you find it useful:

Note: I don’t receive any commission for any of the books, courses or services recommended above. I paid for them all over the course of many years and am including them here because they proved to be game changers for me. I suggest you pick and choose according to your budget. If your budget is €0, then I would strongly encourage you to borrow Story Genius from your local library. That’s what I did and it put me on the path to a trad deal. (I should also point out that self-publishing has become a much more viable option over the years.)

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that I was playing around with different approaches to creating a ‘platform’ (ugh, I’m starting to hate that word) to promote my second novel The Village.

As part of this, I started a new Insta account and it kinda took off (thanks SO much to those of you who followed the account!), gaining over 900 followers in two weeks.

Here’s the problem: something about being active on Instagram DESTROYS my ability to write fiction.

So I’ve pretty much put the new account on ice for now. Because what’s the point of anything if I can’t write??

Okay, I better go sort that laundry pile before it collapses on me try to get some fresh words on the page!

Keep writing ✍️

Caroline x

P.S. Let me know in the comments if it’s just me, or if social media affects your ability to write too 🤯