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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷

@lbensonhadley.bsky.social

59 followers 39 following 41 posts

Aspiring YA author & cat lover 🐈 🏳️‍🌈💄🌎🌌🦓🩷♋️ 🪶Querying: THE THRONE'S GUARDIAN #ownvoices ✍️WIP: ROMANCING THE CUBE

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · May 7

THE THRONE'S GUARDIAN

18yo Blakely discovers she’s heir to the protectors of a hidden world devastated by civil war, but in order to unleash the extraordinary powers she desperately needs to save it, she must conquer her greatest weakness: her paralyzing self-doubt.

#Q #YA #F #QuestPit #agentguide

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks to @jendiarenzo.bsky.social for this amazing drawing of my sea serpent Pooski giving encouragement. #querying is hard, & it was crushing not getting any #dvpit likes. It makes me question what I’m doing wrong, if my story is even wanted, if I even have any talent at all. Anyone else relate?

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 1d

I just entered #RevPit #10Queries. Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages!

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you to everyone who supported me today during #DVPit! Loved meeting new friends like @emmalbwrites.bsky.social and @laynejohnsonkidlit.bsky.social! Both such talented authors! Rooting for you!!! 💗💗 🌟

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Reposted by Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 3d

That's a wrap on #DVpit 2025!
Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, or supported!
Thank you to the agents & editors who showed up!
And thank you to our board @peterlopez.bsky.social & @katchowrites.bsky.social & @claribelortega.com who brought #DVpit to Bluesky!

Thank you
to everyone who pitched, supported, or volunteered for #DVpit 2025
follow @dvpit.bsky.social to stay in touch

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 3d

They were freaking stellar!!! 💫

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 3d

#YA OUTLANDERxLEGENDBORN

In the fight to save her hidden world from a cruel sorceress, 18yo ADHDer Blakely must learn to wield a magical necklace whose unusual powers hinge on her biggest flaw: her lack of confidence.

🏳️‍🌈 #LGBT world!
✨Magic!
🦓 #DIS!
🔥Slow burn!
😂Humor!

#DVPit #CF #F #OWN #ND #CI

Illustration of a pendant with light blue, dark blue, and white swirls with an opalescent gem at the bottom

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 3d

This is so amazing. Really hope it gets the attention it deserves. 🩷🙏

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Blakely only remembers the hidden world she came from in her dreams. Then she stumbles across it and has to fight with her life to save it--and the boy she loves.

🌶️ #ND #OWN
✨Magic
🦓 #DIS
🔥Slow 🔥
😆Humor
🏳️‍🌈 #LGBT
😠x☀️
🍭Trope Spins
🦹‍♀️Female Baddie
🚫Forbidden 💜
🗡️Reluctant Chosen 1️⃣

#DVPit #YA #CF #F #CI

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you!! This story means a lot to me…similar themes to yours!

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

This sounds absolutely amazing. 💗💗

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you!! I’d love to see more ADHD rep myself, especially in fantasy!!

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

OUTLANDERxGIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS

18yo ADHDer Blakely must overcome self-doubt to unlock her extraordinary magic and save her queernormative hidden world, all while struggling to hold onto the relationship she’s always yearned for & figuring out where she belongs.
#DVPit #YA #CF #OWN #F #ND #LGBT

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

you too 🙂

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Ooooh I love that way of describing it! Cool! Thank you!!

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

The hidden world Blakely fled as a child is in ruins. She must give up her dream life & return, or there's no hope. If she can’t find the confidence her magic demands, Noríah doesn’t stand a chance--& its cruel sorceress will take her & the boy she loves down w/ it.
#DVPit #YA #CF #OWN #ND #CI

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

thank you so much!!💗

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

LEGENDBORNxTHIS WOVEN KINGDOM
ADHDer Blakely discovers she’s key to stopping the ruin of the hidden world she fled as a child & must leave the life she’s always wanted. She’ll have to overcome her biggest flaw,linked to magic she needs to help a civilization counting on her.
#DVPit #YA #CF #OWN #DIS

Illustration of 2 young men and 1 young woman standing together. The woman is holding a blue ball of magic

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you! Yes!! I'm so excited you see that!! The outer conflict is really just a mirror to her inner ones. This makes me so happy. 🙂

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you so much! 💗

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

OMG! This is incredible and sounds so amazing!! And you worked with the absolutely outstanding @aidenschmaiden.bsky.social?!?! 😱🙇‍♀️ Can't wait to see this on the shelves. So many congrats to you!!

Nathalie De Los Santos @natadecocoa.bsky.social · 12d

#dvparty this cover art of my novel Diyosa Mata was drawn by a friend, Naomi King back in the day 😍 i posted it when i was about to go to the lambda retreat this year! my mentor was aiden thomas, and i was part of the YA cohort. they all workshopped my book 💕 such an amazing time in august

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Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

💯 would read. Absolutely fantastic. 🙌 🍫🌈

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you so much!! I hope so too. 😊 It's such a special book to me. And any author would be lucky to have you as an agent! Hope you're doing very well, and thank you so much for the uplifting comment--helps so much to get a boost like that while in the query trenches! 🥰💗

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

aww thanks so much! I wrote it because when I wanted to explain chronic illness to my son when he was little, I couldn't find any books on it!

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

What is a chronic illness, and why can’t you see it sometimes? A mother explains to her child what it means to be chronically ill, and that it’s okay to have lots of different big feelings about it.

#DVPit #PB #OWN #DIS #CI #LGBT #ND

Laura B. | #OwnVoices YA Author | Querying! 🩷 @lbensonhadley.bsky.social · 4d

💯 would eat daily and make 💯 my diet if possible. But need room for chips, buffalo wings, and other junk food as well...🤔