Laurie Abkemeier
@laurieabkemeier.bsky.social
Literary agent at DeFiore & Company. Always open to queries. NJ resident. Sandwich lover. I consider *experience* experience. https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/LaurieAbkemeier/
Pinned
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating Cal Newport with the goal of connecting authors with me. I'm not sure what fake me is asking anyone to do, but presumably nothing good. Remember that reputable agents work on commission. We don't ask for money up front.
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating Cal Newport with the goal of connecting authors with me. I'm not sure what fake me is asking anyone to do, but presumably nothing good. Remember that reputable agents work on commission. We don't ask for money up front.
December 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating Cal Newport with the goal of connecting authors with me. I'm not sure what fake me is asking anyone to do, but presumably nothing good. Remember that reputable agents work on commission. We don't ask for money up front.
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
Do you struggle with screen fatigue? Feel overwhelmed by technology and daily apps? You may be digitally exhausted, but Paul Leonardi is here to help 🧠🔋
Start reading DIGITAL EXHAUSTION to see how you can recover (and reclaim your life) today: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760833...
Start reading DIGITAL EXHAUSTION to see how you can recover (and reclaim your life) today: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760833...
October 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Do you struggle with screen fatigue? Feel overwhelmed by technology and daily apps? You may be digitally exhausted, but Paul Leonardi is here to help 🧠🔋
Start reading DIGITAL EXHAUSTION to see how you can recover (and reclaim your life) today: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760833...
Start reading DIGITAL EXHAUSTION to see how you can recover (and reclaim your life) today: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760833...
The editors at Kirkus recommend 20 New Books That Will Take You Places, including THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/2...
20 New Books That Will Take You Places | Kirkus Reviews
Weekly book lists of exciting new releases, bestsellers, classics, and more. The lists are curated by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.
www.kirkusreviews.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The editors at Kirkus recommend 20 New Books That Will Take You Places, including THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/2...
Ron Charles calls THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by
@nathaliaholt.bsky.social "a thrilling work of history that's wilder than fiction." www.cbsnews.com/news/the-boo...
@nathaliaholt.bsky.social "a thrilling work of history that's wilder than fiction." www.cbsnews.com/news/the-boo...
July 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Ron Charles calls THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by
@nathaliaholt.bsky.social "a thrilling work of history that's wilder than fiction." www.cbsnews.com/news/the-boo...
@nathaliaholt.bsky.social "a thrilling work of history that's wilder than fiction." www.cbsnews.com/news/the-boo...
FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY, says @barnesandnoble.com, is "a riveting read," and they invited @shadycharacters.co.uk to write about it for their blog. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/keith-h...
A Changing of the Guard: A Guest Post by Keith Houston - B&N Reads
They’re as clear as words — clearer even — but where did they come from, and how did they get here? Keith Houston’s comprehensive exploration of the evolution of the emoji is a riveting read. Read on ...
www.barnesandnoble.com
July 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY, says @barnesandnoble.com, is "a riveting read," and they invited @shadycharacters.co.uk to write about it for their blog. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/keith-h...
Porchlight Books recommends @tvscreener.bsky.social's IT'S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: "As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself." www.porchlightbooks.com/blogs/new-re...
New Book Releases for the Week of July 1, 2025
Featuring new releases by Suzi Ruffell, Charlie English, Kimberly Potts, and Michael Grunwald.
www.porchlightbooks.com
July 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Porchlight Books recommends @tvscreener.bsky.social's IT'S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: "As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself." www.porchlightbooks.com/blogs/new-re...
“THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS is @nathaliaholt.bsky.social's immersive, sometimes harrowing account of the siblings’ Himalayan adventure… Absorbing.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/b...
Seeking the Giant Panda, and Daddy’s Love
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
“THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS is @nathaliaholt.bsky.social's immersive, sometimes harrowing account of the siblings’ Himalayan adventure… Absorbing.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/b...
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
Looking for something to read this weekend? The Shady Characters Periodic Table of Emoji (emoji.shadycharacter...) isn't just a visual experiment, but also documents what it takes to make a tool like this and where it might go in future.
The Periodic Table of Emoji, presented by Shady Characters
The Periodic Table of Emoji
emoji.shadycharacters.co.uk
June 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Looking for something to read this weekend? The Shady Characters Periodic Table of Emoji (emoji.shadycharacter...) isn't just a visual experiment, but also documents what it takes to make a tool like this and where it might go in future.
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
"Emoji are not a language, that much is clear. They are something more intriguing and more disruptive than that."
New on @longreads.com today: an excerpt of @shadycharacters.co.uk's new book, FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (😂), which tells the entire history of emoji so far: longreads.com/2025/07/01/e...
New on @longreads.com today: an excerpt of @shadycharacters.co.uk's new book, FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (😂), which tells the entire history of emoji so far: longreads.com/2025/07/01/e...
The Emoji Tongue - Longreads
If 😂 was a word, would that make emoji a language?
longreads.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
"Emoji are not a language, that much is clear. They are something more intriguing and more disruptive than that."
New on @longreads.com today: an excerpt of @shadycharacters.co.uk's new book, FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (😂), which tells the entire history of emoji so far: longreads.com/2025/07/01/e...
New on @longreads.com today: an excerpt of @shadycharacters.co.uk's new book, FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (😂), which tells the entire history of emoji so far: longreads.com/2025/07/01/e...
Happy pub day to @tvscreener.bsky.social! IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA is now on sale, from Gallery Books, wherever books and audiobooks are sold.
July 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Happy pub day to @tvscreener.bsky.social! IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA is now on sale, from Gallery Books, wherever books and audiobooks are sold.
Happy pub day to @shadycharacters.co.uk! FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY 😂 is now on sale, from @wwnorton.com, wherever 📚 and audiobooks are sold.
July 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Happy pub day to @shadycharacters.co.uk! FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY 😂 is now on sale, from @wwnorton.com, wherever 📚 and audiobooks are sold.
Happy pub day to @nathaliaholt.bsky.social! THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS is now on sale, from One Signal/@atriabooks.bsky.social, wherever books and audiobooks are sold.
July 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Happy pub day to @nathaliaholt.bsky.social! THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS is now on sale, from One Signal/@atriabooks.bsky.social, wherever books and audiobooks are sold.
Three book birthdays today! In alphabetical order…
July 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Three book birthdays today! In alphabetical order…
Vulture's Best Books Every Comedy Fan Should Read, including @saulausterlitz.bsky.social's KIND OF A BIG DEAL and @jmkarmstrong.bsky.social's SEINFELDIA. www.vulture.com/article/best...
119 Books Every Comedy Fan Should Read
The ultimate comedy library.
www.vulture.com
June 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Vulture's Best Books Every Comedy Fan Should Read, including @saulausterlitz.bsky.social's KIND OF A BIG DEAL and @jmkarmstrong.bsky.social's SEINFELDIA. www.vulture.com/article/best...
For better productivity and focus, the NYT recommends "Deep Questions with Cal Newport" and five more podcasts: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/a...
6 Podcasts to Boost Your Productivity and Focus
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
For better productivity and focus, the NYT recommends "Deep Questions with Cal Newport" and five more podcasts: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/a...
THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social is the #3 nonfiction book that NYT readers are most excited about this summer! www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/b...
The Books Times Readers Are Most Excited About This Summer
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social is the #3 nonfiction book that NYT readers are most excited about this summer! www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/b...
You can read a great excerpt of @tvscreener.bsky.social's new book, IT'S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, courtesy of @avclub.com. (Book on sale 7/1.) www.avclub.com/its-almost-a...
Exclusive It's (Almost) Always Sunny In Philadelphia book excerpt reveals how creators sold the show with a VHS
Exclusive It's (Almost) Always Sunny In Philadelphia book excerpt reveals how creators sold the show with a VHS
www.avclub.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
You can read a great excerpt of @tvscreener.bsky.social's new book, IT'S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, courtesy of @avclub.com. (Book on sale 7/1.) www.avclub.com/its-almost-a...
Kirkus has named FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY by @shadycharacters.co.uk and THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social among their 20 Best Books to Read in July. Of course I think they are *the* best... www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/2...
20 Best Books To Read in July | Kirkus Reviews
Weekly book lists of exciting new releases, bestsellers, classics, and more. The lists are curated by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.
www.kirkusreviews.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Kirkus has named FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY by @shadycharacters.co.uk and THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social among their 20 Best Books to Read in July. Of course I think they are *the* best... www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/2...
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
Want to read a bit about my stint writing eulogies for a living? My piece for @thefence.bsky.social is now available in shops and online! ⚰️
Especially fab for the piece to be also featured in @longreads.com
longreads.com/2025/06/13/i...
www.the-fence.com/i-write-eulo...
Especially fab for the piece to be also featured in @longreads.com
longreads.com/2025/06/13/i...
www.the-fence.com/i-write-eulo...
I Write Eulogies, Not Tragedies
A solemn little side hustle, that’s for sure.
www.the-fence.com
June 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Want to read a bit about my stint writing eulogies for a living? My piece for @thefence.bsky.social is now available in shops and online! ⚰️
Especially fab for the piece to be also featured in @longreads.com
longreads.com/2025/06/13/i...
www.the-fence.com/i-write-eulo...
Especially fab for the piece to be also featured in @longreads.com
longreads.com/2025/06/13/i...
www.the-fence.com/i-write-eulo...
21 nonfiction books coming this summer--including THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social, @atriabooks.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/b...
21 Nonfiction Books Coming this Summer
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
21 nonfiction books coming this summer--including THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS by @nathaliaholt.bsky.social, @atriabooks.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/b...
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
Folks @peterbrannen.bsky.social’s next book is a fucking banger.
May 17, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Folks @peterbrannen.bsky.social’s next book is a fucking banger.
PW talks with Anika Burgess: "Photography is, in a way, sort of a miracle. You can put the components together of chemicals and light, and you permanently freeze a moment in time and look at it and keep it with you." www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Portrait of a Time: PW Talks with Anika Burgess
In ‘Flashes of Brilliance’ (Norton, July), the photo editor traces the evolution of photography from the mid-19th to the early 20th century.
www.publishersweekly.com
May 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
PW talks with Anika Burgess: "Photography is, in a way, sort of a miracle. You can put the components together of chemicals and light, and you permanently freeze a moment in time and look at it and keep it with you." www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
Catch @shadycharacters.co.uk on 99% Invisible's emoji episode. Houston's forthcoming book FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (in stores July 1) tells the whole story of emoji for the first time: wwnorton.com/books/face-w...
A single 👍 emoji sent over text was meant to say “got it”—but instead, it kicked off a $62,000 legal battle and raised the question: can an emoji seal a contract?
😅⚖️
In 2021, a Canadian farmer named Chris Achter responded to a buyer’s grain contract with a simple 👍 emoji. What followed wasn’t just a misunderstanding—it was a legal showdown that captured global attention. Achter, based in Saskatchewan, had a long-standing business relationship with the buyer. They often finalized grain deals over text. That year, when the buyer sent over a standard flax contract, Achter responded with a thumbs up.
99percentinvisible.org
May 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Catch @shadycharacters.co.uk on 99% Invisible's emoji episode. Houston's forthcoming book FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY (in stores July 1) tells the whole story of emoji for the first time: wwnorton.com/books/face-w...
Enter to win a copy of @peterbrannen.bsky.social's THE STORY OF CO2 IS THE STORY OF EVERYTHING, coming in August from @eccobooks.bsky.social www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon…
Carbon dioxide. This seemingly simple and ubiquitous su…
www.goodreads.com
May 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Enter to win a copy of @peterbrannen.bsky.social's THE STORY OF CO2 IS THE STORY OF EVERYTHING, coming in August from @eccobooks.bsky.social www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Reposted by Laurie Abkemeier
