T. L. Coughlin is ✨AGENTED✨
LightNews LightNews
banner
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
T. L. Coughlin is ✨AGENTED✨
@tlcoughlin.bsky.social
1.5K followers 1.4K following 290 posts
YA SFF Author • Expert at answering “What ARE you?” • She/Her • Rep: Emily Forney of BookEnds Literary @emilykaitlin.bsky.social

Linktr.ee/tl_coughlin
Posts Replies Media Videos
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
So excited to share this incredible artwork by @roscheriart.bsky.social for SWINDLED, my YA fantasy!

Meet Ren, my con artist MC, the ever-infuriating Prince Aurelius, and Jun, the brooding stranger.

Represented by @emilykaitlin.bsky.social at BookEnds Literary.
A girl with dark hair dressed in a red robe that is reminiscent of a ringleader’s outfit. She has her arms outstretched between two men with a red glowing thread flowing around them. To her right is a tall prince dressed in white and gold with long brown hair. To her left is a man in a cloak with burn scars along the side of his face, dark cropped hair, and golden eyes. Behind them is a circus tent in front of a mountain range. Artwork by roscheriart.
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Did someone drop an album? Siri, play me SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin 🎶

A con artist circus girl who sees threads of fated love is invited by the insatiable empress to find the Lonely Prince a match.

Repped by @emilykaitlin.bsky.social
The Life of a Showgirl with Showgirl crossed out and replaced with Con Artist feat. SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin A girl with gilded jewellery and a black lace shirt with bright red lips leaning forward. Styled like Taylor Swift’s new album. Styles like the back of Taylor Swift’s new album. Tropes like songs. 1. The Threads of Fated Love 2. Amora the Matchmaker 3. Jade & Gold 4. Imperial China X 5. Ancient Rome 6. Disaster Love Triangle 7. Competition of Circuses 8. A Coveted Wi$h 9. Hunter of the Goddess-Gifted 10. FATE’S A B**** 11. Perfect Act 12. The Life of a Con Artist. Background is a dandelion on fire.
October 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
If T. Swift announced SWINDLED as an album (instead of T. Coughlin 😉)

A YA fantasy repped by @emilykaitlin.bsky.social

A con artist circus girl who sees threads of fated love is invited by the insatiable empress to find the Lonely Prince a match.
The Life of a Showgirl with Showgirl crossed out and replaced with Con Artist feat. SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin A girl with gilded jewellery and a black lace shirt with bright red lips leaning forward. Styled like Taylor Swift’s new album. Styles like the back of Taylor Swift’s new album. Tropes like songs. 1. The Threads of Fated Love 2. Amora the Matchmaker 3. Jade & Gold 4. Imperial China X 5. Ancient Rome 6. Disaster Love Triangle 7. Competition of Circuses 8. A Coveted Wi$h 9. Hunter of the Goddess-Gifted 10. FATE’S A B**** 11. Perfect Act 12. The Life of a Con Artist. Background is a dandelion on fire.
August 14, 2025 at 10:42 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Found the anthem for SWINDLED, the book that got me my incredible agent @emilykaitlin.bsky.social, so naturally, I had to create an Editor’s Guide! 🧶🎪🔥

🎵 Love Into a Weapon - Madalen Duke
An Editor’s Guide to SWINDLED a YA Fantasy by T. L. Coughlin. Agent: Emily Forney at BookEnds Lit. Background image of red curtains leading to a wooden door, surrounded by ancient stones. The Pitch. Imperial China meets Ancient Rome. A con artist circus girl who sees threads of fated love is invited by the insatiable empress to find the Lonely Prince a match. Swindled by T. L. Coughlin. Background image of a kneeling woman in darkness with a sharp crown, backlit by flaming red. The Vibes. SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin. Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. The Tropes & Themes. SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin. Mixed race rep. Morally grey con artist MC. Competition of Circuses. Threads of fated love. Hunter of the Goddess-Gifted. Interwoven Chinese & Roman Myths. Impossible love triangle. Fate being an absolute B****. Background image of an ornate roof and red lantern.
August 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Thrilled to be selected for the Band of Villains Street Team for @danaiwrites.bsky.social’s VILE LADY VILLAINS (@michaeljbooks.bsky.social
and @unionsqandco.bsky.social 2026)! I can’t stop screaming about this one so I am overjoyed to be doing it in an official capacity!
Official member sticker for the Band of Villains Street Team for Danai Christopoulou’s VILE LADY VILLAINS. Image of flowers and skulls and keys with the vile lady villains in a deathly, stabby, and seductive pose.
August 7, 2025 at 4:21 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
“Jane Goodall”, everyone. 😂
June 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Show me your logline! ✨ Here’s mine:

A con artist circus girl, who exploits her goddess-given power to see threads of fated love, is invited by the insatiable empress to find the prince a match.
SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. Background of draped dark red circus fabric with two shattered gold corners on the upper left and bottom right.
June 21, 2025 at 7:57 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
With one touch, a jaded & wily Ren can find your fated love, but she’ll only tell the truth half the time.

When invited by the empress to find the Lonely Prince a match, Ren’s own thread gets tangled—in deceit, rebellion, and a fate worse than death.

#Questpit #YA #F #POC #AG
Moodboard for SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin: Theme of black and red. A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
May 8, 2025 at 12:11 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
SWINDLED is crackling dragon candy & dissonant bartering at your tent. It’s feeding your blood to the beast to get where you deserve to be. It’s everything you want hand-delivered, yet you refuse, for its touch—its possibilities—may be more than you can bear.

#Questpit #YA #F #OWN #AG
SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Now represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. Trope List: - Multiracial rep - Interwoven Roman & Chinese Myths - Competition of Circuses - Morally gray con artist MC - Collector of Goddess-Gifted Humans - Threads of fated love - Fate being an absolute B**** Background of draped dark red circus fabric with two shattered gold corners on the upper left and bottom right.
May 8, 2025 at 12:09 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Imperial China✖️Ancient Rome ft.

🐍 A morally grey con artist
🎪 A competition of circuses
💫 A collector of Goddess-gifted humans
🗡️ A hooded, brooding stranger
👑 An impossible prince
🧵 And Fate being an absolute B****

#Questpit #YA #F #POC #OWN #AG
SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Now represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
May 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Editors: come one, come all! 🔥

Imperial China✖️Ancient Rome ft.

🐍 A morally grey con artist
🎪 A competition of circuses
💫 A collector of Goddess-gifted humans
🗡️ A hooded, brooding stranger
👑 An impossible prince
🧵 And Fate being an absolute B****

#P2Ppit #AW #YA #F #POC #OWN
Moodboard for SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin: Theme of black and red. A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
January 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Dearest Editors,

SWINDLED is crackling dragon candy & dissonant bartering at your tent. It’s feeding your blood to the beast to get where you deserve to be. It’s everything you want hand-delivered, yet you refuse, for its touch—its possibilities—may be more than you can bear.

#P2Ppit #YA #F #AW
SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Now represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. Trope List: - Multiracial rep - Interwoven Roman & Chinese Myths - Competition of Circuses - Morally gray con artist MC - Collector of Goddess-Gifted Humans - Fate being an absolute B**** Background of draped dark red circus fabric with two shattered gold corners on the upper left and bottom right.
January 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
With one touch, a jaded & wily Ren can find your fated love, but she’ll only tell the truth half the time.

When seized by the empress to find the Lonely Prince a match, Ren’s own thread gets tangled—in deceit, rebellion, and a fate worse than death.

#Bluepit 📖 #YA #F #POC #OWN #AG
Moodboard for SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin: Theme of black and red. A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
January 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Imperial China✖️Ancient Rome ft.

🐍 A morally grey con artist
🌏 A multiracial cast
🎪 A competition of circuses
💫 A collector of Goddess-gifted humans
🗡️ A hooded, brooding stranger
👑 An impossible prince
🧵 And Fate being an absolute B****

#BluePit 📖 #YA #F #POC #OWN #AG
Moodboard for SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin: Theme of black and red. A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
January 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Imperial China✖️Ancient Rome ft.

🐍 A morally grey con artist
🌏 A multiracial cast
🎪 A competition of circuses
💫 A collector of Goddess-gifted humans
🗡️ A hooded, brooding stranger
👑 An impossible prince
🧵 And Fate being an absolute B****

#CheerPit #YA #F #POC #OWN #AG

Ren = Every. Baked. Good.
Moodboard for SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
December 9, 2024 at 10:23 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
ONE. STEP. CLOSER. to bringing a world where Imperial China meets Ancient Rome and fated love can destroy you.
November 23, 2024 at 1:14 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Imperial China✖️Ancient Rome ft.

- A morally grey con artist
- A multiracial cast
- A competition of circuses
- A collector of Goddess-gifted humans
- A hooded, brooding stranger
- An impossible prince
- And Fate being an absolute B****
Moodboard in a theme of black, red, and stone: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
November 22, 2024 at 10:36 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
I am THRILLED to announce that I am now represented by the incredible @emilykaitlin.bsky.social of BookEnds Literary!! ✨

I know that to protect our hearts, we’re not supposed to have dream agents, but the moment I heard Emily’s passion and vision for SWINDLED, I knew I’d found mine!
SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Now represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Centered moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. Trope List: - Multiracial rep - Interwoven Roman & Chinese Myths - Competition of Circuses - Morally gray con artist MC - Collector of Goddess-Gifted Humans - Fate being an absolute B**** Background of draped dark red circus fabric with two shattered gold corners on the upper left and bottom right.
November 21, 2024 at 3:34 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Hey all! As an intro under these blue skies, my name is T. L. Coughlin and I’m a Canadian multiracial author.

I’m also super excited to be in my ✨VAGUE 2.0✨ era for my YA fantasy:
Background image of a dark wooden door with red and gold curtains bordered by ragged stone. Text: A Guide to SWINDLED a YA Fantasy by T. L. Coughlin Background image of a kneeling, powerful, crowned woman on a stone cliff in blacks and reds. Text: The Pitch Imperial China X Ancient Rome A con artist circus girl, who exploits her goddess-given power as part of her family’s traveling troupe, is seized by the insatiable empress to find the prince a love match. Swindled by T. L. Coughlin Background image of a red thread. Text: Chapter One Fated love. It’s got me into more trouble than it’s worth. But for every pluck of a heart string, there is the power to change the trajectory of lives. So here I sit, with a Gift that causes wars, creates peace—and puts money in my family’s pockets. Swindled by T. L. Coughlin Background image of a Chinese temple with a red lantern. Text: Tropes & Themes Mixed Race Rep Morally Grey Con Artist MC Threads of Fated Love A Collector of Goddess-Gifted Humans Interwoven Chinese & Roman Myths Competition of Circuses Forbidden Love Triangle One Bed, One Horse Tarot Reading Gone Awry Fate Being an Absolute B**** Swindled by T. L. Coughlin
November 12, 2024 at 12:07 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Come one, come all!🔥🎪🧶

An Imperial China X Ancient Rome YA Fantasy ft.

- A multiracial, morally grey con artist
- A competition of circuses
- A collector of goddess-gifted humans
- A hooded, brooding stranger
- & Fate being an absolute B****

#Vague #BIPOC #OWN
Background Moodboard: A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front. Snippet from SWINDLED by T. L. Coughlin Fate is a hedonist who thrives on taking more than she is owed. And love? Love is her intolerable younger sister.
November 9, 2024 at 2:43 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Come one, come all!🔥🎪🧶

An Imperial China X Ancient Rome YA Fantasy ft.

- A multiracial, morally grey con artist
- A competition of circuses
- A collector of goddess-gifted humans
- A hooded, brooding stranger
- & Fate being an absolute B****

#amquerying #BIPOC #OWN
A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
June 13, 2024 at 2:28 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
#NaNoWriMo Project:

Imperial China X Ancient Rome YA Romantasy ft.

- A morally grey con artist
- A competition of circuses
- A collector of goddess-gifted humans
- A hooded, brooding stranger
- And Fate being an absolute B****

Current word count: 35K

Goal: “Get ‘er Done”K
A box of vials, an acrobat dangling from red fabric, a red Chinese lantern, a girl with gilded gold and a black lace shirt with bright red lips, red thread, a silhouette of an empress, the coliseum, a dandelion on fire, and an ancient stone doorway with a red and gold curtain in front.
November 1, 2023 at 10:48 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Chinese Fay✖️Italian Island✖️Morgan le Fay Like Never Before

When a cursed half-fay jester overhears a plot to kill the human crown prince, she must reconcile with her powerful mixed race identity to stop the assassin...or let the kingdom fall, so SHE can rise.

Soon On Sub 🤯🤯
A tangled tree of branches and evil eye pendants. A haunting Chinese temple in the middle of the forest. A flower veil over a woman with her hand raised tenderly. She has a crown and is all in black and white. An ornate and clinically white castle hallway. A gold and black jester mask with a bright blue eye peeking through. A ray of light shining through a tree with large entangled roots.
October 12, 2023 at 12:12 AM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
✨Coming Soon to Editors’ Inboxes✨

A YA fantasy featuring:

🃏 A multiracial jester battling to belong
🧿 Italian origins of Morgan le Fay and a malocchio curse
🌏 Chinese fay and themes of decolonization
🏳️‍🌈 A queernormative world with fierce female characters
A silver and black jester mask with a bright blue eye peeking through. An ornate and marbled white castle hallway. A ray of light shining through a tree with large entangled roots. A stormy ocean scene with pointed rocks. A bloody red pomegranate in a woman's hand. A flower veil over a crowned woman with her hand raised tenderly. A haunting Chinese temple in the middle of the forest. A fierce female knight raising her sword. A tangled tree of branches and evil eye pendants.
September 23, 2023 at 8:48 PM
tlcoughlin.bsky.social
Oh hey! It’s me! 🥰🥳

I guess this means I can cancel my subscription…
Query tracker Success Stories with T. L. Coughlin’s interview about querying and getting signed by agent Sheyla Knigge at High Line Literary Collective.
September 19, 2023 at 3:58 PM