Oliver:

Hi, Nadia! Tell me a little bit about yourself. Who are you with? What are you looking for in a book right now?

Nadia:

Thank you so much for having me. I am a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services, where I work on a wide range of fiction, including mysteries, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and book club fiction.

Before joining Talcott Notch, I studied political science at university and worked as a paralegal. I lived in Montreal, Quebec, for a few years, one of my favorite cities, where I enjoyed more than my fair share of poutine. Now, I live in Connecticut with my partner and our beloved, unruly foster-fail puppy. Perhaps predictably, I have been a passionate reader for as long as I can remember. I still feel extraordinarily lucky that I now get to spend my days helping authors bring their stories into the world.

I am drawn to distinct voices, complex characters, and stories that leave a lasting impact. A compelling premise will catch my attention, but strong writing and voice are what keep me reading.

Oliver:

So women's fiction. Tell me what's happening right now in that field. All I know about it is Gone Girl.

Nadia:

I think of Gone Girl primarily as a psychological thriller, although the categories can certainly overlap. That overlap is part of what makes women’s fiction so interesting.

Women’s fiction is less about a particular plot and more about the protagonist’s emotional journey. The story is ultimately centered on the protagonist confronting something within herself and emerging from the story changed, but it can overlap with romance, suspense, mystery, history, or speculative elements.

The boundaries among women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, and book club fiction have become increasingly fluid. My favorite books pair emotional depth with a strong commercial hook and give readers something meaningful to discuss without feeling like it was written merely to deliver a specific message. I am especially drawn to women’s fiction that explores identity, ambition, friendship, family, grief, caregiving, aging, and the gap between the life a woman has built and the life she may still want.

Oliver:

Tell me about a book that made a profound impression on you recently.

Nadia:

A recent novel I really loved is Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel. When seventy-seven-year-old Pippa is forced into a retirement community by her family, she unexpectedly falls in love and, even more unexpectedly, becomes pregnant. The novel explores the personal and public fallout that follows.

I have been a fan of Frankel’s work since I first read her young adult novels, so she was already an auto-buy author for me. But even if I wasn’t familiar with the author, I think the description alone would have convinced me to pick this one up.

I think Enormous Wings is a great example of a compelling, hooky premise paired with an endearing cast of characters. Although the novel has largely been marketed as book club or contemporary fiction, I think it has broad appeal across genres. It has inspired so much conversation among readers. I believe one of the best things a book can do is to get people talking. Enormous Wings inspires genuinely interesting discussions while still giving the reader a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The novel trusts its characters enough to let them be complicated, and it trusts its readers enough not to overexplain away every ambiguity.

Oliver:

Where can my writers find you? Upcoming events? Where do they look you up?

Nadia:

You can find me at the Colorado Gold Writers Conference in October! I have heard such great things about this conference, and I am so excited to attend!

I am currently closed to unsolicited queries while I catch up on my reading, but I hope to reopen soon. I will announce any updates about queries and upcoming events on Instagram and Bluesky, where you can find me at @literaryagentnadia. I would love to hear from you once I reopen!

Thank you so much for having me on the RMFW blog! I am looking forward to meeting everyone at Colorado Gold this October and hearing about the stories you are bringing into the world.