News news and then some news

Big news is that I am now represented by a new agent – the rather fabulous Kesia Lupo at The Bindery Agency. We will be able to tell you what we are about to get to before long, but I can tell you that you might be seeing me branch out into new nonfiction, more literary fiction and, most different, a darkly comic commercial fiction series (the latter under a different name, to keep it separate and because I have always loved the idea of an alter ego RA HA HA). 

A couple of books for you this year. In July, To Melt The Stars is published. It’s a strange little collection of essays on the topic of love. Out 31/07 and you can pre-order it now. Here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/anna-vaught-to-melt-the-stars

From the publisher....To Melt the Stars is a collection of essays looking at love at first conversation, queerness, weird wedding days, motherhood, romance, baby loss, and intergenerational trauma, among other themes. Anna Vaught’s essays address dark and difficult themes, and do so without holding back, but that darkness is enlivened by a rhythm and buoyancy of language. These essays are rich in allusion, playful, and yet deeply personal, exploring love and loss in intimate ways. 

What else have I? I am two weeks away from my final supervision on the PhD by Published Works I have been doing at York St John University. Magical realism and trauma. We hope to submit for September and I am waiting to hear who my external examiner will be and when the viva is. I am nervous but also proud that I did this. That I got this far. Imposter syndrome doesn’t touch the sides. This winter – although it’s not announced yet – my first illustrated book is out: a creepy little novella for Christmas. Think of it as homage to M.R. James, and read it to your own unsettled audience…ooooh little clue or two below…

That’s enough for now! You can come and work with me at Jericho Writers next year on their ultimate novel course or sign up for mentoring with me now. Come January, 2025, the next Curae prize for writer-carers opens and I will telling you all about that. As before, the shortlisted and winning writers are published – November, 2025, in a beautiful anthology – just like this one…