Serendipity Literary Agency

09/18/2026

Sarah Erwin and Kings River Life Magazine recently reviewed SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS by author Sandra Jackson-Opoku as part of a roundup of Delicious Fun Food Cozy Mysteries for Your September TBR!

"On top of a solid mystery, I enjoyed the descriptions of Savvy’s cooking. Thanks to the descriptive writing, I felt as though I could smell the food through the pages and wished I could taste the dishes as well. Thankfully there are detailed recipes in the back." - Sarah Erwin

You can read the full review here: https://kingsriverlife.com/09/05/delicious-fun-food-cozy-mysteries-for-your-september-tbr/?

About the book:
In the delicious second installment of this cozy mystery series, chef Savvy Summers finds herself at the center of another murder mystery surrounding her Chicagoland soul food café.

SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS is out now from Minotaur Books.

09/17/2026

Serendipity Literary Agency is proud to have 14 titles included in the Obama Presidential Library!

The collection contains books that were personally curated by the Obamas and are featured in the President's Reading Room, books included on former President Obama's biannual reading lists, and books in the Chicago Public Library's standard circulation, allowing more readers to be exposed to diverse stories.

Featured:
- DANILO WAS HERE by Tamika Burgess
- THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by Derrick Barnes
- SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE SWEET POTATO CRIMES by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
- THE GOLDEN HOOPS by Jen Hayes Lee, illustrated by Mokshini
- GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James
- YOUR CROWN SHINES by jessica Care moore, illustrated by Dare Coulter
- HOW WE DO IT edited by Jericho Brown
- WHO GOT GAME? BASKETBALL by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Jez Tuya
- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NAKED MOLE RAT? by Akeem S. Roberts
- H IS FOR HARLEM by Dinah Johnson, illustrated by April Harrison
- I GOT YOU by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice
- SEVEN MILLION STEPS by Derrick Barnes and Dr. Christian Gregory, illustrated by Frank Morrison
- A FLAG FOR JUNETEENTH by Kim Taylor
- AFIA IN THE LAND OF WONDERS by Mia Araujo

09/16/2026

Join us as we welcome Lynn Brown to the team!

Be sure to say hi and give her a follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok!

09/15/2026

author Captain Nia Gilliam was a guest on a recent episode of the Memoir Nation podcast to discuss her debut memoir, CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, and reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Talking with hosts Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner, Captain Gilliam shares how a breast cancer diagnosis inspired her to publish her memoir, how she braided her personal life into her experience of witnessing 9/11 from the flight deck at Newark Airport, and how the aviation industry has opened up to Black female pilots.

You can listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captain-nia-gilliam-on-monoculture-moments-in-memoir/id1411527439?i=1000788288149

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF is out now from Storehouse Voices.

09/11/2026

Message from CEO Regina Brooks:

Twenty-five years ago today, Nia Gilliam had a view of September 11 that few people experienced.

She was a pilot at the airport preparing to take off when she saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

And then she had to fly.

Her route would take her past the burning towers as she headed toward Boston, carrying with her the shock of what she had just witnessed and the responsibility of being a pilot at a moment when no one yet understood what was happening in American airspace.

Nia later put that experience and the story of her remarkable journey as a pilot into her book CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF.

On this 25th anniversary of September 11, I find myself thinking about the importance of firsthand stories like hers. History eventually becomes dates, photographs, documentaries, and headlines. But before it becomes history, it is lived by people who can tell us what it actually felt like to be there.

Nia Gilliam was there.

She can tell us what she saw from the cockpit, what it was like to fly that day, and how an experience that lasted hours has stayed with her for 25 years.

And that is one of the reasons memoir matters.

History records what happened; memoir preserves what it felt like

What we saw, what we feared, what we understood in the moment, and how an experience changed the person who lived through it.

Twenty-five years from now, there will be fewer people who can tell us firsthand what September 11 felt like. The stories we choose to tell and write down become part of our collective memory.

Today, I’m especially glad Nia Gilliam told hers.

For journalists, producers, and podcast hosts commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, you'll want to hear Nia's extraordinary firsthand account.

We heard a bit of it last night at Barnes and Noble in Brooklyn. To know the story, read her book.

09/09/2026

Message from CEO Regina Brooks:

I sat down with Theo Baker from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the SCBWI Podcast to talk about writing, publishing, and what I have learned from helping authors build successful careers.

The conversation also gave me a reason to revisit my own book, WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS. I haven’t promoted it in a while, but its purpose remains as relevant as ever: to help writers develop compelling ideas, create memorable characters, strengthen their craft, and better understand the path to publication.

If writing a young adult novel is on your list or if you have already begun but need help making the story work, this book was written for you.

Listen to the conversation with SCBWI on Spotify, then pick up a copy of WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS wherever books are sold.

Listen to the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QfknbhMNj6sLVFkdOyvT0

09/08/2026

If you're in the Chicago area, you're invited to join author Captain Nia Gilliam at Da Book Joint TONIGHT, Tuesday, September 8th, to celebrate the release of her memoir, CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF!

Captain Gilliam will be joined by Courtney Gousman, a five-time Emmy Award-winning communicator and Communications Coordinator for Argonne National Laboratory's Office of Community Engagement, and together, they'll discuss Captain Gilliam's inspiration for her book, the history of Black women in aviation, and Captain Gilliam's personal stories from her journey as a pilot, mother, and advocate. Following the conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Captain Gilliam and have copies of their books signed.

You can use this link to learn more and purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cleared-for-takeoff-book-signing-author-talk-with-captain-nia-gilliam-tickets-1998516990116?aff=oddtdtcreator

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF is out now from Storehouse Voices.

09/04/2026

The School Library Journal included SEVEN MILLION STEPS by authors Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory, DC and illustrator Frank Morrison in a recent roundup of 51 Informational and Inspiring Texts for Elementary Readers!

You can view the full list here: https://www.slj.com/story/reviews/51-informational-and-inspiring-texts-for-elementary-readers-slj-2026-stars-so-far

About the book:
This unforgettable picture book commemorates comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory’s legendary 3,500-mile run to raise awareness about food insecurity, poverty, and injustice and asks the question: What would you do to make a difference in the world?

SEVEN MILLION STEPS is available now from Amistad Books for Young Readers (Amistad).

09/03/2026

Congratulations to author and former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges on her recent book deal with The New Press!

About the book:
A BETTER BARGAIN blends cultural critique, lived experience, and a roadmap to introduce the framework of “white sodality”—the bonds of belonging, comfort, and mutual protection that white progressive communities are conditioned to form, bonds that constrain meaningful change—and argues that the deepest barrier to racial justice isn’t opposition, but the protective cultural norms designed to keep the racial order in place.

09/02/2026

We're happy to share that four titles were included on the New York Public Library's Vibrant Voices: New Books from Authors of Color book list!

Included in the list are:
- AFIA IN THE LAND OF WONDERS by Mia Araujo | Scholastic
- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NAKED MOLE RAT? by Akeem S. Roberts | Kokila Books
- DANILO WAS HERE by Tamika Burgess | Harper Children's (HarperKids Books)
- GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Congrats to all selected! You can view the full list here:

Explore new books from authors of color with NYPL's Vibrant Voices book list, created by the Library’s expert staff to amplify and celebrate diverse voices, promote discussion, and expand understanding. Learn more about this year's list and download our accompanying Educator Guide.