Launch Pad Manuscript Alum Namina Forna Signs with Madeline Milburn Literary (Exclusive)
0After her manuscript THE NINE GRAVES OF GERALDINE GREY landed in the Top 75 of the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition last year, Namina Forna has signed with Alice Sutherland-Hawes of Madeline Milburn Literary Agency.
An adventure/fantasy coming-of-age tale, The Nine Graves follows a young girl tasked with shepherding souls from a Louisiana cemetery to the other side. The job, however, is not without its dangers as Geraldine must fight a powerful witch for control of the gate to the underworld. The story was originally pitched as Paranorman meets Shadowhunters.
Perfect for a young audience, our readers loved this deep-dive into the world of Southern Gothic and its “perfect blend of fun and creepiness.” Particularly loving Geraldine’s pure heart and strong work ethic, she wowed as a wonderful role model in this “deeply realized world of Creole magic and mayhem” that is “pleasantly peppered with French phrases.” The manuscript has the perfect set-up for a potential supernatural book series for all ages to enjoy.
Forna is a screenwriter and novelist from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film and TV Production and is committed to telling whimsical, spine-tingling, and unexpected stories for a diverse audience. She has been a finalist in the NBC/Universal Writers on the Verge program, top 50 in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship, and top 10 in her category at the Austin Fellowship Screenwriting Competition. She lives and works between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Located in Mayfair, London, Madeline Milburn Literary has a reputation for launching the careers of debut authors, negotiating major book deals, and booking film deals with top talent agencies in Hollywood. They are a member of the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA), a British voluntary trade association.
The Launch Pad Feature Competition is currently accepting entries for its 2017 Competition.
Anya Crittenton | Associate Editor