Laura Wood is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. With over twenty years in the publishing industry, Laura Wood has a broad perspective on the book publishing industry, having worked in-house at publishers large and small and also as a buyer. Laura was previously Manager Merchandising for Barnes&Noble.com. Hired as the Science & Nature Editor, this position evolved into buying in the categories Science & Nature Editor, this position evolved into buying books in the categories Science & Nature, Reference, Home & Garden, and Science Fiction & Fantasy.
Laura has experience at a range of publishing houses from the Harmony Books imprint of Crown to Duke University Press and Columbia University Press, and was the Associate Publisher of Council Oak Books, an independent book publisher. Laura holds a MasterÕs Degree in Publishing Studies from New York University. Her MasterÕs thesis explored the market for serious trade nonfiction.
Early in her publishing career she was an assistant at the Conde Nast publications Vogue and Glamour. Before that Laura studied at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London. One of her life goals is to be known as the dancing science editor.
Laura specializes in serious nonfiction, especially in the areas of science and nature, along with substantial titles in business, history, and other areas by academics, experienced professionals, and journalists. Laura enjoys hanging out with scientists and academics in general and believes in bringing their findings to a wide audience. Her client list includes NASA scientists, animal behavior experts, paleontologists, physicists, and award-winning science journalists, among others.
Laura is also developing a select list in genre fiction only (no poetry, literary fiction or memoir) in the categories of Science Fiction & Fantasy and Mystery. Preference given to SFWA and MWA members.