Dave, Laura 1977-

PERSONAL:

Born 1977, in New York, NY. Education: University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1999; University of Virginia, master's degree, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—Gail Hochman, Brandt and Hochman Literary Agents, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

CAREER:

Writer and journalist.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Henry Hoyns Fellowship; Tennessee Williams Scholarship; and an Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Intro Award in Short Fiction.

WRITINGS:

London Is the Best City in America (novel), Viking (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor to periodicals, including Glamour, Self, and ESPN the Magazine. Author of blog, Laura Dave My Space.

ADAPTATIONS:

London Is the Best City in America has been optioned for film by Type A Productions.

SIDELIGHTS:

In her first novel, London Is the Best City in America, freelance journalist Laura Dave presents Emmy Everett, a lonely young woman who left her fiancé in a motel while he was sleeping and now lives in a fishing village. While working in a bait and tackle shop, Emmy is developing her idea for a documentary on the wives of fishermen, wishing only to leave her past behind. Nevertheless, after three years living away from her hometown, Emmy returns to attend her brother's wedding, only to find that her brother Josh is having second thoughts and is even seeing another woman. In the meantime, Emmy becomes the object of several men's attentions, including her ex-fiancé and even an old boyfriend who now says he is gay. Referring to the novel as a "winning debut," a Publishers Weekly contributor added that London Is the Best City in America contains "plenty of reasons to enjoy this promising new author." Kristine Huntley, writing in Booklist, called the novel an "absorbing, piercing debut," adding: "Sophisticated readers will be intrigued by the dilemmas Emmy and Josh face." Writing on the BookPage Web site, Dedra Anderson commented: "Sweetly and sensitively told, this charming tale's personal journey ends as it should—not with a traditional cookie-cutter ending but with both growth and possibilities for Emmy." A Kirkus Reviews contributor wrote that the author presents "a kind of innocent yet worldly-wise charm via Emmy's perky running commentary."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 15, 2006, Kristine Huntley, review of London Is the Best City in America, p. 26.

Daily Variety, February 18, 2005, Michael Fleming, "U Will Travel to London," about film adaptation of London Is the Best City in America, p. 1.

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2006, review of London Is the Best City in America, p. 311.

Library Journal, April 1, 2006, Anika Fajardo, review of London Is the Best City in America, p. 81.

Publishers Weekly, November 1, 2004, John F. Baker, "A First Novel by Laura Dave, a Young Journalist for Self and Glamour, Was Bought by Carole Desanti for Viking," p. 12; March 13, 2006, review of London Is the Best City in America, p. 40.

ONLINE

BookPage,http://www.bookpage.com/ (November 2, 2006), Dedra Anderson, review of London Is the Best City in America.

Conversations with Famous Writers,http://conversationsfamouswriters.blogspot.com/ (August 21, 2006), "Laura Dave, London Is the Best City in America," interview with author.

Laura Dave Home Page,http://www.lauradave.com (November 2, 2006).

Penguin Group Web site,http://us.penguingroup.com/ (November 2, 2006), "A Conversation with Laura Dave."*