COMING IN JUNE 2026
LATIN CLUB
My debut novel, LATIN CLUB, will be published by Woodhall Press in June, 2026. For info about pre-ordering LATIN CLUB or where to purchase it, please sign up for my mailing list.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM YALE WRITERS' WORKSHOP ABOUT LATIN CLUB
YWW Newsletter Winter 2025
Woodhall Press / YWW Collaboration
Elizabeth with YWW instructor Molly Gaudry out at Mory's.
I am pleased to announce Woodhall Press will publish YWW alumna Elizabeth Courtney’s novel, Latin Club, for publication in 2026. The novel is about love, boarding schools, family secrets, and the deceptions people undertake to protect the ones they love. Elizabeth submitted the manuscript as part of our collaboration with Woodhall and publisher, Christopher Madden. Thank you to all the YWW writers who submitted manuscripts.
Woodhall has agreed to continue the collaboration in 2025! Look for submission updates in forthcoming newsletters.
I was happy to chat with Elizabeth about the selection of her novel.
What was your reaction when Woodhall contacted you?
Surprise. Elation. Immense gratitude. When I got the email I was out of town with some girlfriends. As you can imagine, it turned into quite a celebration! I highly recommend being with good friends when you get good news.
What was the inspiration for the novel?
I had wanted to write a novel about boarding schools for years. I went to a boarding school, worked at one, and both of my kids are/have attended boarding schools. I wanted to write a novel that incorporated both the student and faculty experience. While the storyline and characters are completely fictional, I definitely drew inspiration from my days as a student at Kent School in Kent, Conn.
How did you know the book was ready to be submitted to publishers?
My Magic 8 ball told me Signs Point to Yes. Just kidding. I was confident that Latin Club was as polished and tight as I could make it at the time. This was the first occasion I had submitted the entire manuscript to a publisher so in many ways it was a leap of faith.
What revision advice do you have for writers completing a manuscript?
First, get feedback from lots of 'non-professional' people who are big readers in your target audience. Second, read your entire book out loud to someone you love. Third, attend a great workshop like YWW. Lastly, at the end of the day, trust your voice. It's your story, after all.
