books for adults
the alchemy of flowers
Laura’s upmarket fiction debut, The Alchemy of Flowers, is coming in summer, 2025 with Harper Muse!
When a woman accepts a job at a mysterious French garden, she hopes to escape any reminders of children but soon discovers an enigmatic little girl—who may or may not be human—who needs her help.
This debut women’s fiction novel mixes the lush atmosphere and wonder of The Secret Garden with the adult themes and magical realism of Where the Forest Meets the Stars.
Curious why Laura branched out into writing for adults? Find out here.
Read an interview with Laura about her writing process, rituals, literary agent, inspiration for this book, and more.
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Scroll down for more details about the book, Laura’s bio, promo photos, links to more interviews, and to learn about her travel essays and teen books popular with adults.
Tina Wood Photography
“I devoured this in one sitting! Immersive, enchanting, and packed with mystery, The Alchemy of Flowers drew me in from page one. I was rooting for the curious and brave heroine, Eloise, and her cryptic compatriots in the Jardins du Paradis, as each finds friendship and healing after their own separate heartbreaks. The dreamy Provençal walled garden is the perfect escapist setting. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will love this charming, feel-good novel.”
More about The Alchemy of Flowers
"Here lie the bones of those who broke the rules . . ."
There are many rules those who wish to live and work behind the mysterious walled gardens of Le Château du Paradis must follow. One must not gossip. One must not leave their room during dusk. And most importantly for the newest gardener, Eloise Bourne, children are forbidden.
Although she's locked inside the castle grounds and subjected to strange rules, Eloise's new home enchants her with otherworldly lodging and magical flowers. Best of all, her co-workers—who are also retreating from the world—spark her to heal both body and soul. And she feels surprisingly drawn to the intriguing handyman, Raphaël.
But when she starts glimpsing a mysterious child in the trees, she reels. Is this a human girl? Or a woodsprite? Is it her imagination, or is this place truly enchanted?
As the summer unfolds, Eloise begins to fear the child is in danger. It's not until she breaks the rules and risks her heart that Paradise becomes a prison. Eloise must unearth the garden’s secrets, fight for her newfound family, and ultimately, claim a second chance at happiness.
bio
Laura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, her debut novel for adults coming summer 2025, and eleven acclaimed books for young people. Her books have won five Colorado Book Awards, spots on “best-of” booklists from Oprah, the American Library Association, and more.
Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and studied cultural anthropology and languages. She teaches creative writing at Western Colorado University.
You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, and a hundred house plants.
Tina Wood Photography
Here you can find a longer bio that includes glimpses of Laura’s travels and time living abroad.
interviews and press
Laura’s 1950s vintage trailer, Peachy— her favorite space for creative writing.
The above images are for press and promotion. To make sure the image is the high-resolution version, please click first for the full-sized image and then save it as a large file or copy the jpg link. Credit to Tina Wood Photography.
books for adult and teen readers
Red Glass and The Queen of Water (co-authored with Maria Virginia Farinango) are both award-winners on Oprah’s book lists. These have proven popular picks for women’s book clubs, (even though they’ve been *officially* marketed to young adults.)
