Here are six UK agents expanding their client lists. Stevie Finegan is seeking Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children’s, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction. Sara O'Keeffe has a particular passion for Irish writing. Harriet Moore represents literary fiction, narrative non–fiction, illustrated non–fiction and poetry. Robbie Guillory is looking for outstanding writing across a number of genres: stand-out commercial fiction, science fiction that focuses on communities and relationships whilst the galaxy looks after itself, crime and psychological thrillers with a difference, gripping historical dramas, and beautiful nonfiction with roots in the natural world. (Note: Robbie prefers UK writers.) Hilary Delamere represents a wide range of children’s book authors and illustrators from pre-school books to YA novels.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Ms. Stevie Finegan of Zeno Literary Agency
"I joined Zeno at the beginning of 2020 after time served working for science fiction and fantasy imprint Gollancz, adult non-fiction publisher Icon, and almost every Waterstones bookshop London has to offer. My degree specialised in children’s literature with a dissertation debating what Young Adult fiction actually is. All of the above strongly influenced the kind of books I get excited about, as well as broader narratives that explore stories connected with LGBTQIA+, BAME, disability, mental health, and other marginalised experiences."
What she is seeking: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children’s, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction.
How to submit: Send the first three chapters (or an equivalent segment of around 50 double-spaced pages), a synopsis, and a query letter. The chapters should be sent in .doc, .docx or PDF format, in a legible font (no smaller than 12pt), double spaced, and with the pages numbered. Please put your name, email address, and a contact number on the title page. Send material to: finegan@zenoagency.com
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Sara O'Keeffe of Aevitas Creative Management
Sara has come to Aevitas with twenty years’ experience in the world of publishing, having worked with a host of major brand names in fiction ranging from crime writer Minette Walters to bestselling women’s fiction author Elizabeth Buchan, Roman epic series writer Robert Fabbri and award-winning science fiction writer Chris Beckett. She was the UK editor for Kevin Kwan’s international bestseller, Crazy Rich Asians along with Robert Ludlum’s hugely successful Bourne series. She acquired and published the bestselling cult hit Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell which spent six weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
What she is seeking: Sara has a particular passion for Irish writing and has previously published rising stars in Irish fiction: Eithne Shortall, Catherine Ryan Howard and Rachel Donohue. She enjoys the process of working with authors on their ideas, honing their craft and turning their creativity and talent into commercial success. She is passionate about storytelling, with particular interest in genre and reading group fiction.
How to submit: Follow instructions on the agency website HERE.
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Ms. Niamh O'Grady of The Soho Agency
Niamh joined the agency in 2015, having worked as a Waterstones bookseller in Manchester. She works closely with Mark Lucas and Alice Saunders on their client lists and also helps manage the agency’s speaking activity alongside Alice, providing talent for corporate and public sector live events – from literary festivals to tech conferences – around the world.
What she is seeking: Niamh is actively looking for accessible literary and reading-group fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She is drawn to books with heart and humor, thought-provoking writing and distinctive, compelling voices. She particularly loves novels that explore family and relationships and wants to read stories that leave an emotional impact, with characters that stay with her long after the final page. She is keen to find new Irish and Northern writing talent.
How to submit: Send your query to sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com along with the first three chapters or first thirty pages of your manuscript in word format, along with a synopsis.
___________________
Ms. Harriet Moore of David Higham Associates Ltd
Harriet has worked at David Higham intermittently since 2006, when she spent a summer archiving Graham Greene’s contracts as part of her work experience here aged sixteen. She formally joined the agency in 2011 after graduating in English Literature from University College London.
Harriet represents literary fiction, narrative non–fiction, illustrated non–fiction and poetry, and collaborates with Lizzy Kremer on her list also. She is looking for writing which has atmosphere, ambition, style and flair with a particular interest in emotionally rigorous writers. She is drawn to the eerie and uncanny; voices which are sly, darkly jaunty and humorous; writing which is both intimate and political; and women thinking hard about other women. In non–fiction her areas of special interest are food, art and design—with an expertise in twentieth century writers and artists—and she is passionate about work which crosses disciplines, particularly the point at which memoir and biography meet.
Writers she admires include: Lydia Davis, Joy Williams, Rachel Cusk, Denise Riley, John Berger, MFK Fisher, Fleur Jaeggy, Jean Rhys, Natalia Ginzburg, Katherine Heiny, Elizabeth Strout, Claudia Rankine, Anne Carson, Jane Bowles.
How to submit: Please send a one-page synopsis that gives a full explanation of the plot, and the first three chapters or up to fifty pages (double spaced). Read submission details HERE.
___________________
Robbie Guillory of Kate Nash Literary Agency
Robbie grew up in North Norfolk and worked as a butler before moving to Glasgow in 2005 to study, obtaining a degree in Comparative Literature and Slavonics. After a brief foray in education, he embarked on a career in publishing, most recently for Saraband Books. In 2016 he was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s Emerging Publisher of the Year Award.
What he is seeking: Robbie is looking for outstanding writing across a number of genres: stand-out commercial fiction, science fiction that focuses on communities and relationships whilst the galaxy looks after itself, crime and psychological thrillers with a difference, gripping historical dramas, and beautiful nonfiction with roots in the natural world.
How to submit: Note: This agency prefers UK writers. To submit to the Kate Nash Literary Agency Ltd., please send a query to submissions@katenashlit.co.uk along with:
For non-fiction the above can either be in the body of an email or in a Word document.
For fiction send a brief cover letter with some information about yourself and how you came to write your book, the first chapter of your work and a brief synopsis (maximum the length of one A4 page, preferably more succinct) in the body of an email.
___________________
Ms. Hilary Delamere of The Agency
Hilary joined Lemon Unna & Durbridge in the early 90s to look after the Paddington Bear titles and to build her own book list. She worked for several different publishing houses including Rights Director at Penguin Children’s Books before becoming an agent. She is now a partner at the Agency and continues to represent Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear.
What she is seeking: Hilary represents a wide range of children’s book authors and illustrators from pre-school books to YA novels – handling their publishing deals alongside their film, TV and stage rights.
How to submit: Send a query letter, and attach a short synopsis and the first three chapters of a novel or the full picture book text (attached as a double-spaced Word document) and send to Hilary Delamere and Jessica Hare at hd-office@theagency.co.uk with ‘Children’s Book submission’ in the subject line.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
___________________
Ms. Stevie Finegan of Zeno Literary Agency
"I joined Zeno at the beginning of 2020 after time served working for science fiction and fantasy imprint Gollancz, adult non-fiction publisher Icon, and almost every Waterstones bookshop London has to offer. My degree specialised in children’s literature with a dissertation debating what Young Adult fiction actually is. All of the above strongly influenced the kind of books I get excited about, as well as broader narratives that explore stories connected with LGBTQIA+, BAME, disability, mental health, and other marginalised experiences."
What she is seeking: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children’s, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction.
How to submit: Send the first three chapters (or an equivalent segment of around 50 double-spaced pages), a synopsis, and a query letter. The chapters should be sent in .doc, .docx or PDF format, in a legible font (no smaller than 12pt), double spaced, and with the pages numbered. Please put your name, email address, and a contact number on the title page. Send material to: finegan@zenoagency.com
___________________
Sara O'Keeffe of Aevitas Creative Management
Sara has come to Aevitas with twenty years’ experience in the world of publishing, having worked with a host of major brand names in fiction ranging from crime writer Minette Walters to bestselling women’s fiction author Elizabeth Buchan, Roman epic series writer Robert Fabbri and award-winning science fiction writer Chris Beckett. She was the UK editor for Kevin Kwan’s international bestseller, Crazy Rich Asians along with Robert Ludlum’s hugely successful Bourne series. She acquired and published the bestselling cult hit Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell which spent six weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
What she is seeking: Sara has a particular passion for Irish writing and has previously published rising stars in Irish fiction: Eithne Shortall, Catherine Ryan Howard and Rachel Donohue. She enjoys the process of working with authors on their ideas, honing their craft and turning their creativity and talent into commercial success. She is passionate about storytelling, with particular interest in genre and reading group fiction.
How to submit: Follow instructions on the agency website HERE.
___________________
Ms. Niamh O'Grady of The Soho Agency
Niamh joined the agency in 2015, having worked as a Waterstones bookseller in Manchester. She works closely with Mark Lucas and Alice Saunders on their client lists and also helps manage the agency’s speaking activity alongside Alice, providing talent for corporate and public sector live events – from literary festivals to tech conferences – around the world.
What she is seeking: Niamh is actively looking for accessible literary and reading-group fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She is drawn to books with heart and humor, thought-provoking writing and distinctive, compelling voices. She particularly loves novels that explore family and relationships and wants to read stories that leave an emotional impact, with characters that stay with her long after the final page. She is keen to find new Irish and Northern writing talent.
How to submit: Send your query to sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com along with the first three chapters or first thirty pages of your manuscript in word format, along with a synopsis.
___________________
Ms. Harriet Moore of David Higham Associates Ltd
Harriet has worked at David Higham intermittently since 2006, when she spent a summer archiving Graham Greene’s contracts as part of her work experience here aged sixteen. She formally joined the agency in 2011 after graduating in English Literature from University College London.
Harriet represents literary fiction, narrative non–fiction, illustrated non–fiction and poetry, and collaborates with Lizzy Kremer on her list also. She is looking for writing which has atmosphere, ambition, style and flair with a particular interest in emotionally rigorous writers. She is drawn to the eerie and uncanny; voices which are sly, darkly jaunty and humorous; writing which is both intimate and political; and women thinking hard about other women. In non–fiction her areas of special interest are food, art and design—with an expertise in twentieth century writers and artists—and she is passionate about work which crosses disciplines, particularly the point at which memoir and biography meet.
Writers she admires include: Lydia Davis, Joy Williams, Rachel Cusk, Denise Riley, John Berger, MFK Fisher, Fleur Jaeggy, Jean Rhys, Natalia Ginzburg, Katherine Heiny, Elizabeth Strout, Claudia Rankine, Anne Carson, Jane Bowles.
How to submit: Please send a one-page synopsis that gives a full explanation of the plot, and the first three chapters or up to fifty pages (double spaced). Read submission details HERE.
___________________
Robbie Guillory of Kate Nash Literary Agency
Robbie grew up in North Norfolk and worked as a butler before moving to Glasgow in 2005 to study, obtaining a degree in Comparative Literature and Slavonics. After a brief foray in education, he embarked on a career in publishing, most recently for Saraband Books. In 2016 he was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s Emerging Publisher of the Year Award.
What he is seeking: Robbie is looking for outstanding writing across a number of genres: stand-out commercial fiction, science fiction that focuses on communities and relationships whilst the galaxy looks after itself, crime and psychological thrillers with a difference, gripping historical dramas, and beautiful nonfiction with roots in the natural world.
How to submit: Note: This agency prefers UK writers. To submit to the Kate Nash Literary Agency Ltd., please send a query to submissions@katenashlit.co.uk along with:
- a brief cover letter with some information about yourself and how you came to write your book
- a sample chapter or chapters (a maximum of three chapters) from your work
- a synopsis including where you think your book sits in the market
For non-fiction the above can either be in the body of an email or in a Word document.
For fiction send a brief cover letter with some information about yourself and how you came to write your book, the first chapter of your work and a brief synopsis (maximum the length of one A4 page, preferably more succinct) in the body of an email.
___________________
Ms. Hilary Delamere of The Agency
Hilary joined Lemon Unna & Durbridge in the early 90s to look after the Paddington Bear titles and to build her own book list. She worked for several different publishing houses including Rights Director at Penguin Children’s Books before becoming an agent. She is now a partner at the Agency and continues to represent Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear.
What she is seeking: Hilary represents a wide range of children’s book authors and illustrators from pre-school books to YA novels – handling their publishing deals alongside their film, TV and stage rights.
How to submit: Send a query letter, and attach a short synopsis and the first three chapters of a novel or the full picture book text (attached as a double-spaced Word document) and send to Hilary Delamere and Jessica Hare at hd-office@theagency.co.uk with ‘Children’s Book submission’ in the subject line.
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