The right literary agent can help you score a great publishing deal, negotiate contracts, and also help you sell the rights to your book for things like film and TV adaptations.
In short, literary agents can help you make the most of your creative career. In this post, we’ve rounded up 25 great UK literary agents who are ready to help authors take their next steps toward success.
UK Literary Agents
Below are 25 UK literary agents who are currently accepting submissions and queries.
1. Johnny Geller
Johnny Geller is a literary agent and CEO of Curtis Brown Ltd. He represents a wide range of writers, including novelists, memoirists, journalists, former Prime Ministers, and more.
Geller has been awarded Literary Agent of the Year, and in 2015 GQ named him one of the 100 Most Connected Men in Britain.
Genres: Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics
Contact: [email protected]
2. Felicity Blunt
Felicity Blunt first trained as a barrister before interning and later joining Curtis Brown. She represents Danielle Steel in the UK, along with numerous other bestsellers.
While her nonfiction interests are predominantly related to cookery, she is also interested in narrative nonfiction, “particularly as it pertains to women, their bodies, status or experience.”
For fiction submissions, authors should send the first three chapters or 10,000 words of their manuscript, along with a synopsis and biographical note. For nonfiction, she asks for a detailed proposal.
Genres: Fiction, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Food Writing
Contact: [email protected]
3. Molly Ker Hawn
Molly Ker Hawn joined the Bent Agency in 2012. She now leads their London office, where she works with authors from all over the world and sells directly to publishers in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
She tends to prefer books that lean more toward literary fiction than commercial, but her idea of the perfect book neatly bridges the two.
Genres: Middle Grade, YA, graphic novels, nonfiction for ages 8–18
Contact: [email protected]
4. Juliet Mushens
Juliet Mushens has been shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year four times, and in 2021 she was named one of the 150 most influential people in publishing by The Bookseller.
She seeks stories with “high concept hooks, beautiful writing, and page turning plots.” Books with an international appeal are a plus, as are books that can make her cry.
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Reading Group Fiction, Gothic Novels, Historical Fiction
Contact: www.mushens-entertainment.com/submissions
5. Victoria Hobbs
Victoria Hobbs is a literary agent for A.M. Heath. She describes her own reading taste as “omnivorous,” and her client list spans a wide range of genres.
Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, she hopes to find something she hasn’t read before, with a fresh voice and compelling style.
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Post-apocalyptic fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Food, Politics, Nature
Contact: amheath.com/submissions/submission-form/
6. Veronique Baxter
Veronique Baxter joined David Higham in 1999 and was made a director of the company in 2007.
She represents a wide range of authors, including award-winning writers of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books.
Genres: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Upmarket Crime, Thrillers, Memoirs, and Narrative Nonfiction (especially concerning feminism, history, or current affairs)
Contact: [email protected]
7. Sallyanne Sweeney
Sallyanne Sweeney is passionate about the editorial side of her work at MMB Creative, and she enjoys helping new and seasoned authors alike to take their careers to the next level.
Her interests in fiction are wide-ranging, but she always loves a distinct voice, strong storytelling, and a fresh premise.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Food, Memoir, Children’s Books, Middle Grade, Picture Books
Contact: mmbcreative.com/literary-submissions/
8. Darley Anderson
Darley Anderson founded the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency after a 20-year career as a publisher.
He is currently looking for thrillers and Scandi-Noir with a strong central character set in America, Ireland, or other internationally appealing locations.
He is also interested in tear-jerking love stories, as well as children’s books that feature animals or original series characters.
Genres: Thrillers, Scandi-Noir, Children’s Books
Contact: [email protected]
9. Peter Straus
Peter Straus has been in the publishing industry for over 30 years. In 2016, he was awarded a CBE for his services to literature.
Straus is passionate about good writing and great literature. He works with many bestselling and prizewinning authors from around the world of both literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction.
Genres: Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
10. Gemma Cooper
Gemma Cooper became a director of the Bent Agency’s London office in 2020. She represents authors of Children’s books, Middle Grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction.
She describes herself as an upbeat person, and connects with characters who are the same. She also likes books that have obvious potential for dramatic adaptations.
Genres: Middle Grade, YA Fiction and Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
11. Alexander Cochran
Alexander Cochran is a literary agent with C+W. His tastes vary widely: in fiction, he’s particularly interested in literary fiction, dark thrillers, and crime novels, as well as sci-fi and fantasy that push boundaries but are rooted in the believable.
For nonfiction, he leans toward the serious, and seeks books with big ideas that subvert assumptions. He’s particularly interested in serious histories and narrative nonfiction with a focus on contemporary events and issues.
Genres: Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
12. Madeleine Milburn
Madeleine Milburn founded the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency in 2012, and has appeared on The Bookseller’s list of the 150 Most Influential People in the Book Trade every year since 2017.
She’s discovered some of the highest-selling and award-wining contemporary authors, including Nita Prose and Gail Honeyman.
Milburn reads across all areas of fiction, but she’s especially drawn to powerful, voice-led book club fiction with memorable characters and themes that start conversations.
Genres: Action & Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Children’s Books, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, LGBTQ
Contact: [email protected]
13. David H. Headley
David H. Headley founded the DHH Literary Agency in 2008. He is also the managing director and represents a wide range of best-selling and award-winning authors.
David is actively looking for thought-provoking stories, original narrative voices, and stories that he “doesn’t want to end.”
Genres: Crime Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Memoir, Biography, History, Politics, Science, Popular Culture, Food
Contact: [email protected]
14. Louise Lamont
Louise Lamont has been with LBA since 2013. She is currently looking for writers and illustrators for children and teen readers strong, especially stories with sharp storytelling, a hint of humor, and a sense of adventure.
Please note that she is not currently accepting submissions for picture books.
Genres: YA Fiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade
Contact: [email protected]
15. Sam Copeland
Sam Copeland joined Rogers, Coleridge and White in 2006, and was made a director of the company in 2016. In 2020, he was named one of Bookseller’s Most Influential People in Publishing.
He works with an extremely diverse list of award-winning and bestselling authors of upmarket fiction, thrillers, speculative fiction, historical fiction, children’s and YA, and quality nonfiction.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Children’s Books, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
16. Sophie Hicks
Sophie Hicks started the Sophie Hicks Agency in 2014 after 25 years at Ed Victor Ltd., where she worked in foreign rights before starting her list and becoming Managing Director.
She is currently looking for new adult voices in all genres except women’s fiction. In addition to fresh fiction, she is also on the lookout for clever, accessible nonfiction that examines everyday life in a new light.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Children’s Books, Middle Grade
Contact: [email protected]
17. Philip Patterson
Philip Patterson leads the book department at Marjacq. He joined the company in 2003 after leaving Curtis Brown, where he was a film, television and theatre agent.
He is currently looking for thrillers, commercial fiction, and historical and literary fiction. He also seeks narrative nonfiction on history, natural history, politics, and the military.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics
Contact: [email protected]
18. Caroline Hardman
Before co-founding Hardman & Swainson, Caroline Hardman was an agent at the Christopher Little Literary Agency and The Marsh Agency, where she also specialized in translation rights.
She loves the thrill of finding brilliant new writers and working with them to refine their work and seal great publishing deals.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
19. Kate Nash
Kate Nash has been an author, publisher, publicist, and marketer. She finally set up her own literary agency, the Kate Nash Literary Agency, so she could do “the best job in publishing.”
She describes her reading tastes as highly commercial. In 2019, she was awarded Agent of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade
Contact: [email protected]
20. Kate Burke
Kate Burke joined Blake Friedmann in 2019. Having previously worked as an editor for 10 years, she employs a hands-on approach to working with her authors on their manuscripts.
She’s currently looking for gripping fiction that features characters you can’t get enough of. She loves both dark stories and uplifting love stories and is open to working with authors from all over the world.
Genres: Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Romance
Contact: [email protected]
21. Oli Munson
Oli Munson is proud to represent a wide variety of authors at AM Heath. He loves commercial fiction that masters what he calls the “Holy Trinity” of pace, plot, and character.
For nonfiction, he especially enjoys sports writing and narrative nonfiction that explores contemporary social issues.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Sports
Contact: amheath.com/submissions/submission-form/
22. Donald Winchester
Donald Winchester joined Watson, Little as an agent in 2013, after working for several years as an editor and agent with other companies.
He’s currently interested in literary fiction and well-written commercial fiction, including works by debut authors. For nonfiction, he would love to see more work on history, popular science, social issues, nature, music, sport, film and technology by experts who can convey their expertise and enthusiasm to a wide audience.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir, Sports
Contact: [email protected]
23. Hellie Ogden
Hellie Ogden is a literary agent for Janklow & Nesbit UK. She describes her editorial approach as “hands-on,” because she works closely with her authors from the idea stage to the polished, final manuscript.
She’s happy to receive manuscripts even at a rough stage. She works closely with the agency’s New York office and translation rights team to build international careers for her clients.
Genres: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Cookbook, Narrative Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Feminism
Contact: [email protected]
24. Andrew Lownie
Andrew Lownie founded the Andrew Lownie Literary Agency in 1988, and it’s now one of the UK’s leading agencies with 200 hundred authors.
Lownie represents nonfiction and is happy to receive submissions from previously unpublished authors.
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction
Contact: [email protected]
25. Caroline Sheldon
Caroline Sheldon founded the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency 30 years ago, after working as a publisher of women’s fiction and children’s books.
Her agency has close contacts with all major publishing houses, and they actively sell film, television, American, translation, and merchandising rights.
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Children’s Books, Picture Books, Middle Grade, YA
Contact: [email protected]
How Do You Find a Literary Agent in the UK?
All of the UK literary agents listed here are open to unsolicited queries and submissions. In order to increase your chances of finding an agent, please make sure you follow any and all submission guidelines on the agency websites.
Most agencies require or encourage you to submit query letters or proposals for your book. Check out our tips on how to write a query letter that will grab an agent’s attention.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 21 Foreign Rights Agencies That Can Help You Sell More Books Abroad
- How To Get A Literary Agent to Represent You: The Complete Guide for Authors
- How to Write a Query Letter: The 6-Step Formula for Nonfiction and Novels
- What Is the Slush Pile and How Can Authors Avoid It?
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
How can I go about finding an agent willing to handle unwoke authors? I write nothing even vaguely extremist . . . merely common sense thriller/romance fiction, but free from and sometimes ot approving of current popular ideology. Are there such agents /publishers in the UK or the US? I live in Mexico, which gives my subject matter an international flavour.
Would be grateful for any information concerning publishers of African Historical fiction thanks
Hello. I am a complete novice at writing so finishing my thriller/horror/time travel book was a great big shock to me. I have had it checked and edited, now looking for the next step. Please can I have help
Is anyone interested in a collection of short stories, encompassing murder, myth, fable and a slant-wise take on traditional rural life? Every agent I look up seems intent on publishing the Big Stuff – I write the Small Stuff, but I really DO do it rather well!!
I’m hoping someone can help.
I found your list very useful. Thank you. As a journalist ( all my life ) the publishing word works very differently. Literary agents : it’s all subjective, personal opinion, personal knee jerk reaction. They are in a supermarket and can buy what they want. They can choose what they like- on a whim, it seems. I write because I love writing : So, treat it like a hobby. That’s my advice. Don’t get worked up about rejection or like many, not even hearing back. Reporting on news and sport. It’s very black and white. But writing fiction for example, is totally different. I’ve already been published and it was such a great feeling. But you have to send your manuscript to the right type of person- a scatter gun approach is a total waste of time. You will only get disheartened if you do this. Don’t fire off 30 emails to 30 different agents. Know your market first. Write because you love writing. First and foremost.
Thanks, Mark. That’s very useful.
Hello
Thank you for this information. I am in the market for a literary agent. What criteria were used to compile this list? I would like to request the date this was written. It did not come up.
Hello anybody who ready this (and thank you)
I am a TV Production degree student who loves writing. I have written my own books and self-published them. However, since doing my degree (now entering 3rd year), I am becoming obsessed with script writing. This is just books and I get that but can any of the super people on here advise me on a reputable agent/producer to approach? I have 6 completed 15 minutes monologues (already made into TV Shows for my degree submission) and currently writing a 1hr 45min stage play that would easily sit well on SKY Arts. I am your standard student with almost no money and no experience. Could anyone help direct me, please?
Thank you so much
Emma Preston
CAN YOU HELP ME WITH A LIST OF NIGERIAN LITERARY AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS, PLEASE?
We’re currently working on a list of nigerian publishers, we’ll try to get it published asap! :)
Do any of these agents accept translated Books? As a freelance translator from French to English I find that most publishers will not accept an unsolicited submission, only one through an agent. And most agents do not accept translated books. To add to the infernal circle, French publishers don’t particularly like to deal with agents! Yet I still try because translating is my passion!
Hi Margaret, many of these agencies handle translation rights. I’m not sure if they accept translated submissions (I quickly scanned the guidelines now and don’t see anything prohibiting it), but you could contact them and ask!
I have always found it ludicrous that writers have to beg in order to get the attention of a bunch of people who wouldn’t have a job let alone a reason to exist professionally if said writers chose not to write. The world of writing’s upside down.
Also: great writers don’t a) write for someone b) don’t write to sell millions of books and c) don’t write in order to become famous. A and B is what most agents/publishers require, according to the submission notes. If A and B had been applied, novels of authors of great genius like Dostoevsky or Bukowski would still be inside a drawer. Good writers write for themselves, they write what they want to read.
And finally, no one wants new, they all want tried and tested, which is boring boring boring. Art is not commerce, only artists should be publishers, instead publishers are car salespeople.
End of rant :)
Julia
Hi Julia, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally get your frustration. Many authors have found success with self-publishing, which allows them control over their creative process and they don’t have to adhere to any sort of strict marketing regimen if they don’t want to. But as for traditional publishing, unfortunately there is so much competition today, that the majority of authors will face a lot of rejection before they get a deal.
It is with deep regret that I, wholeheartedly, agree with you, Julia
We just gotta keep sloggin’!
All the Best
Kat
Hello agent, I am a writer and software engineer from Nigeria who needs an agent and manager. Can agent mail me as a representative. Can you be my agent and representative. Please Mail me. Thanks again
Hi Abayomi, are you looking to publish in the UK? I’ll work on getting a post out on Nigerian literary agents and publishers too