UK Commercial Fiction Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Strong commercial genre fiction (noir-ish thrillers/spy/gritty crime; also saga/romance/romcom) and surprising reading-group fiction; non-fiction with strong narrative voice in memoir/history and big ideas/smart thinking

Wide range of fiction and non-fiction, literary and commercial. Has a taste for the unlikely, likes to be surprised and transported. In fiction, loves stories that take him somewhere strange and wonderful. For non-fiction, loves books that reveal something new or inspire readers to imagine the world differently.

Email - submissions@sheilland.co.uk

Fiction, non-fiction, ya

Character-driven, high-concept fiction with commercial hook, genre esp fantasy/horror, high-concept thrillers, voice-led contemporary, sweeping historical, romance/romcom, select narrative non-fiction (memoir/history/nature/science)

Email maria@greyhoundliterary.co.uk with a cover letter and pitch in the body of the email. For fiction, attach the first three chapters and a synopsis. For non-fiction, attach a proposal and sample writing.

Fiction

Crime and thriller, dark commercial/book-club-leaning fiction, high-concept psychological suspense, clever mysteries, propulsive thrillers, smart genre blends

Email - stephanieglencross@davidhigham.co.uk

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, contemporary fiction, commercial women's fiction, crime, mystery, thrillers, fantasy, genre romance, historical fiction, horror, ghost stories, sagas, science fiction, biography, memoir, cookery, gardening, gift books, humour, history, military history, lifestyle, mind-body-spirit, self-improvement, politics, popular science, psychology, travel, children's, ya

SF/fantasy, sweeping historical fiction, character-driven sci-fi, action/adventure, crime. Non-fiction: history, biography, music

Email submissions@sheilland.co.uk with a cover letter, a one-page synopsis (fiction) or brief outline (non-fiction), a short CV, and the first three chapters or around fifty pages. Submissions should be 1.5 line spaced with margins and page numbers, and must include a word count. Only one work at a time. No AI-generated content accepted.

Humorous fiction, action fiction, commercial fiction

Books with humour, particularly when it is edgy, smart, and driven by characters' own actions, flaws, and foibles. Strong-voiced action stories that create genuine connection with a character before placing them in peril, with premises that explore "what if" scenarios to their extremes. Narratives that deliver surprises in a satisfying, inevitable way.

Other submissions

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: high-concept crime/thrillers, female-led commercial, upmarket commercial, book club, contemporary women's stories, romance, underrepresented voices, fresh-take historical, funny smart romcoms, sagas, gothic, sweeping love stories. Non-fiction: humour, memoir, lifestyle, social justice/polemic, cookery. Not horror/ghosts, not SFF, not YA/children, not sport/true crime, no short stories/novellas, no poetry/screenplay

Email db.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com with a cover letter, first 3 chapters, and a 1-page synopsis as Word attachments.

Fiction and non-fiction

Prioritising MG/YA and new adult/adult commercial fiction, romance including romcom/dark/epic, romantasy, YA contemporary with humour/romance, YA thrillers/horror, MG funny contemporary

Email - submissions@watsonlittle.com

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, commercial non-fiction, children's fiction, ya

Wants: Agency is building its list and welcomes unsolicited submissions (see remit on site)

Commercial and literary fiction across all genres, commercial non-fiction, and children's and young adult fiction, with a particular interest in projects with book-to-screen adaptation potential

Email info@whisperingbuffalo.com marked for the attention of the Submissions Department. For fiction include a brief biography, one-page synopsis, and first three chapters (double-spaced) as a Word document attachment. For non-fiction include a proposal and sample chapter.

Fantasy, romantasy, rom-coms, book club romance, female-focused psychological thrillers, historical fiction, commercial non-fiction

Dark fantasy, romantasy (commercial and upmarket), dark academia, political intrigue, genre-blending (horror/romance, fantasy/horror), psychological thrillers with a dark edge, unhinged female protagonists, stories from underrepresented backgrounds. Interested in previously self-published authors within these genres and fanfiction authors writing original fiction

Send your cover letter, synopsis, and first three chapters or 10,000 words for fiction, or a proposal for non-fiction, to ciara.finan@curtisbrown.co.uk. Due to the volume of submissions received, a response to every query is not guaranteed. Writers should keep the agent updated if they receive a full manuscript request or an offer of representation from another agent.

Fiction and non-fiction

Non-fiction: history, popular science, social issues, nature, money/life management, music, sport, film, technology, memoir, true crime, experts with wide appeal. Fiction: literary and well-written commercial, boundary-pushing style with emotional heart and plot, upmarket with satisfying arc, historical or contemporary, genre-mixing

Email submissions@watsonlittle.com with a cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis, and approximately 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript for fiction, or a proposal including a sample chapter and chapter summaries for non-fiction. Address one agent only. No AI-originated or AI-edited material.

Fiction (adult)

Commercial and literary, crime/thriller, historical

Email - enquiries@aforauthors.co.uk

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary prize-winners to upmarket reading group, well-written crime, ambitious/surprising, messy family stories, longing/relationships. Non-fiction: art, culture, music, food, nature, mental health

Submit via the online portal at https://felicitybryan.com or submissions or submit-your-work/ — upload a synopsis or proposal and the first 3–4 chapters.

Commercial women's fiction, psychological thrillers, popular science, true crime

Fresh commercial women's fiction with big hooks/diverse characters, pacy psychological thrillers, cutting-edge non-fiction (popular science to true crime)

Email submissions@cmm.agency with: a one-paragraph author biography (including whether the manuscript has been sent to other agents or publishers), a one-paragraph blurb with hook, genre and audience, a short synopsis covering plot, setting, theme and characters, and the first three chapters as an attachment. The manuscript must be double or 1.5 line-spaced, with wide margins, in at least 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman), fully paginated, and with name, address, contact number and email on the first page.

Speculative fiction, historical fiction, upmarket crime and thriller, memoir, narrative-led non-fiction, nature, food, sport, psychology, business, craft and design, social sciences, investigative journalism

Wants: Quality and commercial fiction and non-fiction (no children's). fiction: first 3 chapters/50pp and synopsis. non-fiction: pitch and sample chapter

In fiction, books combining compelling storytelling, engaging characters and strong plotting, especially novels of ambition and scope with big-hearted characters. Particularly interested in speculative fiction with a real-world edge or near-future settings. In non-fiction, broad tastes including memoir, narrative non-fiction with deep focus that expands outward to explain a culture or subculture, immersive journalism, and books where subject-matter expertise meets great writing. Does not represent children's books.

Fiction: first 3 chapters or 50 pages and synopsis. Non-fiction: pitch and sample chapter

Fiction and non-fiction

Commercial women's fiction with strong hook/twisty plots/emotion/drama, eclectic list. Agency also considers crime/mystery/suspense/thrillers, horror, historical, commercial and literary, non-fiction including politics/current affairs, environment, lifestyle, popular science, self-help/how-to, true crime

Email submissions@cmm.agency with a one-paragraph author biography, a one-paragraph blurb or hook including genre and audience, a short synopsis covering plot, setting, theme and characters, and the first three chapters as an attachment. Manuscript must be double or 1.5 line-spaced, with wide margins, in a font no smaller than 12-point (preferably Times New Roman), fully page-numbered, with your name, address, contact number and email on the first page.

Fiction and non-fiction

Thrillers, commercial fiction, historical and literary fiction, narrative non-fiction (history, natural history, politics, military)

Email - philip@marjacq.com

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, crime, sci-fi, short story collections, poetry, narrative non-fiction, history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science, popular psychology, children's, ya

Wants: Cover letter and ~500-word synopsis and first 3 chapters; include contact details

Literary, book club, and commercial fiction including thrillers and YA; short story collections and poetry; narrative non-fiction with strong style; well-crafted crime and sci-fi; history, politics, science, psychology, true crime, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, and popular psychology. Writers for children and young adults are also welcome.

Submit by email or post. The postal address is 29 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PS. For email, visit georginacapel.com or contact to find the address.

Fiction

Mystery, suspense, thrillers, crime, book club fiction, grounded speculative/high-concept (no high fantasy), stories with escapism, strong series characters, ensemble casts, nature-as-character settings

Online form - https://darleyanderson.com or submissions/

Fiction and non-fiction

Story-led commercial/literary: romantic or suspense fiction, compelling memoir, iconic history, edgy humour, 'gleam in the author's eye'

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com