32+ United Kingdom contemporary literary agents whose current PairPi record says they are open to submissions. Each listing includes a source link and last-checked date.
32+ verified agents · 32 currently open
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
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 and non-fiction
Commercial fiction with pace/plot/character and clear hook, crime/suspense/thrillers, high-concept speculative (not SFF-only shelf), social-mirror horror, uplifting commercial fiction with emotional heart, non-fiction: sports writing and narrative non-fiction exploring contemporary social issues
Online form - https://amheath.com or submissions
Middle grade, ya, adult fiction
MG adventures (fresh), funny MG with series potential, contemporary and mythology for MG, YA romance with strong hook. Adult: women's fiction, dark psychological thrillers, contemporary funny romantic adventure
Email - jo@antonyharwood.com
Fiction and non-fiction
Adult crime, thrillers and suspense, contemporary romance, women's fiction (commercial/literary/historical/humour). Adult non-fiction: mental health advocates, adventurers, entertainers
Email - submission@bell-lomax.co.uk
Fiction and non-fiction
Commercial and upmarket fiction (book club, crime and thriller, historical, contemporary), commercial women's/romantic fiction, some lifestyle/personal development non-fiction
Email hattiesubmissions@theblairpartnership.com
Children's fiction and non-fiction (to ya or crossover)
Ambitious storytelling, bold structure/voice, fresh takes on genre, author/illustrators, underrepresented/marginalised voices, high-concept contemporary YA romance, horror/thrillers, hooky YA fantasy/speculative, hilarious MG, screen potential
Email - rachelsubmissions@theblairpartnership.com
Women's fiction, crime, thrillers, new nature writing
Well-written, engrossing fiction with a compelling plot, characters worth caring about, and an intriguing or attractive world. Particularly interested in women's fiction, contemporary or historical, as well as crime and thrillers. Also actively seeking new nature writing as a personal enthusiasm.
Email anne@khla.co.uk. The agency accepts submissions by email only.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, literary non-fiction, commercial non-fiction, ya, children's books, biography, memoir, history, popular culture, humour
Quality women's fiction including romantasy and love stories, smart contemporary thrillers with a difference, a great northern novel set in the north east or midlands, biography, memoir, history, popular culture, humour
Email synopsis and three sample chapters as a Word attachment, plus author biography, to info@sarah-such.com. No unsolicited manuscripts or telephone enquiries.
Fiction
Character-driven speculative fiction, female-led literary and crossover, book club fiction, contemporary rom-coms, sweeping love stories (historical/contemporary), crime and psychological thrillers, female-led fantasy, romantasy, retellings. Not: children/YA, police procedurals, cosy crime, epic sci-fi, poetry, plays, screenplays, any non-fiction
Elena is currently open for submissions. Send your cover letter, one-page synopsis, and first three chapters as attachments, not in the body of the email. Submit to submission@dhhliteraryagency.com. Only submit to one agent at DHH Literary Agency
Fiction and non-fiction
Refreshing narratives, intelligent fresh prose (often dark wit). Fiction: edgy/darkly humorous, gothic, offbeat family sagas, historical or contemporary. Non-fiction: new ideas/experts, memoir/narrative non-fiction, art history/dance, foodie innovators, social change
Email a covering letter, short synopsis, and first three chapters (or up to 5,000 words) to submissions@lutyensrubinstein.co.uk. If you have a particular agent in mind, let Susannah Godman know in your message.
Non-fiction
Big ideas, popular psychology, contemporary issues, economics/business (not how-to), popular science, history, biography, literature/pop culture, investigative journalism, narrative non-fiction
Submit via the online form at https://felicitybryan.com or submissions or submit-your-work/
Fiction and non-fiction
Contemporary, historical and literary fiction, crime and thrillers, memoir, biography, narrative history
Email isobel@blakefriedmann.co.uk with a cover letter in the body of the email. Attach a synopsis of 250-300 words and the first three chapters or first 10,000 words as Word documents (.doc or .docx). Include the book title and your name in the subject line. For non-fiction, attach a synopsis of up to 500 words, a chapter plan, and two sample chapters.
Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult, crossover
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Clara Foster wants intelligent, original fiction with deep emotion, strong line-level writing, and voice-led characters. She is looking for adult literary contemporary fiction with a strong female focus, upmarket and book club novels that are cleverly conceived, beautifully written, and accessible, fantasy and horror that explore the real world or the self, historical romantasy, urban fantasy, academic settings, body horror, lightly speculative fiction, and YA/crossover stories that are political while providing a strong story. She is not a likely fit for commercial women's fiction, science fiction, World War II or Holocaust stories, or narratives driven primarily by sexual assault, eating disorders, a great lie, or death of a child. She is not accepting nonfiction except by referral.
Submit via Clara Foster's official QueryTracker link from her submissions page. Send a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters. All queries will receive a response.
Young adult, new adult, contemporary romance, romantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Isabel Lineberry is Junior Agent and Rights Administrator at Perez Literary & Entertainment and is building a client list focused on YA, New Adult, and romance. She represents YA and New Adult and is particularly interested in contemporary romance, romantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance, queer and underrepresented voices, strong character and voice, romantic tension, charming villains, banter, morally grey characters, kick-ass heroines, believable worldbuilding, fairytale retellings, dark fantasy, alternate histories, historical fantasy, and occasional steampunk or dystopia. She is not interested in cheating storylines, accidental pregnancy, step-sibling romance, unnecessary miscommunication tropes, or Tolkien-esque hard worldbuilding with 100k+ quests.
Submit only through QueryManager at http:// queryManager.com or IsabelLineberry. PLE asks for a query letter and the first ten pages of a novel or the first ten pages of a nonfiction sample chapter. Submissions received by email or other methods will not be considered or read. Do not send an exclusive query.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, narrative memoir, family saga, high society fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, contemporary fiction, upmarket suspense, psychological thriller, postcolonial fiction, translated fiction, classical retellings
Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters, first ten thousand words, proposal, writing sample
Rachel Yeoh is a literary agent building a list in literary, upmarket, and book club fiction, as well as select narrative nonfiction. She is actively looking for literary, upmarket, book club, global stories, human experience, social critique, class conflict, speculative fiction, family sagas, contemporary fiction, upmarket suspense, psychological thriller, postcolonial literature, translated fiction, classical retellings, and narrative memoir.
Submit through the relevant Madeleine Milburn online form and select Rachel Yeoh where available. Adult fiction submissions require a cover letter pasted into the form and one attachment containing a one-page synopsis plus the first three chapters or first 10,000 words. Nonfiction submissions require a cover letter and one document containing a 5,000 to 10,000 word sample and proposal. Do not submit by post or directly to email addresses.
Fiction (and adult graphic novels)
Strong hook/high concept and unforgettable characters, underrepresented voices. Genres include contemporary/book club fiction, women's fiction, romance/romcom, accessible fantasy, historical fiction with a fresh perspective, and adult graphic novels
Online form - https://darleyanderson.com or submissions/
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 and non-fiction
High-concept, character/plot-driven thrillers, crime series, book club love stories, contemporary romcoms (diverse/own voices), sweeping book-club historical, true crime (no child-related), narrative non-fiction (science/environment/psychology/nature/wellbeing/memoir), self-development for women
Email - amandasubmissions@lbabooks.com
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.
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Story-led and character-driven novels, rich worldbuilding (realist/speculative, contemporary/historical). Non-fiction: history, politics, philosophy, psychology, true crime, narrative sports writing, literary biography, academics, journalists, critics
Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the subject line marked FAO Emma Paterson. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative non-fiction, send a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing, for subject-led non-fiction, send a proposal of approximately 5,000 words outlining the book and your credentials, plus at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a brief book description, any writing credits or relevant qualifications, and a short biographical note. Note whether you are submitting simultaneously to other agencies.
Fiction, non-fiction
Speculative fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime and thriller, serious non-fiction (big ideas/subversive assumptions, serious histories, narrative non-fiction re contemporary events/issues)
Email alexander@greyhoundliterary.co.uk with a cover letter 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. Do not submit by post. Do not submit to more than one agent at the agency.
Historical thrillers, literary fiction, upmarket genre fiction, book club fiction, science writing, food writing, history, nature writing, music journalism, memoir, cultural criticism
Wants: Contemporary crime and thrillers; historical fiction (esp historical crime); books with a fresh angle/clear identity; non-fiction on any subject with a strong angle and page-turning storytelling
Contemporary crime and thrillers, historical fiction and historical crime, upmarket and literary fiction with a fresh or distinctive angle, voices from marginalised or underrepresented communities, and non-fiction on any subject where the author has found the right angle and can make the material a page-turning story
Email submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk with covering letter in the body of the email. Fiction: attach first three chapters or around fifty pages plus a one-to-two page synopsis that reveals the ending. Non-fiction: attach three sample chapters or around fifty pages plus a chapter breakdown or synopsis. Attach files as Word documents, not PDFs. Include preferred agent name in the subject line.
Children's fiction, ya, adult fiction, non-fiction
Eclectic, currently: upmarket contemporary, friendships, thoughtful sci-fi/fantasy, sweeping love stories, darkly magical, humorous, memoir/essays (occasional). Avoids gritty/harrowing crime, no picture books or poetry
Email the first three chapters, a 1-2 page synopsis including the full plot outline and ending, and a covering letter (Word format preferred) to submissions.bryony@bryonywoods.co.uk. The covering letter should describe the book, include a short author biography, and note any previous writing experience.
Children's fiction, middle grade, ya, adult fiction
Children: singular/underrepresented voices, powerful ideas. Adult: commercial women's fiction, uplit, sagas, romance (contemporary, romcom, historical)
Email catherine@marjacq.com with a covering letter in the body of the email, the first fifty pages of the manuscript and a synopsis (for fiction) attached as Word or PDF documents, with total file size not exceeding 2MB.
Children's and ya (and some adult)
Middle grade and YA fiction across genres (pref voice/character-driven, contemporary/realistic settings, magical realism, original psychological thrillers, atmospheric horror, light fantasy). Also open to original children/YA non-fiction, selectively adult literary projects
Submit by email via the PFD books submission page at https://petersfraserdunlop.com or submissions or books/, including a cover letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters or approximately 50 pages for fiction, or a detailed proposal for non-fiction.
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Layered/nuanced writing, challenges form/genre, explores language, memory and truth, moral ambiguity, humour or uncomfortable reads, generally prefers contemporary settings. Non-fiction: overlooked/unexpected subjects, art/body/mind/natural world, passion and expertise, new connections
Submit via the online form at https://amheath.com or submissions with a covering letter (max 500 words), synopsis (max 1,500 words), and first 10,000 words. Use submissions@amheath.com only if another agent has requested your full manuscript, you have received an offer of representation, you have had no response within 6 weeks, or you are submitting a cookery proposal or illustrated children's book. To submit directly to Anna, email anna.webber@amheath.com, noting she may take a while to respond.
Crime fiction, thriller fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, women's fiction
Kate Burke seeks dark thrillers with surprising plot twists and interesting narrative structures, crime series featuring fresh lead investigators, and high-concept thrillers with 'what if?' premises that comment on society. She represents historical fiction combining strong sense of place and time with mystery elements, particularly post-1800 settings, and has special interest in Gothic, atmospheric historical thrillers set in spooky old houses. Burke also looks for contemporary novels with discussable issues suitable for book club debates and sweeping family stories about mothers, sisters and daughters set anywhere in the world.
Email kate@blakefriedmann.co.uk with your cover letter as the body of the email and the book title and your name in the subject line. Attach a synopsis (250–300 words for fiction, up to 500 words for non-fiction) and the first three chapters or first 10,000 words as Word documents (.doc or .docx) with 1.5 line spacing and numbered pages. Name each attachment with the book title and your name. Do not send PDFs, Pages files, or external links such as Google Docs. Submit to one agent only.
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.
Ya, new adult, contemporary romance, romantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Kristina represents authors and publishers across many genres and categories. She is actively seeking Horror, particularly folk horror, Gothic with a fresh twist, horror fantasy, social horror, feminist horror, queer horror, and dark comedies that bleed into horror territory. She is also looking for crossover YA/NA Fantasy with strong romantic elements and well-considered world building, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Non-Fiction focused on neuroscience, narrative popular science, smart thinking, and lesser-known female historical figures.
Kristina is currently closed to queries. When open, all queries must be submitted through Query Manager. Writers should upload a query letter and the first ten pages of their novel or the first ten pages of a non-fiction sample chapter. Submissions received by email or other methods will not be considered or read. Exclusive queries are not accepted.
Children's and ya fiction, na or crossover, commercial women's fiction, narrative non-fiction
MG: voice-driven with heart/humour, contemporary or MG fantasy series. YA: friendships/firsts/feels, high-concept/speculative romance or thriller. NA and commercial women's: romance-forward with unusual circumstances, romcom (college/university), darkly comic new-parenthood, also speculative/historical romance. Romantasy: romance-forward, grounded magic, morally grey. Non-fiction: extraordinary challenges/adventures, experts in STEM/history/pop culture/mental health. Not sci-fi, crime fiction, picture books
Email submission@bell-lomax.co.uk with a covering letter in the email body, a short synopsis (including full plot details), and the first three chapters (no more than 50 pages, double spaced) as a Word document or PDF. Do not address the submission to more than one agent.
Children's books
Actively seeking new clients, MG adventure/series potential, YA romance and fantasy, horror/monster stories, contemporary teen, queer/found-family, SFF across YA/new adult (not grimdark)
Email - childrens@darleyanderson.com
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