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Elly James

Open
HHB Agency·UK

Agent profile summary

Represents
commercial fictionwomen's fictionintelligent crimethrillershistorical fictionhistory
+7 morenaturescienceself-developmentbiographymemoirlifestylefood
Looking for
Quality commercial and popular literary fiction with emotional heft, original voices and broad appeal, including twisty thrillers, ghost stories, and epic romantic stories. For non-fiction, experts in their fields writing about history, nature, science, self-development, biography, memoir, original thinking, lifestyle and food — particularly books that educate and illuminate worlds readers don't know, strong women's voices, and food writers with fresh perspectives or a built community.
How to submit
Email submissions@hhbagency.com with the genre in the subject line. Put your covering letter in the body of the email including a brief pitch, relevant background, and comparison titles. Attach the first three chapters or around 50 pages as a Word document, plus a synopsis. Fiction writers must have completed the manuscript before submitting. Non-fiction writers may submit before completion.
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Last checked 29 May 2026·Last verified: 29 May 2026
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Elly James is a literary agent at HHB Agency based in UK. Their list focuses on genres including commercial fiction, women's fiction, and intelligent crime. Currently open to submissions, with responses usually within Up to 8 weeks (no reply = pass). Submissions via Email. For current guidelines, check the agent's own submission page linked below.

Age Categories

Adult

Response Time

Usually responds within Up to 8 weeks (no reply = pass)

Notes

HHB Agency was founded in 2005 by Heather Holden-Brown, who retired in January 2024. Elly James, who joined in 2007 and previously worked in television and film development, is now sole director and agent. The agency does not handle scripts, screenplays, poetry, science fiction, fantasy, police procedurals, or YA and children's books, and only represents authors based in Europe. Notable clients include The Secret Barrister, Adam Kay, Laura Cummings, Hannah Barnes, Katy Hessel, and Sophie Elmhirst.

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commercial fictioncrime & thrillerhistorical fictionwomen's fictionmemoirbiographyhistorynature & environmentfood & cookeryillustrated / picture books

This profile was last verified on 29 May 2026. PairPi tracks UK literary agents' submission guidelines against their own websites. If you spot something wrong, please email hello@pairpi.com.