Gemma Cooper

Represents

Wants to See

Age Categories

Children's, YA, Middle Grade, Adult

Looking For

Big-concept commercial series fiction for children and YA, with particular interest in middle grade across all subgenres — mystery, fantasy, historical, funny, adventure, verse, illustrated, animal perspectives — especially with a strong voice or hook. Chapter books with series potential for ages 7 and up, and graphic novels across all children's and YA age ranges. In YA, contemporary novels including rom-coms with a hook, high-concept stories with strong friendships or sibling relationships, mysteries, thrillers, and light speculative fiction; will consider historical YA with action. For adult, only open to cosy crime, smart contemporary crime with humour, crime with a fantasy twist, and crime with a sci-fi element — nothing dark or gritty, no child death or gratuitous violence. Not open to picture books, YA fantasy, contemporary adult fiction, adult non-fiction, literary novels, romance, or poetry.

Submission Details

Submit via

Email

Response time

8 weeks

Last verified

8 Apr 2026Recently verified

Notes

Submission email must include pitch and bio and first 10 pages pasted into email body (no attachment). Illustrated non-fiction/graphic novel may attach up to 5 low-res images. Queries to info@ are deleted unread. Gemma has been a literary agent since 2011, previously a director at The Bent Agency, and founded GCL in 2024. Her client list includes number one New York Times and Sunday Times bestsellers, Barnes and Noble Children's Book Award winners, Waterstones Children's Book Prize winners, and books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and Edgar Award. She sells directly to publishers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Writers from underrepresented communities, particularly those writing chapter books and middle grade, are especially encouraged to submit. An autoresponder confirms receipt of queries; if no response arrives within eight weeks, resubmission is welcome.