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UK Self-help Literary Agents

21 agents · 15 currently open to submissions

UK self-help is practical publishing with a high trust bar. Agents are looking for authority, structure, promise, and a reader who can be named without embarrassment. Atomic Habits changed expectations around usefulness, but most submissions still need sharper evidence, platform, and a clearer transformation.

This UK page shows agents who explicitly represent self-help. The broad search toggle catches more who'd consider it under health and wellbeing, psychology, business, lifestyle, spirituality, or practical non-fiction.

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Represents

Crime fiction, thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, supernatural suspense, ghost stories, romantic suspense, historical fiction, women's fiction, middle grade, ya, horror, non-fiction, self-help, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Looking for

Crime fiction encompassing thriller, mystery, and psychological thriller; supernatural suspense; ghost stories; romantic suspense; historical fiction; women's fiction; children's fiction at middle grade and YA level; horror; and non-fiction including topical, accessible works such as self-help, narrative non-fiction, and memoir. Does not represent science fiction, fantasy, short stories, poetry collections, erotica, or picture books.

How to submit

Submit by email only. Fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a synopsis, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Non-fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a proposal with chapter breakdown, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Use the submissions page at https://shesto-literary.com or submissions or to send your materials.

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Represents

Commercial fiction, romance, saga, crime, thriller, book club fiction, children's fiction, ya, non-fiction, business, finance, self-help, wellbeing, lifestyle, cookery

Looking for

Commercial fiction (romance/saga, crime/thriller, book club), children's novels 9+ to YA, non-fiction including business/finance, self-help/wellbeing, lifestyle/cookery. Not sci-fi, short stories, or poetry

How to submit

Email submissions@susanyearwoodagency.com with your name and title or genre in the subject line (e.g. Joe Bloggs, The Title, Book Club fiction). Attach the first 30 pages and a separately titled synopsis or outline. Include a cover email with a pitch sentence, a brief description of the submission, comparative authors published in the last three years, your writing background, and a paragraph on why you wrote the book. Attachments should be Word or PDF, 1.5 or double-spaced, with page numbers. Let the agent know if you are also submitting to other agents.

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Represents

Fiction and non-fiction

Looking for

Fiction: literary, upmarket commercial, book club, historical, crime, thrillers (no sci-fi/fantasy/children's). Non-fiction: serious/pop science, psychology, feminism, big ideas/current affairs, health/body/mind, personal development, selective lifestyle, narrative/memoir

How to submit

Email submissions@hardmanswainson.com. Name your chosen agent in the cover email. For fiction, attach a one-page synopsis and the full manuscript. For non-fiction, attach a proposal and a sample chapter, or the whole work if complete. Submit to one agent only.

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Represents

Fiction, non-fiction, children's fiction 8 and

Looking for

Distinctive fiction, non-fiction including memoir, history, narrative, biography, lifestyle, sports, self-help, humour, pop culture. Not horror, sci-fi, screenplays, or picture books

How to submit

Email info@lisarichards.ie. For fiction, include the first three or four chapters, a covering letter, and an SAE if required. For non-fiction, send a detailed proposal, a sample chapter, and a cover letter.

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Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, personal development, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Looking for

Literary and upmarket fiction, and in non-fiction expert voices in personal development, narrative non-fiction, emotive memoir, and books that engage with politics, culture and the status quo with intellectual depth. Passionate about bringing undiscovered ideas and fresh conversations to the mainstream.

How to submit

Email a synopsis and sample material to hello@bergstromstudio.co.uk

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Represents

Fiction and non-fiction

Looking for

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

How to submit

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.

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Represents

Fiction and non-fiction

Looking for

Pacy romcoms, dark literary, historical forgotten perspectives, under-represented voices, non-fiction provoking discussion (memoir/polemic/recovered histories/culture studies/self-help)

How to submit

Email af.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com with cover letter, one-page synopsis, and first three chapters for fiction. For non-fiction, send a proposal including an overview, author bio, chapter breakdown, sources, sample chapter, comparable titles, media links, and any praise.

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Represents

Commercial non-fiction, self-help, memoir, literary non-fiction

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Looking for

Building a list of fiction and non-fiction authors with a particular focus on digital-first writers. Specialises in commercial, self-help and literary non-fiction across memoir, mindfulness, interior design and lifestyle. A committed advocate for emerging and diverse writers.

How to submit

Email - hello@bergstromstudio.co.uk

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Represents

Personal development, professional development, health, medicine, business, science

Looking for

Jeff represents authors sharing insights about personal and professional development, health and medicine, business, and the sciences. He seeks books that help readers grow by providing new knowledge, perspectives, and tools to change their lives.

How to submit

Send a proposal and sample chapter by email to info@curiousmindsagency.com. The agency notes it cannot respond to every submission due to volume.

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Represents

Non-fiction, autobiography and biography, health, fitness and personal development, humour and language, inspirational real lives, popular culture, history and current affairs, true crime, war and military, crime fiction

Looking for

Nonfiction across a wide range of categories including autobiography and biography, health, fitness and personal development, humour and language, inspirational real lives, popular culture, history and current affairs, true crime, war and military, and crime fiction.

How to submit

The Robert Smith Literary Agency is currently closed to new submissions and is not accepting any new book proposals at this time.

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Represents

Non-fiction (plus select translated fiction or poetry)

Looking for

High-quality zeitgeisty narrative non-fiction, lifestyle/health/personal development, thought leaders/experts, also discovering translated fiction and expanding into music/poetry

How to submit

Online form (QueryManager via Aevitas submissions form) - https://www.aevitascreative.com or contact

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Represents

Nonfiction, business, personal development, self-help, pop culture, science, technology, history, parenting

Looking for

Donya focuses primarily on nonfiction in the categories of business, personal development, self-help, pop culture, science, technology, history, and parenting. She is looking for breakthrough thinking, experts with a fresh voice, and new approaches to solving the problems people face daily. She is especially drawn to books that help others be their best self and succeed in both their professional and personal lives.

How to submit

Donya only accepts queries through Query Manager at https:// queryManager.com or 3213.

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Represents

Self-help, pop culture, music, memoir, history, science, politics, social justice, narrative food writing, faith, true crime, commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, horror thrillers, children's books, picture books, ya

Looking for

Rick Richter represents self-help, pop culture and music, memoir, history, science, politics and social justice, narrative food writing, and faith. He is also interested in select true crime, commercial fiction, and psychological/horror thrillers and diverse voices in all categories. He has extensive experience in children's books and represents illustrators and children's authors writing fiction and non-fiction from picture books through YA.

How to submit

Rick Richter only accepts queries through Query Manager. Please check his Query Manager profile for more information.

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Represents

Non-fiction, investigative journalism, memoir, evidence-based self-help, narrative non-fiction

Looking for

Caroline Marsiglia is primarily interested in non-fiction, focusing on investigative journalism, memoir, evidence-based self-help, and narrative non-fiction. Across all genres, she is eager to work with authors who share her dedication to creating a more diverse and accessible literary landscape.

How to submit

Online submission form

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Represents

Memoir, lifestyle, self-help, business, cooking, travel

Looking for

Andy McNicol represents New York Times bestselling authors, activists, lifestyle brands, and multi-hyphenate talent. Her clients include authors such as Sophia Amoruso, Chrissy Teigen, Tommy Dorfman, and Jenna Lyons, as well as lifestyle brands like La Double J, Flamingo Estates, and The Lakers Organization. She specializes in developing successful books and content platforms with a holistic, 360-degree approach.

How to submit

Online submission form

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