I am proud to represent a list of intriguing, clever, conversation-starting writers, across both fiction and non-fiction. Most of my authors write contemporary stories, often led by themes of love, identity, and coming-of-age. For me, vital qualities to a great story include emotional depth, authenticity, a warm, engaging voice and an irrepressible energy. I want to be surprised, and to read everyday experiences and relationships told with nuance and colour; our lives are rich and varied, and I like my books to reflect that too.

Alongside literary, book club and romantic fiction, I’ve recently expanded into the cosier end of crime fiction with THE DOGWALKERS’ DETECTIVE AGENCY, an idea from Michael Hogan that I could not resist! I’d like to consider more stories in the crime genre that sit within small communities or groups of family/friends, and where the violence is not gratuitously-told or women are the repeatedly traumatised victims. I enjoy the writing of Elly Griffiths, Janice Hallett and Agatha Christie, to give you an idea of my recent and cautious forays into gentler crime fiction that explores people more than brutal murder…

I represent a wide range non-fiction writers including narrative writing on relationships, pop culture, social history and food, and a small number of cookery and other illustrated books. Please note that I am not currently considering memoir; I love memoir writing but unfortunately it’s a difficult time to find space for new voices, and I’m working with enough memoir for now.

I am committed to broadening the books we’re publishing to include everyone.

Also, I’m a feminist and celebrate books that empower us, or help us to be respected and heard.

In case it’s helpful to know what I do not represent, I don’t work with the following genres: poetry, Young Adult or children’s, fantasy, romantasy, speculative, supernatural, dystopian, sci-fi, thriller or horror fiction, business, diet, music or health books.

Favourite authors include Kate Atkinson, Claire Keegan, Elizabeth Strout, Shirley Jackson, Zora Neale Hurston and Nora Ephron. I’m drawn to rich and multi-layered stories of women, families, friendships and relationships, and love small communities with lots going on beneath the surface; I prefer the small and intimate to the epic and world-affecting.

About Me

I worked for Waterstones before joining the agency A P Watt, in 2003. I moved to Blake Friedmann in 2013, becoming Vice Head of the Book Department and a Bookseller ‘Rising Star’ in 2017, and a Director in 2020. In 2021, I was delighted to win the Romantic Novelists’ Association Agent of the Year Award. I regularly visit literary festivals, courses and events, and enjoy giving talks and holding workshops for writers. I have been a judge for the Bristol Short Story Prize and Manchester Fiction Prize, and I’m on the board of the Working Class Writers’ Festival.

MY AUTHORS

Diane Abbott MP
Saskia Alais
Kasim Ali
Estate of Ted Allbeury
Graeme Armstrong
MiMi Aye
Trezza Azzopardi
Bolu Babalola,
Dr. Tomas Bellamy
Jendella Benson
Meliz Berg
Ian Birch
Rachel Blackmore
Erin Bunting
Karen Campbell
Natasha Carthew
Fran Chang
Norie Clarke
Julia Cole
Sara Crowe
Tuyen Do
Michael Donkor
Jo Facer
Emma Forsyth Haslett
Alix Fox
Sarah Franklin
Janice Galloway
Gabriella Griffith
Sarah Hartley
Sir David Haslam
Kate Hodges
Michael Hogan
Kerry Hudson
Leah Hyslop
Benjamin Johncock
Kat Lister
Richard Littler
Anneliese Mackintosh
Ailbhe Malone
Lucy Mangan
Gemma Marren
Nina-Sophia Miralles
Emma Mitchell
Sue Moorcroft
Grace Mortimer
Nina Parker
Julie Rea
Annie Robertson
Lora Stimson
Jack Urwin
Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Meg Walters
Jemma Wayne
Women's Institute
Andrew Wong