4 UK Literary Agents Seeking Fiction, Rom-coms, YA, Thriller/Suspense, Nonfiction, SF/F and more

Updated 9/21/23

Here are four UK literary agents expanding their client lists. Hannah Schofield is seeking commercial fiction, rom-coms, YA/crossovers, thriller/suspense, themes of motherhood or sisterhood, dark academia, voice-driven narratives for a millennial or Gen Z audience, and novels from traditionally underrepresented writers. Amy St. Johnston accepts fiction for all ages, from children to adults. Ian Drury wants fantasy/SF, historical fiction and action/adventure; and on the non-fiction side for history, biography and music. Liza DeBlock represents adult and YA fiction and nonfiction.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Ms. Amy St. Johnston of Aitken Alexander Associates 

NO LONGER LISTED ON AGENCY WEBSITE

Amy St. Johnston joined Aitken Alexander Associates in 2018 and works with Clare Alexander and her clients. She is also building a list of her own. She has a background in children's publishing.

What she is seeking: Amy accepts fiction for all ages, from children to adults.

How to submit: Please send your query to submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk. Also send a short synopsis and the first 30 pages of your work as an attachment. Include Amy's name in the subject line of your email.

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Ms. Hannah Schofield of Luigi Bonomi Associates Ltd 

"I joined LBA in 2018 and am currently building a list of commercial and reading-group fiction. I previously worked for a literary scout and as a translation rights assistant, and I grew up in Luxembourg, so I have a strong working knowledge of the global publishing market and always bring an international eye to my reading."

What she is seeking: Commercial fiction, rom-coms, YA/crossovers, thriller/suspense, themes of motherhood or sisterhood, dark academia à la If We Were Villains, voice-driven narratives for a millennial or Gen Z audience, and novels from traditionally underrepresented writers in any of the above genres.

How to submit: Follow their guidelines HERE.

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Mr. Ian Drury of Sheil Land Associates Ltd 

"I read modern history at New College, Oxford before going into publishing: editing partworks and magazines before joining HarperCollins in 1994. I became Publishing Director at Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2003. I published the Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers REAL BRAVO TWO ZERO (Michael Asher), BLENHEIM (Charles Spencer) and LAST POST (Max Arthur) as well as the landmark history of France in IndoChina, THE LAST VALLEY (Martin Windrow)."

What he is seeking: Fantasy/SF, historical fiction and action/adventure; and on the non-fiction side for history, biography and music.

How to submit: Please email proposals to idrury@sheilland.co.uk with

a) your whole manuscript attached as a Word doc (or .docx)

b) a few lines about you and a one line summary of why someone would pay their own money to read your book.

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Ms. Liza DeBlock of Sage Literary

I got my start in publishing as an assistant at Eccles Fisher Associates in 2018. Working for literary scouts provided a foundation in understanding the international book market and I learned exactly what readers across the world are looking for. I then moved into the world of literary agenting and learned from the brilliant Robert Caskie and Silé Edwards amongst others while working at a boutique agency. Whilst there, I honed my skills selling international rights for major Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling authors such as Richard Osman, Claire Douglas, Abigail Dean, Saara El-Arifi, Hannah Kaner, and many more writers. I began building my curated list of authors across the spectrum of fiction and non-fiction, selling their rights in the UK, US, and beyond. I have brought all this knowledge and experience to Sage. My experience working with international publishers means that I see books on a global scale and want to help readers discover your work across the world. 

What she is seeking: When it comes to fiction, I am on the hunt for books that fall into commercial, book club, and edging on literary novels. I love a good thriller set in an unusual location, or with a speculative edge, or even with characters whose jobs are unique and distinct.  When it comes to historical fiction, I would love to see a book based on real historical figures that we need to rethink, reevaluate, or reimagine. I also love it when another genre slips into historical fiction - make it gothic, magical, fantastical, or even better - haunted. Having worked in archives and studied in Scotland, I would love to find something set within this space.

I would love to find an elegant love story with a speculative edge. Whether that’s time travel, magic, grounded fantasy, a unique setting - sweep me off my feet in a way I’ve never read before. I also enjoy romcoms with smart writing, lots of steam, and am a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn tropes. When it comes to fantasy, send me something with a unique magic system, a new world, romantic threads, unusual creatures, and anything inspired by folklore from across the world. 

My recent favourite fiction reads include Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, The Ministry of Time, There are Rivers In the Sky, Butter, Notes on an Execution, The Lamplighters, How to Kill Your Family, Lady Macbethad, Babel, Fourth Wing, A Discovery of Witches, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, The Familiar, Hungerstone, and The Lamb.

For non-fiction, I am looking for experts in their fields, or creator’s with exciting content to share. I love food writing - whether that’s food memoir or cookbooks. I would love to find something relating to women’s health, particularly around maternal, sports, or mental health. I welcome any submission that rethinks a popular or accepted train of thought. 

Some of my recent favourite non-fiction reads are The Five, Femina, Messalina, Matresence, Women Are Angry, A History of Art Without Men, Cook This Book, Dessert Person, Bake It Better, Between Two Waters.

Please do not send me novellas or unfinished manuscripts, sci-fi, erotica, graphic novels, children’s books, middle grade, or poetry.

How to submit: Follow guidelines HERE.