Agents Specialising in Biography

Full-length MSS. Biography, history, reference, current affairs, and packaging journalists and celebrities for the book market (worldwide 15%).

Submission Guidelines:

• 1 page mini-synopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special
• 1 page cv
• 1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books relate to the author's own book
• 1 page on sources used
• 1 page on any specialist marketing outlets such as websites, organisations or magazines
• 1 page synopsis per chapter
• A sample chapter and, if appropriate, some photographs

No reading fee; will suggest a revision.

Authors include Juliet Barker, the Joyce Cary Estate, Tom Devine, Duncan Falconer, Jonathan Fryer, Laurence Gardner, Cathy Glass, Timothy Good, David Hasselhoff, Lawrence James, Damien Lewis, Julian Maclaren-Ross Estate, Norma Major, Nick Pope, Martin Pugh, Desmond Seward, David Stafford, Daniel Tammet; The Oxford Classical Dictionary , The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English .

Founded 1988.

Association of Authors' AgentsThe association of UK agents. Their website (http://www.agentsassoc.co.uk/index.html) gives a Directory of Members and a code of practice, but no information about the agencies other than their names. The association refers visitors to the UK agent listings from The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook on the WritersServices site.

Founded 1977. Psychology, popular history, biography, pop culture, general non-fiction; fiction.

Works in conjunction with foreign agents. No reading fee.

See submission page on their website

Literary and commercial fiction (but no children's fiction, science fiction, horror or fantasy); non-fiction: biography, history, popular culture (home 15%, USA/translation 20%).

No unsolicited MSS or email submissions. No reading fee.

Founded 1996.

Association of Authors' AgentsThe association of UK agents. Their website (http://www.agentsassoc.co.uk/index.html) gives a Directory of Members and a code of practice, but no information about the agencies other than their names. The association refers visitors to the UK agent listings from The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook on the WritersServices site.

Founded 1948; Specialisations of interest to UK writers: mysteries, women's fiction, history, biography, science fiction, fantasy.

No screenplays.

No unsolicited MSS. Letter queries must include sufficient IRCs. Works in conjunction with agents worldwide.

Successor to Marie Rodell-Frances Collin Literary Agency.

hhb agency

hhb agency ltd was founded in 2005 by Heather Holden-Brown. The agency represents writers of non-fiction - in particular, journalism, history and politics, travel and adventure, contemporary autobiography and biography, books about words and numbers, popular culture and quirky humour, entertainment and television, business, family memoir, food and cookery - and commercial fiction. hhb agency ltd is always pleased to hear from talented writers. Please call or email before sending in your material.

Please do not send international postal vouchers with submissions. As a small agency which believes strongly in regular and consultative personal contact, they do not represent writers based beyond Europe.

Permissions: If you wish to quote from a book by one of their authors, it is suggested you write first to the Permissions Department of the publisher of the original edition of the book, setting out clearly details of the quotation/s you wish to use and for what purpose.

Please do not send international postal vouchers with submissions. As a small agency which believes strongly in regular and consultative personal contact, they do not represent writers based beyond Europe.

Permissions: If you wish to quote from a book by one of their authors, it is suggested you write first to the Permissions Department of the publisher of the original edition of the book, setting out clearly details of the quotation/s you wish to use and for what purpose.

Non-fiction, especially history, politics, popular culture, health, psychology, reference, biography (home 15%, overseas 20%).

Will suggest revision. No reading fee.

Foreign rights handled by JPA.

Founded 1971.

Mainstream commercial and literary fiction (no formula fiction);

Non-fiction: psychology, science, biography, performance rights.

Send query letter (via email only - jvnla@jvnla.com) to the agent you feel is best fitted for your work.

Founded 1978.

Literary fiction, crime writing and writing for children; non-fiction: biography, history, sport, music popular culture. Also adult fiction and general non-fiction. No poetry, science fiction, fantasy or academic.

Represents children's writers and illustrators. No reading fee. See website for submission guidelines.

Submissions by email: Prefers to receive submissions by email. You will find their individual preferences and email addresses listed on their Agents page. Please email your submission directly to the agent you feel will be most compatible with your work. They read all submissions made in order of receipt. Please note that they will only respond to submissions if they wish to read more. If you have not heard back within eight weeks then you can assume that they do not feel that the work is right for the agency.

Submissions by post: Their strong preference is for submission by email, but if this is not possible, then send a hard copy to your preferred agent at Jenny Brown AssociatesLiterary fiction, crime writing and writing for children; non-fiction: biography, history, sport, music popular culture. Also adult fiction and general non-fiction. No poetry, science fiction, fantasy or academic., 33 Argyle Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JT. They will only respond if they wish to see more. Unfortunately they are unable to return material submitted, and their policy is to recycle all materials.

For fiction: send the first 50 pages (no more) and a synopsis in a single document, with a covering letter (see below).

For non-fiction: email a proposal and short example of the proposed work - a sample chapter, for instance. Please include a short note on the competing or comparable literature stating, where possible, author, title, publisher and publication date. It would be helpful to have an overview of possible marketing outlets and a biographical note outlining your background, training and experience.

For children's: Does not represent poetry or plays.

All submissions: Please write a covering letter in the body of the email giving an account of the background of the book and your writing career to date. If you have been referred to us by a publishing or personal contact then make this clear. If you have had previous correspondence with one of their agents please mention this. They appreciate knowing if your project has been sent to or is being considered by other agents or publishers.

Founded 2002

Literary and commercial fiction, children's fiction; general non-fiction including current affairs, biography and memoirs, history, lifestyle, health and personal development; film and music, graphic novels.

Children's fiction and non-fiction; ages 9-12, teenage fiction, young adult, series fiction.

Also accept adult fiction and non-fiction.

No short stories, poetry or picturebooks.

If you would like the agency to consider representing you for your work, contact them in the first instance by post at the address above. There is no need to phone the office in advance. Please note they do not accept or respond to email submissions.

For works of fiction they ask for a synopsis and three chapters, or approximately the first 50 pages of the novel. For non-fiction please supply a full outline and chapter breakdown along with at least 30 pages of the text. All submissions should be double spaced and on A4 paper.

Remember to include a covering letter with your biographical details and relevant experience, and a stamped addressed envelope either for the return of the manuscript or for a reply.

Helps authors get publishing contracts and speaking engagements worldwide.

Only non-fiction by credible experts: business, sales, management, marketing and finance; metaphysics: esoteric/New Age/spirituality/inspiration; history; science; biography (celebrity only); health and wellness; psychology; parenting; gift books, self-help; how-to.

Submission guidelines can be found on our web site.

See this list for authors represented.

Founded 1989.

Non-fiction and fiction, especially sport, history, music and biography (home 15%, overseas 20%, film 15%).

No unsolicited MSS without prior consultation. No scripts, plays, poetry, science fiction, fantasy or children's books. No reading fee. Strong overseas representation.

Genres: Literary fiction, upmarket fiction including book club and psychological suspense.

Also handles children's books, middle grade, young adult, new adult and crossover fiction, as well as exciting new non-fiction authors with a focus on narrative non-fiction, health, some memoir and biography.

Exclusions: No screenplays.

Clients include Liz Nugent, Louise Nealon, Christy Lefteri, Mike McCormack, Patrick McCabe, Nana Oforiata Ayim, Shane Hegarty, Orlagh Collins, Susie Lau aka Stylebubble, Claudia Carroll, Caitriona Perry, Kevin Power, Kate Kerrigan, Sinead Moriarty, Kathleen McMahon.

Motor sports, cartoon books, business, history and factual and biographical material.

No poetry, science fiction or cookery.

No unsolicited MSS. Send letter accompanied by CV and sae with synopsis of proposed work. No email submissions.

Overseas associates United Media (USA), Auspac Media (Australia), Puzzle Company (NZ).

Founded 1985.

Founded 2012

No reading fee