Sunday 7 November 2010

Literary Agents in and around Ireland

I have posted about Irish agents before. It is consistently my most popular post. So I thought I'd do it again. I'm updating it with some names you may not have heard, agents not necessarily based in Ireland but who are or have been looking in Ireland for Irish-based writers, including one who asked to be included so she's actively looking.

The Lisa Richards Agency
108 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4
Tel: 00 353 1 637 5000
e-mail: info@lisarichards.ie
Contact: Faith O’Grady
Website here

Seeks - Writers of Fiction, Non-Fiction,Childrens and Screenplays.
Send synopsis, 2 -3 speciman chapters, cover letter and s.a.e.

Authors include June Considine, Roisin Meaney, Laura Cassidy, Martin Malone, Pauline McLynn, David Maybury, David O’Doherty, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Homan Potterton, Kevin Rafter, Denise Deegan, Paul Howard (Ross O’Carroll-Kelly,) Roisin Ingle and Hector.
Last I heard, Faith was on maternity leave.

The most high profile one (but Jonathan is a bit grumpy when I've met him.)
Jonathan Williams Literary Agency
Rosney Mews, Upper Glenageary Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin
Tel: (01) 2803482

Literary Agency, evaluating, editing, rewriting, proof reading, consultancy; General fiction and non-fiction, preferably by Irish authors (home 10%) Will suggest revision;

The Book Bureau
7 Duncairn Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow
Tel: (01) 2764996
email: thebookbureau@oceanfree.net
Contact: Geraldine Nichol

Full-length MSS (home 100%, USA 15%,translation 20%) Fiction preferred -thrillers, Irish novels, Literary fiction,women’s novels and general commercial. No horror, science fiction, children’s or Poetry. Strong editorial support.
Preliminary letter,synopsis and 3 sample chapters.

Marianne Gunne-O’Connor
Suite 17 Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 6779100
mgoclitagency@eircom.net

Commercial and literary fiction, non-fiction, biography, children's fiction (UK 15%, overseas 20%, film/TV 20%). Send preliminary letter plus half-page synopsis and first 50pp.
Authors: Cecelia Ahern, Chris Binchy, Ken Bruen, Claudia Carroll, Julie Dam, Noelle Harrison, Claire Kilroy, Patrick McCabe, Mike McCormack, Paddy McMahon, Anita Notaro, Morag Prunty, Niall Williams. Founded 1996.
However a friend of mine sent the standard 3 chapters and a synopsis and received a letter back, return of post saying they don't take unsolicited so I suggest you write a really good query letter first.

Sally Anne Sweeney wrote to me so they are definitely looking. She's at
Watson, Little Ltd
48-56 Bayham Place, London NW1 0EU
Tel: 020 7388 7529
Website here

She is very interested in writers from Ireland and handles a wide range of commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction.
They represent Geraldine O'Neill and Juliet Bressan as well as Christopher Fowler, Adam Hart-Davis, James Wong, Lynne Reid Banks and Hans Christian Andersen award-winner Margaret Mahy among others.

Font International
Hollyville House, Hollybrook Rd, Clontarf, Dublin 3
Tel: (01) 8532356
info@fontwriters.com
www.fontwriters.com
Contacts: Ita O’Driscoll, Orna Ross
Commission 15%,Overseas 20%.
Experienced published writers only. Adult fiction, non-fiction. (No childrens, drama, sci-fi, erotic,technical or poetry.)  (as if!)
Unsolicited manuscripts will be returned unopened. Cover letter, word count, SAE for return.
Their writers include Amanda Brunker, Paul Kilduff, Evelyn Cosgrove, Garbhan Downey and Aine Greaney.

Curtis Brown
5th Floor, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, LONDON SW1Y 4SP
Website here.

Literary Agent Sheila Crowley began her career in publishing at Poolbeg in Dublin before moving to the UK in 1991, and went on to hold several key positions and most recently at Curtis Brown.

She focuses primarily on women’s commercial fiction, thrillers, mind, body, spirit, sport and celebrity books, young adult and children's fiction and general mass-market non-fiction.

Most of Sheila's authors have moved with her. They include: Tasmina Perry, Jojo Moyes, Santa Montefiore, Melissa Hill, Rachel Hore, Alison Kervin, Shari Low, Kitty Sewell

Gregory & Company
3 Barb Mews, Hammersmith, London W6 7PA
tel: +44 (0) 20 7610 4676
website here
Jane Gregory specialises in crime fiction and up-market commercial fiction. Among the many authors Jane represents are: Adele Geras, Mo Hayder, Val McDermid, Chris Simms, Martyn Waites and Minette Walters.

Interview here at Mslexia.

The following are some new ones who popped up when I googled. I know no more about them.  
Caveat Emptor.

Prizeman & Kinsella
Contact: Patricia Prizeman and Yvonne Kinsella
Phone: 0035314440876
Mobile: 00353 86 826883 / 86 9883335
Email: info@prizemankinsella.com
website here

They are particularly interested in submissions of non-fiction, fiction, crime, human interest, children and teenage books, cookery and sport manuscripts. Not poetry. (as if!)

Walsh Communications
Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland
Tel: +353 86 6069313
website here

Contact Emma Walsh was talking at the Irish Writers Centre in the summer.
They say they manage some of the most exciting new literary talent in Ireland today and helps build writing careers worldwide. In 2009 Walsh Communications Literary Agency were the agents for three Irish top ten bestsellers.

Author Rights Agency
Contact: Svetlana Pironko
e-mail: submissions@authorrightsagency.com.
20 Victoria Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Website guidelines here

Author Rights Agency represents a number of Irish, British and American writers for world rights. Among them, Ken Bruen, Craig McDonald, Kathy Page, Celine Kiernan, Bob Burke.

They currently concentrate on creative fiction of literary quality in many forms: literary fiction (contemporary and historical subjects), crime and ‘noir’, fantasy and sci-fi, women’s fiction, children’s and young adult fiction.

9 comments:

Simon Kewin said...

Ooh, thanks, lots of interesting links there. The urban fantasy novel I'm currently touting is partly set in Dublin so that might help interest Irish agents. Maybe!

HimeVendi said...

hi, just wanna ask, in Lisa Richards Agency ypu said that need to send 2 -3 speciman chapters, but on web site is written, first 3 chapters, its quite opposite, as full chapters and speciman ones are different in size, so which one is righ? im just woundering as i have no idea what to send now, tnks

Emerging Writer said...

Well this post is 2 years old. the Agency website should be up to date so follow their guidelines! Good luck (and check your spelling on your submission)

Unknown said...

Hmmm, another rejection! A thick skin is def needed in this industry!!! Im actually so bored with the novel myself now as iv looked at it everyday for quite sometime, i think i might just forget about this novel, maybe ill write another, who knows! I hope the rest of you have better luck than iv had, worst bit is all my rejections were from agents! I cant get one!!!!

Peter Goulding said...

Kate, quick question. Can you submit to ,ore than one agent at once?

Emerging Writer said...

Hi Peter

Sure you can. They take so long to reply, you'd be mad not to. But as a matter of courtesy, you're supposed to let them know it's a multiple submission.

El Peregrino said...

Hi Kate
I've just had -It Wasn't Me- the sequel to The Road to Abbeyshrule proofread and am all geared to go with what will undoubtedly put the cat among the pidgeons once more because it rips the hypocritical underbelly of a small village to shreds in every conceivable manner.This village could be anywhere because people are essentially the same everywhere, liars, cheats, sinners, pagans and saints. I need a publisher.

Unknown said...

Hi Kate! I've completed the proposal for my first non-fiction. Just wondering who you think the strongest agent for "success literature" and "professional self improvement" would be?

Thanks!

Kate

Emerging Writer said...

Please check my most recent post on agents. This one is 5 yeas old!