Open to submissions
I'm on the lookout for energetic and life-affirming upmarket contemporary fiction that finds the joy in existence even as it explores the pitfalls of it, and novels that are infused with humour, a witty cast, and brilliantly sharp dialogue. Think 'Still Life' by Sarah Winman, \u2018Sandwich\u2019 by Catherine Newman or 'The Wedding People' by Alison Espach. I'd also love to see\u00a0novels that set sharply contrasting characters on a collision course and dive into the development (or undoing) of their relationships. Examples of this could be 'So Thrilled For You' by Holly Bourne or the dynamics explored in shows like Grace and Frankie and The Good Place. I'm especially keen to see\u00a0elevated rom-coms, especially those that feature diverse protagonists, are heavy on the 'com', or generally set themselves apart because they have some bite!<\/p>
I'm interested in contemporary literary novels that take a familiar story, such as a love story or coming of age drama, and elevate it into the extraordinary through close character study or an unusual framing device, and while I don\u2019t like to read too many stories that are oppressively bleak, I do have a special place in my heart for any novel that can make me cry.\u00a0<\/p>
In non-fiction, I'm looking for accessible and engaging books that explore pop culture, art, sociology, psychology or social history, and I'd especially love anything that brings a fresh feminist approach to any of these areas. Think along the lines of 'The Story of Art Without Men' by Katie Hessel, 'Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves' by Sophie Gilbert or 'Invisible Women' by\u00a0Caroline Criado-Perez.
Some other authors who\u2019s work I love include Coco Mellors, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Caroline O'Donoghue, Khalid Hosseini, Alice Winn, Monica Heisey, and Nussaibah Younis.<\/p>
I'm not looking to take on any science fiction, fantasy, horror, or YA \/ children's books.<\/span><\/p> I love discovering and championing new voices and am involved in several programs that focus on finding and supporting new writers. This includes Discoveries; a development programme for unpublished women writers run by Curtis Brown in partnership with the Women\u2019s Prize Trust, Audible and Curtis Brown Creative; and Project North which focuses on expanding our connections with the northern literary and publishing communities.\u00a0I work closely with clients on their editorial, and also take the opportunity to mentor new writers wherever possible.\u00a0<\/p> As well as working with my own clients, I also work with Susan Armstrong across her list of incredible authors.<\/p> I hold a first-class BA in History from Trinity College Dublin and after graduating I worked as a bookseller before joining C&W in 2022.