Conville & Walsh

I’ve always been a reader, and love nothing more than browsing in a bookshop – just following my nose.  Reading unsolicited manuscripts is a little like that; it’s often a matter of chemistry, so it’s hard to be too prescriptive about what I’ll like.  But for what it’s worth, I’d never miss a book by Sarah Waters, Ann Tyler, JK Rowling, or Barbara Kingsolver. I loved Property by Valerie Martin, I’d like to think I’d spot Charles Dickens if he came through our unsolicited pile, and it wouldn’t kill me to represent Jonathan Franzen.

The books which really excite me are beautifully-written and tell gripping stories. If an author can make me laugh or cry (or both: laughing through tears is better still), I know I will enjoy representing them. Warmth helps too, as does a sense of humour - and that goes for the writers as well as the manuscripts. I love securing the best deals for my authors, but I also get huge pleasure from helping them edit and shape their work, and get it ready to show to publishers.

There are a few things I can’t imagine representing: magical realism and Science Fiction are better off with Sue Armstrong here, and as far as children’s writing goes, I’m not looking for new picture book authors or for very early readers.

Assistant: Carrie Plitt

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