LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION
Thérèse is a Literary and Rights Agent at Susanna Lea Associates, @SLALondon.
Born and raised in Belgium, on a diet of frites and Tintin she moved to England
in her late teens with her family, then stayed in London to do a History degree
and Masters at University College London. Having been brought up bilingual,
translation rights seemed like her logical next step. She started off in the
rights department at Bloomsbury Publishing, before hopping across the square to
Ed Victor’s agency, and found experiencing both the publishing and agency side
of publishing incredibly valuable.
She has been building her own list of authors alongside selling translation
rights since early 2016, which she has hugely enjoyed; working with authors
right from the book’s conception, while also experiencing the thrill of selling
her own authors’ works in the UK and US as well as in translation to publishers
across the globe.
In terms of adult fiction, Thérèse has a huge soft spot for historical fiction,
having read Early Modern History at university, but is also very much on the
hunt for crime/thrillers, bookclub, high-concept love stories and literary
fiction. She loves strong female characters, in particular when they go through
an evolution or journey as the story progresses and gradually find that inner
strength.
On the children’s fiction front, Thérèse is all about finding a fresh, new
voice. She loves all things funny, fantasy and adventure – across lands, time
and space, and involving strong friendships and strong lead characters - and
wants to be transported straight away when reading a manuscript. She likes very
vivid, well-crafted and imaginative worlds, such as stories set in a toy factory
or in an underwater world. Thérèse would love some more adventures set in space,
mysteries, quirky characters, explorers and imaginary friends.
And last, but not least, in non-fiction, history features heavily in her
interests, but Thérèse would also love to see books about big ideas, culture,
sociology, science, anthropology and memoir. Anything that helps expand the mind
and questions or informs the way in which we view ourselves, the world and how
we fit into it, all written in an engaging and accessible manner.
Thérèse would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the
first three chapters or 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word
document.
(In addition to the paid sessions, Thérèse is kindly offering one free session
for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk
[agent121@iaminprint.co.uk] to apply, outlining your case for this option which
is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).
By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I
Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one
document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that
I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent
meeting.
The submission deadline is: Monday 10 June 2024