ASLA

The Association of Scottish Literary Agents (ASLA) is the representative body of literary agents based in Scotland.ASLA was formed in 2009 in order for Scottish literary agents to share resources and ideas, and to liaise with other organisations in the publishing industry.Between us, we represent a wide variety of authors and illustrators – in both adult and children’s literature.ASLA is proud to be part of Literature Alliance Scotland which works to support literature throughout the country and a Network Member of Publishing Scotland.Chair: Caro Clarke
Secretary: Louise Lamont
Treasurer: Robbie Guillory

ASLA Members

Fiona Brownlee
Brownlee Donald Associates
https://brownleedonald.com/Kathryn Ross and Lindsey Fraser
Fraser Ross Associates
https://fraserross.co.uk/Jenny Brown, Lucy Juckes, Andrea Joyce
Jenny Brown Associates
http://www.jennybrownassociates.com/John Beaton
John Beaton Writers’ AgentAndrea Joyce
Joyce Literary Rights Agency
https://www.joyceliterary.com/Judy Moir
Judy Moir Literary AgencyJulie Fergusson and Lina Langlee
The North Literary Agency
www.thenorthlitagency.comJenny Todd
The Literary Office
www.theliteraryoffice.comLouise Lamont
Luigi Bonomi Associates
https://lbabooks.com/agents/louise-lamontCaro Clarke
Portobello Literary
www.portobelloliterary.co.ukRobbie Guillory
The Underline Literary Agency
www.underlinelit.co.ukAmy Mitchell
United Agents
https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/amitchellunitedagentscoukDonald Winchester
Watson, Little Literary Agency
www.watsonlittle.com/agent/donald-winchester

About Literary Agents

Members of the Association of Scottish Literary Agents represent the rights and interests of writers and illustrators from all over the world.Find out about the member agencies and how to contact them here.What is a Literary Agent?Literary Agents are a vital bridge between writers, illustrators and publishers. They present submissions on their clients’ behalf to publishers and to other media including film and TV, broadcast media and electronic platforms, and offer support and guidance to their clients relating to all their creative work.Literary Agents work on a commission basis – so they take on only those writers and illustrators for whom they are confident of securing a publisher’s support.They may offer some editorial guidance to their clients – but rarely otherwise.How do I find a Literary Agent?The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook is one of several directories in which Literary Agents are listed. Every Literary Agency is different. Each reflects the enthusiasms and expertise of the individual agent. Your work will suit some better than others.Research the possibilities carefully before you submit your work. Most Agencies have a website from which writers and illustrators will find out about the kind of clientele they represent, and the books with which they have had success.Follow the guidelines set out by the Literary Agency.

Brownlee Donald Associates

Fiona Brownlee of Brownlee Donald Associates acts as a sub agent for publishers and agents – currently Birlinn and Polygon. She specialises in North America and Australia and does not take on authors as a primary agent.She is not looking for new clients at the moment.Website: www.brownleedonald.com
Email: Fiona@brownleedonald.com
Twitter: @brownlee_donald

Fraser Ross Associates

Founded in 2002, an Edinburgh-based literary agency representing writers and illustrators from all over the UK – and, occasionally, overseas.You will find out more about Fraser Ross Associates and about getting published on our website. If you’re seeking representation, please follow our submission guidelines – you’ll find them there too.Website: www.fraserross.co.uk
Email: Lindsey Fraser: agentlmfraser@gmail.com
Email: Kathryn Ross: kjross@tiscali.co.uk
Twitter: @FraserRossLA
Instagram: @fraserrossassociates

Jenny Brown Associates

Founded in 2002, Jenny Brown Associates represents literary fiction, crime writing, narrative non-fiction and writing and illustrating for children, from picture books to Young Adult.We like to work closely with our writers, and for this reason many of the writers we represent are based in Scotland. We love reading new work when our lists are open, usually twice a year. Always check our website before sending your work.Agents: Jenny Brown, Lisa Highton, Lucy JuckesRights Director: Andrea JoyceWebsite: www.jennybrownassociates.com
Twitter: @JennyBrownBooks; @agentjenny; @mslisahighton; @lucyjuckes
Instagram: @jennybrownassociates

John Beaton Writers’ Agent

John Beaton represents a number of writers including Philip Gwynne Jones (author of the best-selling Nathan Sutherland crime fiction series set in Venice); Shirley McKay (the Hew Cullan historical crime fiction series set in 16th century St Andrews); Gregory Dowling, author of the Alvise Marangon series of historical crime fiction set in 18th century Venice; Steven Veerapen whose Of Blood Descended – the first in a series set in Tudor England and featuring Anthony Blanke, son of Henry VIII’s black trumpeter – was published in 2022, book two Of Judgement Fallen will be published in 2023. Steven has been commissioned by Birlinn to write The Wisest Fool, a major biography of James VI and I.Please note that at present the Agency is unable to consider unsolicited material.Email: john@beaton.org.uk

Joyce Literary Rights Agency

Joyce Literary is run by Andrea Joyce. As well as being Rights Director for Jenny Brown Associates, she handles international rights for a number of independent publishers.With over 20 years of international experience in publishing, before starting Joyce Literary in 2020, she was Rights Manager for Farrar, Straus & Giroux in New York, Senior Rights Manager at HarperCollins in London and Rights Director for Canongate Books in Edinburgh. She has been named Rights Professional of the Year at the British Book Awards and was shortlisted twice.For her clients she handles translation and North American rights submissions and sales, working with scouts, sub agents and direct with editors. She can be involved at acquisition stage and can advise on rights guides, attend book fairs, pitch and submit titles, handle negotiations, draft and advise on contracts.List of Joyce Literary clients:
www.jennybrownassociates.com
www.luath.co.uk
www.sandstonepress.com
www.scotlandstreetpress.com
www.duckworthbooks.co.uk
www.muswell-press.co.uk
www.ampliterary.co.uk
www.polarispublishing.com
www.nottinghilleditions.comWebsite: https://www.joyceliterary.com/
Email: andrea@joyceliterary.com

Judy Moir Literary Agency

4 Keith Terrace
Edinburgh EH4 3NJ
tel. 0131 539 2047Email: judy_moir@blueyonder.co.ukJudy is not accepting any submissions at present.Foreign Rights: Various co-agents for translation, film, etc. – please email Judy for details.

The North Literary Agency

The North was founded in October 2017 by a group of agents with decades of experience in the book world: not only as agents, but as booksellers and publishers – and even a writer. We’re a small agency, but we think our list of best-sellers and award winners shows that we punch above our weight. In a business dominated by large London publishers and agencies, we’re proud to be one of very few literary agencies based in the north; though our reach is global, with writers published in more than 30 territories around the world.Website: http://thenorthlitagency.com/
Email: hello@thenorthlitagency.com

Julie FergussonJulie obtained degrees in maths then creative writing from Edinburgh University, before working for several years for a Scottish publisher and then as a freelance editor.She is looking for fiction across a range of genres, particularly psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, near-future speculative, romcoms, reading group and literary fiction. She is interested in non-fiction that explores big ideas in the areas of popular science and social justice.For an idea of what she is looking for, here are some of the novels she has recently read and loved: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha, The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, The Pact We Made by Layla AlAmmar, The Dry by Jane Harper, Normal People by Sally Rooney, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and the Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante.Julie is not currently looking for authors who live in the USA or Canada, since they are better served by agents based in those countries.Please do not submit fantasy, sci-fi, YA or middle-grade.Twitter: @Julie_Fergusson

Lina LangleeLina is from Sweden but moved to Scotland to study for her undergraduate and Masters. After then working in publishing for a number of years, she realised that being a literary agent combined all her favourite bits of the book industry and made the switch. She was shortlisted for the RNA ‘Agent of the Year’ award in 2019 and 2020.Lina is looking for books across genres: commercial/high concept fiction with a great hook (be that romance, crime, thriller or general fiction), accessible literary fiction, and intriguing speculative fiction, SFF & horror.She is also looking for fun, fantastical, and moving Middle Grade, and “big emotion” Young Adult across genres.In terms of non-fiction, Lina is interested either in “the small made big” or “the big made small”: specialists that can make really niche subjects accessible and interesting to a wider market, or deeply personal accounts of the big issues we might all one day tackle.Lina actively welcomes authors from all backgrounds and would like to see more diverse stories and voices.She is less keen on political or gangland thrillers. As a general rule, she would not offer representation to US-based authors since they are better served by US-based agents, except in the very rare situation where their story ought to originate from the UK.Lina is currently closed for submissions.Twitter: @LinaLanglee

The Literary Office

Founded by Jenny Todd, former Publisher and Director of Canongate Books and Marketing Director of Penguin Press. She has spear-headed campaigns for an array of prize-winners and bestsellers, served as Chair of World Book Day (the UK's cross-industry promotion of books and reading to children) and is a member of the Scottish Government's Creative Industries Leadership Group. An experienced leader, Jenny has a reputation for combining creativity with strong business and financial skills.TLO is a literary agency dedicated to helping both new and established writers achieve their aspirations and commercial goals. Based upon decades of experience working with some of the world's most high-profile brands and authors, TLO can share deep publishing knowledge and expertise.A background of working with prize-winning and bestselling novelists, artists, film-makers, comedians, musicians, politicians, economists and poets, means that TLO is proud to represent talented and original storytellers and polymaths, regardless of genre.Website: https://www.theliteraryoffice.com/
Email: jenny.todd@theliteraryoffice.com

Louise Lamont

Born in Glasgow but now living in Edinburgh, Louise is an agent with Luigi Bonomi Associates. She represents a range of authors writing fiction and non-fiction for children and adults, and is always on the lookout for a captivating new voice. You can find out more about her list and submission guidelines on her website or follow her on Twitter.Website: https://lbabooks.com/
Twitter: @LLMonts

Portobello Literary

Caro Clarke is a literary agent with over thirteen years' experience in publishing – at Transworld (PRH) and at Canongate Books as a Senior Rights Manager. They were named Rights Professional of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2021.
In 2019, they co-founded the Nan Shepherd Prize for underrepresented nature writers, which kickstarted a passion to demystify the publishing industry and help emerging writers to develop their craft and build their writing careers. Portobello Literary was established in 2022 to build on that work.For more information on the type of authors we're looking for, please visit the Submissions section of our website. You can also find some Resources if you are new to writing.Portobello Literary is proud to be a member of the Association of Authors’ Agents and endorses the principles of best practice in the Association’s Code of Practice and a Network Member of Publishing Scotland.Website: https://www.portobelloliterary.co.uk
Email: caro@portobelloliterary.co.uk

The Underline Literary Agency

The Underline Literary Agency represents authors of fiction and nonfiction at all stages of their careers. Based in Scotland, we take our authors’ rights around the world, including for film and TV.Robbie Guillory spent nearly a decade working in publishing before becoming an agent. He represents a wide range of genres, from literary thrillers to historical romance. His clients include Neil Lancaster, Joma West and M J Hollows.Books he has enjoyed recently include The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld, I Know What I Saw by Imran Mahmood, The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, The Girls From the Beach by Andie Newton, and Birds of Paradise by Oliver Langmead.Website: https://underlinelit.co.uk/

Amy Mitchell

Amy Mitchell works at United Agents and handles Foreign Rights in the below territories. She started in the rights department of Mainstream Publishing before moving to A P Watt. She has sold serial rights at the Cornerstone division of Penguin Random House, and was Rights Manager at David Godwin Associates.She now handles rights across all genres in:
Polish (AJA)
Portuguese in Brazil (direct)
Portuguese in Portugal (direct)Commercial fiction titles in:
German (direct)
French (direct)
Italian (direct)
Dutch (direct)
US (select titles only)Website: https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/amitchellunitedagentscouk

Donald Winchester

Donald Winchester works at Watson, Little.After splitting his childhood between Edinburgh, Ohio, and Watford, Donald Winchester studied English Literature and History at Queen Mary, University of London and University College London. He is the son of a professional footballer and has a beginner’s knowledge of Russian. He began his publishing career at Penguin Press – working on a variety of non-fiction titles – before moving to A P Watt, then the world’s oldest literary agency. There he worked for five years with a number of acclaimed and prize-winning authors and began building a list of non-fiction and fiction for adults. He joined Watson, Little as an agent in 2013. He was the Secretary of the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) from 2017-19. He is also a member of the Association of Scottish Literary Agents (ASLA). He currently splits his time between Scotland and London.Donald is building his list and is interested in literary fiction and well-written commercial fiction, particularly debut authors, as well as memoir. He is particularly interested in literary fiction which maintains a high level of prose, pushes boundaries of style, while retaining emotional heart and a sense of plot. He’s also looking for upmarket fiction which builds a fully-formed plot with a satisfying emotional arc, whether that be historical or contemporary – and the mixing of tropes from genre fiction also interest him.In non-fiction, he is keen to see writing on history, popular science, social issues, nature, music, sport, film and technology. He is also looking for well-written memoir and true crime. In all these areas he’s looking for experts in their fields who can convey their expertise and enthusiasm to a wide audience in an appealing way.Website: https://www.watsonlittle.com/agent/donald-winchester/
Twitter: @DonaldWin_