How to Hook an Agent - April 2026

I joined Greene & Heaton in January 2023, after completing an MA in Publishing at UCL. I work across the agency, in fiction, non-fiction and translation, and am now building my list. I continue to support Judith Murray, Antony Topping and the other Greene & Heaton agents with their clients. My Manuscript wishlist is as follows:

Fiction

In fantasy, I am looking for something more grounded, with a light touch on the magical elements and edging closer to speculative/dystopic. The world building must be incredibly strong and compulsive, so that I’m quickly hooked and can’t stop reading once I begin. Something like BEAUTYLAND by Marie Helene Bertino or THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley would be good speculative examples of what I'd like to see, as well as something akin to SINNERS, blending real world history with the fantastical! In romantic fantasy, I’m looking for strong protagonists that you cannot help but root for, even when they get things wrong and would particularly like to see a queer male lead. I’m always looking for a new take on a genre and would particularly like to see a non-binary/gender neutral vampire romantasy (having recently read INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice).

In romantic fiction, I have a soft spot for an enemies-to-lovers trope, and any kind of competitive edge (be that in sports, STEM, finance etc. etc.) always interests me. Having read widely in the genre, I am now looking for something that really stands out and has a USP that is both undeniable and insatiable. I would love to see some crossover romance, especially within the horror and crime genre.

In general fiction, I’m looking for stories that focus on friendship over time, across genre, like the classic romantic comedy HAPPY ALL THE TIME by Laurie Colwin, the ensemble thriller KALA by Colin Walsh and Laura Barnett's latest novel, BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES. I also love a novel that uses sibling relationships as it’s driver, such as BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors, LOST LAMBS by Madeline Cash, INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney and the Women’s Prize shortlisted novel THE PERSIANS, where Sanam Mahloudji expertly and seamlessly takes the reader across narratives and timelines.

I also would love a modern and loosely inspired take on the classics such as CLUELESS (EMMA); 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (THE TAMING OF THE SHREW); ANYONE BUT YOU (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING); and, of course, BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY (PRIDE AND PREJUIDCE). As with all submissions, I’d like to find an own voice writer to put their take on this, from underrepresented backgrounds in publishing. A direct request would be a retelling of THE CRUCIBLE, but from the perspective of Abigail Williams...

Non-Fiction

In non-fiction I enjoy narrative/memoir with a twist, such as TAKEAWAY by Angela Hui, fresh interpretations of previously trodden areas, such as CORKER by Hannah Crosbie and non-fiction writing focused on improving our future by learning from our past, such as NOMAD CENTURY by Gaia Vince and SYSTEMIC: HOW RACISM IS MAKING US SICK by Layal Liverpool. I‘m currently interested in finding an exploration into pop and fan culture and the reasons behind why topics trend on TikTok and Reddit, such as CULTISH: THE LANGUAGE OF FANATICISM by Amanda Montell. I also have a passion for cookery, specifically in ways that authors can combine their social media platforms and their cookbook with a long-term career. Recent examples I have loved are Ruby Bhogal’s baking guide ONE BAKE, TWO WAYS, with a plant based option for each recipe; Ixta Belfrage’s innovative and fresh take on fusion cooking, MEZCLA; and Seema Pankhania’s debut cookbook CRAVEABLE, encouraging both seasoned cooks and beginners to explore flavour and variety in what they eat.

Jamie Cowen has worked in publishing for 20 years. Before joining Ampersand in 2013 he was a commissioning editor at HarperCollins, and prior to that he worked in legal and contracts departments at HarperCollins and the Hachette Group.

Jamie is looking for commercial fiction, especially science fiction, fantasy, horror, crime and thrillers. He is also looking for sport-related non-fiction and is keen to see submissions from under-represented voices and LGBTQ writers.

Jamie’s clients at Ampersand include Tendai Huchu, A Y Chao, Adrian Selby, Nate Crowley and Michael Wood.

At the moment, I’m looking for fiction that is immersive, gripping, and compulsively readable—something that captures the reader from the very first sentence and keeps them hooked until the last page. My primary focus is on commercial, general, and book club fiction with strong hooks, high stakes, lovable characters, and a dose of humour. I gravitate toward books that tackle contemporary issues from unexpected angles and reveal new perspectives on modern living.

Writers I admire are Elena Ferrante, Bernardine Evaristo, James Baldwin, Eileen Myles, Octavia E. Butler, David Nicholls, Casey McQuiston, Dolly Alderton, Meg Cabot, Ruth Ware, Candice Carty-Williams, Sally Rooney, Ocean Vuong, Yrsa Daley-Ward and Safiya Sinclair.  

Fiction:

I’m passionate about a broad range of commercial and literary fiction, and I’m particularly drawn to writers with a distinctive, compelling voice. I’m seeking authors who possess razor-sharp focus and deep insight into underrepresented aspects of humanity and culture. I’m interested in stories that explore themes such as race, class, gender, queerness, dysfunctional family dynamics (parent-child, sibling relationships), love, sex, culture, and nation.

I’m particularly drawn to sweeping romantic epics that span decades and continents, multi-generational family sagas from diverse, global perspectives, and high-concept crime and thrillers with strong narrative structure. I loved the blend of mystery and love story in Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters.

I’m also interested in contemporary settings with genre-infused elements—magical realism, sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural—though I don’t represent high fantasy or hard sci-fi. I enjoy narratives that play with time—time slips, sliding doors, and multiverses.

I’m always drawn to women’s fiction featuring dark, complex, and sometimes dangerous protagonists. I’m especially keen on literary confessions that explore the pitfalls of modern womanhood in a patriarchal society.

Non-fiction

I’m a fan of memoirs and works by journalists, critics, and academics who are deeply attuned to the pulse of modern issues and pop culture while uncovering untold, underrepresented stories. Topics of interest include sex and relationships, mental health, neuroscience, art, lifestyle, history, and current affairs. Writers like Sabrina Strings, Shon Faye, Aniefiok Ekpoudom, Kiese Laymon, Lisa Taddeo, Melissa Febos, Jason Allen Paisant, Slutty Cheff, and Allison P. Davis reflect my non-fiction taste.

I’m particularly interested in proposals related to astrology and tarot, especially books that make these subjects accessible, engaging, and fun for readers. Works like You Were Born For This by Chani Nicholas are exactly what I’m looking for in this space.

Children’s & YA Fiction

For younger readers (7+ to YA), I’m looking for stories that combine adventure, magic, mystery, and big-hearted narratives about adolescence. 

Rachel Conway studied Literature at King’s College London and, after spending time at various publishing houses and literary agencies, joined Georgina Capel in 2010. She became a Director of the agency in 2016.

Her clients have been longlisted for the Booker Prize and Desmond Elliott Prize, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and Jane Grigson Trust Award, and are winners of the Manchester Fiction Prize and RSL Giles St Aubyn Award. Their books have been awarded Blackwell’s Book of the Year and Waterstones’ Book of the Month.

Rachel represents writers of literary fiction, as well as book club and commercial fiction (including thrillers and YA). In non-fiction, her interests include history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science and popular psychology.

She oversees the Foreign Rights department at the agency, and represents clients for their television and radio work, as well as their public appearances.