Christabel McKinley

David Higham Associates

Submission status
Open
Submission route
Email
Response time
Assume no reply = no after 13 weeks
Last checked
10 days ago

About

Christabel came into publishing via teaching English in Korea, where she taught literature to children between six and eleven years of age.

She believes children's books should be accessible, inclusive and unpatronising, as well as impactful and a pleasure to read. She represents authors and illustrators across the spectrum of writing and illustrating for children and young adults, spanning fiction to non-fiction and picture books to graphic novels.

Looking for

  • children's and young adult writing and illustration across all genres, from fiction to non-fiction and picture books to graphic novels
  • a confident storytelling voice, strong world-building and an immediate sense of seeing the world from a real child's perspective
  • a middle grade or young adult standalone reflecting the experience of growing up in a multicultural or multifaith household
  • a character-led teen series in which the characters pursue an exciting career, in the vein of Geek Girl or Alex Rider
  • dark academia for young adult or adult, with detailed worldbuilding and an extra emphasis on the dark
  • palestinian voices in any age group or genre
  • adult science fiction and fantasy with immaculate and imaginative world-building and thoughtful examinations of society and humanity
  • historical and ahistorical fantasy, both cosy and dark
  • witches, magicians, werewolves and teashops

Not looking for

  • writers who focus solely on picture book texts, whom she is not currently taking on

Clients include

  • Jacqueline Wilson
  • Tamora Pierce
  • Amie Kaufman
  • Jay Kristoff
  • Jenny Nimmo
  • Olivia Atwater
  • Kelly Andrew
  • Jennifer Bell
  • Darren Charlton
  • Alex Foulkes
  • Anna Kemp
  • Vanessa Len
  • Alex Milway
  • Kathryn Purdie
  • Meagan Spooner

Agency submission guidelines

David Higham accepts unsolicited submissions and is always on the lookout for new voices in adult fiction and non-fiction, children's and YA, and scripts. Approach one agent only, chosen from the agents' pages; if unsure, email the general submissions address with the subject 'Adult Submissions Department' and an agent will read it. Adult fiction: the first three chapters, a one to two page synopsis and a covering letter, by email to the agent's own address. Post is also accepted at the London office, double spaced and page numbered with a stamped addressed envelope; manuscripts are not returned. Non-fiction: a proposal covering the book's themes, story and sources, any sample chapters, your credentials for writing it, and a covering letter. Otherwise as for adult fiction. Children's and YA: put your name and the book title in the subject line and the covering letter in the body, with a pitch, a short summary and a little about you. For young fiction and novels attach the first three chapters and a synopsis as Word or PDF; for picture books, one to three full texts. Download links are not opened. Illustrators and paper engineers email a sample first; hard copies only on request. Scripts: a considered approach to one specific agent, in electronic form only, with a cover email explaining why you are seeking representation, your writing CV and details of anyone who referred you. Samples are requested only if the agent wants to see more; synopses and incomplete scripts are not considered. Replies: adult submissions aim for a response within twelve weeks, with a form rejection where the agency cannot help; children's and YA submissions get no individual reply, and silence after twelve weeks means no; for scripts, silence after six weeks means no. Do let the agency know if another agent requests the full manuscript or offers representation.

Agency AI policy

Does not wish to consider submissions written with generative AI tools; any use must be disclosed. Non-fiction proposals must not rely on AI-driven research, and cover letters should be written without AI.

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