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Cara Lee Simpson

Susanna Lea Associates

Submission status
Open
Submission route
Email
Response time
Assume no reply = no after 24 weeks
Last checked
10 days ago

About

Cara is a literary agent at Susanna Lea Associates, representing literary, book club and general fiction.

She joined the SLA London office in 2024, having previously been an agent at PFD. Her authors have been international number one bestsellers and have won or been shortlisted for numerous prizes.

What they represent

Commercial FictionContemporary FictionHistorical FictionLiterary FictionMemoirNarrative Non-FictionScience Fiction

Looking for

  • general fiction, immersive book club novels and literary fiction
  • smart, clean prose or a lyrical voice, books with an interesting form or structure, and character-driven fiction with unusual and absorbing protagonists
  • literary fiction that is accessible to a wide readership while remaining beautifully written
  • stories that offer a profound look at relationship dynamics
  • submissions that are ambitious in what they set out to do, whether that's defying genre, bringing a new perspective to stories we think we already know, or taking a deep dive into the mind of a particular character
  • a traditional intergenerational family or friendship story (contemporary or historical), something sweeping in scope with a richly imagined setting, exploring an unusual event or unexpected setup
  • something speculative like Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
  • something quirky like The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, and Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
  • something compelling and unexpected like Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
  • books by writers still marginalised by mainstream publishing
  • narrative non-fiction titles, interested in memoirs and real-life stories, nature writing, and social commentaries told through an interesting lens and with a strong sense of personal journey
  • something as playfully clever as Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood
  • submissions from international writers

Links

Agency submission guidelines

The agency considers submissions of a cover letter, synopsis, and either the first three chapters or a detailed proposal. What to send: a concise and thoughtful cover letter, including contact details and any relevant information about the writer. A brief synopsis, outlining a simplified explanation of the plot. Either the first three chapters OR a detailed proposal of the manuscript. Exclusions: poetry, plays, screenplays, academic texts, and illustrated works are not considered. How to send: queries sent by post or fax are not considered. Submissions should be sent by email to the relevant regional office. French-language submissions go to the Paris office (paris@susannalea.com). Submissions from the UK, ANZ and other Commonwealth territories go to the London office (london@susannalea.com). Submissions from North America go to the New York office (ny@susannalea.com). A manuscript should not be submitted to more than one office. Response: due to the volume of submissions received, no response or editorial advice is provided on manuscripts not taken on.

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