James Wills

About

James is Managing Director at Watson Little, where he looks after a dynamic and wide-ranging list of writers.

He has a BA in English and Italian and an MA in 20th Century Literature from the University of Leeds. He is a former Secretary of the Association of Authors' Agents.

Genres

CrimeHorrorLiterary FictionMemoirMysteryNarrative Non-FictionOther Non-FictionRomanceScience FictionSportsThrillerTrue Crime

Looking for

crime, thrillers and mysteries
addictive, immediate stories with incredible hooks that refuse to let go
a grounded speculative novel with a great one-line pitch (such as Severance)
horror with a twist (like Hidden Pictures)
a high-concept love story set in a glamorous but dangerous world (think One Day meets Succession)
a thrilling crime-family epic that could be the UK’s answer to Gomorrah
striking, character-driven fiction that is gripping, bold and beautifully written
big ideas, sport, popular science, humour, true crime and memoir
compelling narrative non-fiction that reads like fiction and which tells an amazing story, especially from voices that have not been heard before

Agency submission guidelines

Submissions are accepted by email only, to submissions@watsonlittle.com; anything sent by post will not be read. Direct the submission to one agent only; do not submit to more than one agent at the agency at once (submissions may be shared internally if felt to be a better fit for another agent). The agency does not represent poetry or screenplays for film, television, radio or theatre, though if it takes on a book it represents all rights including dramatic rights for that book. No material that has been wholly or partially originated, written or edited by AI is accepted. For fiction: send a cover letter in the body of the email (covering genre, word count, one-line pitch, plot, background/experience, and comparable recent titles), plus a synopsis and a writing sample attached as Word documents. The sample should be approximately 10,000 words (or to the end of the nearest chapter) from the beginning of the book, as a single document. The synopsis should be a separate document outlining the plot or structure from beginning to end, including spoilers, written as a factual summary rather than a marketing blurb. For children's fiction under 20,000 words in total, send the full manuscript. For non-fiction: send a cover letter in the body of the email plus a proposal attached as a single Word document, addressing the subject of the book and why it needs to be published now, the writer's background and credentials, comparable previously published books, a chapter of sample text, and a list of potential chapters with summaries. For graphic novels or self-illustrated children's books: send the material as a PDF. Include contact details, especially email address and phone number, and keep a copy of anything submitted, as the agency cannot be held responsible for loss of or damage to manuscripts, artwork or electronic media submitted. Simultaneous submission to multiple agencies is permitted, but the agency should be informed of any full manuscript requests or offers from other agents.