alterean.

Kimberley Atkins

WME Literary Agency

Submission status
Open
Submission route
Email
Response time
Assume no reply = no after 6 weeks
Last checked
4 days ago

About

Kimberley is a literary agent at WME representing commercial fiction and non-fiction.

She joined WME's UK Book division in 2025 after sixteen years working at Big Five publishing houses in London and Sydney. She previously acquired and published multiple bestselling authors, including Lucy Score, Stephanie Garber and Gillian McAllister. Before becoming an agent, she held senior editorial roles at Penguin Michael Joseph, Hodder & Stoughton and Head of Zeus, and also worked at Penguin Random House Australia.

Genres

Commercial FictionCrimeNarrative Non-FictionPsychological SuspenseRomanceThrillerWomen's Fiction

Looking for

  • mass-market commercial fiction: addictive, page-turning novels with a hook you can pitch in a single sentence
  • novels that play cleverly with structure (think ONE DAY by David Nicholls, WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister or THE VERSIONS OF US by Laura Barnett)
  • women's fiction and romance, especially stories built around a clear, compelling concept (like THE FLATSHARE by Beth O'Leary or HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry)
  • a love story, especially one rooted in an impossible relationship that makes her cry or a heart-wrenching love triangle
  • general book-club fiction that pairs quality writing with accessible storytelling
  • crime and suspense, clever concepts (like Benjamin Stevenson's EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE) and twisty psychological thrillers with a female focus (VERITY by Colleen Hoover or THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden)
  • individuals with established platforms who want to make the move into books
  • narrative non-fiction and lifestyle writing
  • authors from Australia and New Zealand

Not looking for

  • anything too grisly

Agency submission guidelines

Query one WME agent at a time; the team works collaboratively, so if you have not heard back after six weeks you are free to try another agent and to keep them posted on your project. Each agent's preferred query format is below and on their profile page, where the query button sends your submission. Include your bio with every submission. The agency cannot respond to every query, and it does not consider screenplays. WME agents will only ever contact you from a wmeagency.com email address and never ask for payment. Francesca Ali: for fiction, the first three chapters and a synopsis as a Word document. For illustrated projects, a portfolio, sample pages and a full script. For non-fiction, a short overview of the project and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. Kimberley Atkins: for fiction, a covering letter, synopsis and the first three chapters or fifty pages. For non-fiction, a covering letter, a full outline setting out the aims of each chapter and, if possible, a sample chapter. Put your full name and the title of your work in the email subject line. Fiona Baird: for fiction and completed works of non-fiction, a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapters. For non-fiction on proposal, a query letter and the full proposal. Lucy Balfour: for fiction, a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapters or fifty pages. For non-fiction, a query letter and a proposal including a full outline and chapter breakdown. Suzannah Ball: for fiction, the first three chapters as a Word document and a synopsis; only submit once your manuscript is complete. For non-fiction, a short overview of the project and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. Florence Dodd: for all projects, a synopsis, an outline and up to ten sample pages as a Word document. Matilda Forbes Watson: for fiction, a covering letter, synopsis and the first three chapters or fifty pages. For non-fiction, a covering letter, a full outline and, if possible, a sample chapter. Karolina Kaim: non-fiction only. A short overview of the project and up to 10,000 words of sample writing as a Word document; the proposal should include a working title, an elevator pitch and an outline of contents. For platform-led projects, include an overview of relevant statistics. James Munro: for fiction, a query letter and the first ten pages in the body of the email. For non-fiction, a query letter with the full proposal or manuscript attached. Hellie Ogden: for fiction, a covering letter, synopsis and the first three chapters or fifty pages. For non-fiction, a covering letter, a full outline setting out the aims of each chapter and, if possible, a sample chapter. Put your full name and the title of your work in the email subject line.

Links

Other agents at WME Literary Agency