Name: Penny Holroyde
AKA: I will be Agent Pearl (one of my clients refers to me as a ‘pearl beyond price’, aw).
Agency: Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Limited
Genres represented:Authors and illustrators for children’s fiction and non-fiction for all ages.
Authors represented: Without listing them all, I represent about 40 authors and illustrators from the very established such as Peter Bailey, Tor Freeman, Debi Gliori, Paul Howard and Chris Mould, to the just starting out such as Tom Avery, Ben Davis, Wendy Meddour and Sam Usher.
Recent deals: Like most agents, I am doing deals all the time: this week for example, the ink has dried on a new four-book deal for Chris Mould, Tommy Donbavand’s Scream Street series of books has started shooting for the BBC, Sam Usher’s illustrating a new book for Egmont, Thomas Docherty is illustrating the first children’s book by an adult best seller, Tom Avery has a new two-book deal with Andersen.
Wish list: I’m still looking for an M R James for 10+, some more narrative non-fiction which I think is an underpublished area, animal stories, funny stories, contemporary voices, the list goes on. We receive between 30 and 50 submissions a day so if I find it among the unsoliciteds, you know it has something that makes it really stand out.
Favourite books: I’m such a child with this question, usually responding ‘it’s brilliant’ about whatever book I’m currently reading but really the answer has to be the ones I remember and go back to. I have recently started to reread some of my childhood favourites. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer still works as far as I’m concerned.
Agent style: Of course it depends on the client and you quickly learn who needs what: email or phone, how much they love/hate revising, who needs help with ideas, who wants to know the ins and outs of their contract, who actually reads their contracts!
How to submit: www.carolinesheldon.co.uk
Submission tips: You’ll all have read this many times before but, do your research. There is no short cut for this. Most literary agents have engaged in events and questionnaires like this one so you can assess whether or not they’re likely to like, and engage with, your work. Always follow the agent’s specified submission guidelines.
Websites: www.carolinesheldon.co.uk www.carolinesheldonillustrators.co.uk
Twitter: @PennyHolroyde
Events: Festival of Writing in York in September, Frankfurt Book Fair in October, SCBWI Winchester conference in November.
Do you have questions for Penny? Leave them here in the comments. You have more than 140 characters!
Read Nicola Morgan: How to find a good agent
If you are an agent and would like to be featured in Agent Confidential, please contact us at writers@britishscbwi.org
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