Darley Anderson, Proprietor

 

Darley Anderson is the founder and proprietor of the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency.

He is an ex-publisher who had almost twenty years experience in all aspects of general trade publishing. He was also the pioneering creator of the highly successful Overcoming Common Problems series from Sheldon Press – a UK brand leader in popular health book publishing.

He started his Agency single-handedly in 1988 beginning with three authors and a bank overdraft. Over the years Anderson has gained an international reputation as one of the very best – if not the best – talent spotters in the book business.

More than thirty of the fifty plus writers represented by the Agency were completely unknown and unpublished when they sent in their first manuscript to Anderson. He worked editorially with many of them before successfully selling their first manuscripts to publishers.

In the case of fifteen of these unpublished new writers Anderson successfully negotiated six figure UK and US advances ranging from £100,000 to $1,000,000 for their very first books. These writers include: Martina Cole, Lee Child, John Connolly, Catherine Barry, Richard Asplin, Kira Cochrane, Kwong Kuen Shan, Rani Manicka, Peter Sheridan, Liz Allen, Sheila Quigley, Alex Barclay, Constance Briscoe, Cathy Cassidy, Ahmet Zappa and Tana French.

Recently he has ventured into children’s books with first time novelist Cathy Cassidy who now features regularly in the Bestseller Lists - confirming Darley's tip that she will soon become the new Jacqueline Wilson. Her debut novel was acquired in fiercely contested auctions in the UK and in the US by Penguin.


Anderson is developing a select list of children’s book writers. Equally he’s keen to further build on his many successes with talented new Irish writers.

Scrupulous in all business matters Anderson is one of the best and toughest dealmakers in the business.

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