Darley Anderson
Darley Anderson
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 writers and a large bank overdraft and no financial backing. Over the years Anderson has gained an international reputation as one of the very best – if not the best – talent spotter in the book business.
He represents a wide range of bestselling writers including Lee Child, Martina Cole, John Connolly, Tana French, Chris Carter, Adrian Plass, Annie Murray, Margaret Dickinson, Jacqui Eose, Stephen Spotswood, Anna-Lou Weatherley, Hazel Prior, Liza Costello and Jane Beacon.
Almost all his writers were unknown and unpublished when they sent their first ms to Anderson. He worked editorially with them before selling their ms. In many cases he negotiated six figure deals for these debuts. In some cases though, he had to persevere for many, many months when US and UK publishers failed to recognise his writers' sales potential.
Scrupulous in all business matters and a tough dealmaker, Anderson has negotiated some of the highest seven and eight figure advances ever achieved for British and Irish writers.
All those whom he represents would echo the words of the UK’s biggest selling hardback adult fiction writer Martina Cole, who has said of Anderson: “I have the best Agent in London”.
For all enquiries regarding Darley Anderson's authors please email rebeka@darleyanderson.com
Martina Cole is flying high this week with her reissue of the No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller, The Faithless!
Reaching the darkest corners of family life, The Faithless by the 'undisputed queen of crime writing' (Guardian) is an unputdownable novel about a deadly ambition that trumps family loyalty...
With family, there's a dangerous line between love and hate...
Pick up your copy now!
Happy UK publication day to Stephen Spotswood and his brilliant new Pentecost and Parker novel, Murder Under Her Skin!
Fiction favourite crime solving duo are back with a bang this summer, now available in PB!
"Spotswood’s ability to subvert genre tropes with intriguing and distinctive characters… make this whodunit a delightfully unusual read. Readers will look forward to Pentecost and Parker’s further adventures." New York Times Book Review
Be sure to get your copy now! Or why not see where it all began with book one, Fortune Favours the Dead!
Camilla Bolton
Camilla Bolton
Camilla joined the Darley Anderson Agency in 2007. She was named as a publishing ‘Rising Star’ by The Bookseller in 2013 and shortlisted for British Book Awards Nibbies Agent of the Year in 2022.
At the Agency she represents Sunday Times, New York Times and ebook bestsellers. Her author’s titles have been Reese’s Book Club and Richard and Judy Book Club picks, with multiple books adapted for the screen on BBC 1, Channel 5 and Netflix.
As an Agent she is dedicated to getting the very best contract terms and top advance deals for her authors, negotiating six-figure and seven-figure deals in the UK and US.
Camilla represents crime, thriller, mystery, suspense, Bookclub fiction and a select number of women’s fiction titles. She loves working editorially with her authors and is always looking for new talent.
Camilla co-founded Pitch An Agent in conjunction with CrimeFest. This annual event gives new writers the exciting opportunity to meet agents and discuss their work. Camilla studied English Literature and Psychology at Cardiff University, specialising in Novel Writing. After gaining a distinction from the University of the Arts, Camilla went on to work for a national newspaper before joining the Darley Anderson Agency.
@CamillaJBolton @camilla.bolton.agent
Catherine Steadman's utterly addictive new thriller, THE FAMILY GAME is out in the UK today!
'Classy and ingenious new thriller' BA PARIS
‘Millionaires, marriage and murder make for a potent cocktail in this compelling tale set among the super-rich of New York’s elite’ TM LOGAN
‘Instantly compelling and filled with ingenious twists and brilliant characters. This is sublime thriller writing’ BP WALTER
THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life
Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family.
When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen.
But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder.
Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is all part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker.
Because this might be a game to the Holbeck family - but games can still be deadly.
READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME . . .
Accused of murder, Hero shouldn’t stand a chance in court. He swears he’s innocent. But in the end, all that matters is this: do you believe him?
The adaptation of Imran Mahmood’s YOU DON’T KNOW ME was developed by Snowed-In Productions for the BBC, before moving over to Netflix where it reigned in the top-10 across both June and July 2022.
YOU DON’T KNOW ME is now streaming on BBC iPlayer and Netflix internationally.
Tanera Simons
Tanera Simons
Tanera has been working at the Darley Anderson Agency since 2017 and represents Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling authors. She has always been a huge fan of commercial fiction, with a particular interest in romantic comedies and sweeping love stories. Tanera is open to all submissions that could be described as book club, rom-com, romance, or historical fiction, and has a soft spot for standout voices, memorable characters, and stories that will make you laugh or cry (or both!). Tanera represents authors in both the UK and the US, including: Beth O’Leary, Sandie Jones, Sally Page, Mandy Baggot, and Emma Steele.
Tanera studied at Exeter University where she gained a BA in English Literature before she went on to join the Lovereading team. Here, she spent much of her time doing what she loves most: reading books and discussing them with like-minded people. She then went on to work within the production team of a well-known publishing house, which gave her a good grounding in the world of publishing.
Huge congratulations to Sally Page for receiving a Nielsen Silver Award this week in recognition of her heartwarming, joyful debut novel THE KEEPER OF STORIES selling over 250,000 copies!
This award is the icing on the cake for Sally after hitting number 8 in The Sunday TImes Bestseller list in December and ending 2022 with translation rights sold in over 20 territories and counting.
The hotly anticipated adaptation of Beth O’Leary’s best-selling novel THE FLATSHARE has released not only its first trailer, but a release date to go alongside it!
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. It's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly-imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window...
Developed by 42 Productions and starring Jessica Brown-Findlay (Downton Abbey) and Anthony Welsh (Hanna, Fleabag) THE FLATSHARE comes to Paramount+ in the UK on December 1st and will be a six-part series. Head online to see the tantalising first trailer!
Clare Wallace
Clare Wallace
Clare joined the Darley Anderson Agency in January 2011. Clare is building both the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency and the Darley Anderson Illustration Agency lists and is scouting for new authors of picture books, middle grade, teenage, YA and illustrators. Clare also represents a boutique list of commercial and accessible literary women’s fiction but is closed to new submissions.
At the Agency Clare represents authors in adult fiction both in the UK and the US including Sophie Cousens, Kerry Fisher, Pat Sowa, Phaedra Patrick, Polly Ho-Yen, Martyn Ford, Tom Ellen, Honor Cargill-Martin, Deirdre Sullivan and Beth Reekles. For a list of Clare's children's clients, please go to our children's website.
Clare formerly assisted the Luxton Harris Ltd literary agency. Graduating with a first from a BA in Creative Writing and Cultural Studies at Bath Spa University, Clare went on to gain a distinction on the MA in Creative Writing. She has proof-listened to hundreds of adults and children’s audio books for AudioGO and worked for Cardiff University as a research assistant and coach to international students.
Any One Of Us, the latest thriller by Martyn Ford, is out today!
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo―the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim―and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Available now in paperback and ebook.
Before I Do is out today in paperback, following the ebook publication in August!
Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. They share a flat and a bank account, and it's the only relationship that Audrey's ever had that feels like something she can put her trust in. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is 'the one'.
So, when Josh's sister Miranda arrives at their rehearsal dinner with Fred - Audrey's 'What If?' guy, the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with but never saw again - Audrey can't help but see it as a sign.
Surely Fred's appearance the night before Audrey is due to get married can't be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to wonder: could fate be trying to stop her from making a huge mistake?
Lydia Silver
Lydia Silver
With a background in middle grade and YA fiction, Lydia represents clients across all age groups, including picture book, chapter book, middle grade and YA, and has a particular focus on non-fiction. Lydia reads and considers widely, and among other things she is looking for snort-inducing stories for younger readers, clever and contemporary teenage and YA fiction, and non-fiction projects that take big ideas and make them easily navigable, accessible and fun.She loves working editorially with writers and is always on the lookout for new talent. Lydia represents clients including Soofiya, Gina Blaxill, Mark Bradley, Ryan Hammond, Alice Harman, Joyce Efia Harmer, Catherine Jacob, Hannah Moffatt, Rachel Morrisroe, Nick Sheridan and Rashmi Sirdeshpande.
Lydia is actively looking for submissions from all under-represented writers. Please include the hashtag #diversevoices in the subject line of your email when you submit.
@LydiaRSilver
Villains Academy, the first title in a brand new highly illustrated series for young middle-grade readers, is out today! Created by author-illustrator Ryan Hammond, this villainously funny series is perfect for fans of Amelia Fang, Dog Man and Grimwood.
Welcome to Villains Academy – the most prestigious villain school in the ENTIRE land. You will either leave here as a fully-formed villain . . . or in tatters.
It's werewolf Bram’s first day at Villains Academy. He really doesn’t feel like a villain at all, but the coveted Villain of the Week trophy is up for grabs, and Bram knows he’ll have to dig deep. With the help of new friends Mona the elf-witch, Bryan the lion, Shelia the ghost and Tony the skeleton, can Bram find his inner badness and become the villain he's always dreamed of being?
Out now!
Today marks publication day for Puppy Club: Coco Settles In, the second in the adorable and heart-warming Puppy Club series by Catherine Jacob.
Join Jaya, Willow, Daniel, Elsa, Arlo and Harper as they all navigate the ups and downs of life with a brand-new puppy!
Elsa loves her gorgeous puppy Coco but her family’s two cats aren’t so welcoming. They chase the terrified pup all over the house! And to make things worse, Coco’s chewing everything and it’s stressing Mum out. Luckily Puppy Club is on hand to help, and soon Operation Friendship is underway, with plans to keep Coco out of trouble and help her bond with the cats. But with each day seeming to bring a new disaster, Elsa can’t help worrying … what if Mum has second thoughts about keeping the puppy?
Out now!
Becca Langton
Becca Langton
Becca studied History at Cambridge and loved studying (and student life) so much that she went on to add a PGCE, a masters in Children’s literature and a second masters in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University to her CV. Whilst chasing that ‘back to school’ high, Becca has gained experience in almost every part of the publishing industry. She started out as an editorial assistant at Hot Key Books before joining the licensing world to work as a magazine editor and publishing manager for Moshi Monsters. After a spell developing original ideas for Pottermore she became a literary scout (the super sleuth of the publishing world) where she learned the importance of the foreign rights market. Becca joined Darley Anderson as a literary agent in October 2021 and is now building a list with a particular focus on the US market.
Becca is looking for new stories in all shapes and sizes, from middle grade and graphic novel to teen and YA fiction. Becca reads widely but loves books with compelling voices, twists and brave new ideas. In YA she would love to see some Queer fantasy, rom-coms with plenty of ‘com’ and contemporary stories told from a new perspective. For younger readers she love/hates the books that make her cry and is on the search for characters that stay with her long after the final page. High-stakes adventure stories are welcome as are graphic novels and books that make you want to read just one more chapter…
Mary Darby
Mary Darby
Mary is Head of Rights at Darley Anderson and oversees all translation rights for the agency's authors all over the world, along with Georgia, Salma and Kira.
Mary joined Darley Anderson as part-time Rights Assistant in February 2011 after working in the Rights Department at Bloomsbury and as a book seller at Stanfords Map and Travel Book Shop in Covent Garden.
We are thrilled to announce that our Head of International Rights, Mary Dary, has been shortlisted for this year's Nibbies!
Mary has worked in the Darley Anderson Rights Team for over ten years, cultivating brilliant relationships with our overseas partners and authors. She has worked tirelessly on No.1 Bestsellers across the world including Chris Carter, Lee Child, Catherine Steadman and Cathy Cassidy.
We are incredibly lucky to have her talents at the Agency and wish her the best of luck!
Kristina Egan
Kristina Egan
Kristina joined the agency in June 2015. She handles all translation rights for the Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency.
Kristina has a BA in English & Media from Birmingham City University and briefly interned as a writer at The Huffington Post. She worked in various office based roles in Education, Insurance and Finance, before joining the agency.
Georgia Fuller
Georgia Fuller
Georgia joined the agency as a Rights Agent in January 2019. She handles translation rights for both Adult and Children's titles across multiple territories, including Japan, Korea, Russia, Hungary and Czech Republic. Before joining the DA team, Georgia worked in the Rights department at Bloomsbury.
Kerry Fisher's Another Woman's Child is set for publication today.
Could you take in your best friend’s child, even if it risked destroying your own family?
Another Woman’s Child is an unputdownable and heartbreaking read about the secrets we keep from our families, and the sacrifices we are willing to make for those we love.
Congratulations, Kerry!
Salma Zarugh
Salma Zarugh
Salma joined the agency in September 2022 as a Rights Executive. She handles translation rights across multiple territories such as Turkey and the Arab World. Before joining Darley Anderson, she studied Law at Newcastle University and promptly decided fiction was infinitely better.
Sheila David
Sheila David
Sheila David handles dramatic rights for the DA Agency and is the first point of contact for all dramatic rights queries for DA Authors. She has been at the Agency since 2013 and also represents a handful of screenwriters.
She read History at the University of Edinburgh and took her diploma in Law from BPP.
Samuel Adewunmi (The Missing, Angela Black) stars in the hit BBC One drama, which has been met with acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.
"A clever courtroom drama with a canny star performance at its centre." - Ed Cumming, The Independent
Based on Imran Mahmood's electrifying novel of the same name, all four captivating episodes of You Don't Know Me are now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Phaedra Patrick's Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone, is being developed into a Hallmark Movie.
Shooting is due to begin this month, with Tom Everett Scott cast in the role of Benedict, alongside Mía Maestro as his wife and Ella Ballentine as Gemma. The movie is set for release on the 26th of September 2021.
Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone, published by Park Row Books in the US and HQ in the UK, and previously known as Wishes Under the Willow Tree in the UK, is Phaedra’s second novel, published after the success of her bestselling debut, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.
Phaedra is known for her curiously charming fiction and feel-good commercial reads about everyday people and their life journeys. Her books have been published in 24 languages and have won a number of prizes, including the French Prix des Lectrices Milady 2017
Rebeka Finch
Rebeka Finch
Rebeka joined the Agency as Darley's Assistant in November 2019.
Rebeka has a degree in History from the University of Exeter, and spent a semester abroad studying in America before graduating in July 2019. She enjoys reading submissions, particularly new adult, contemporary romance fiction, and fantasy/romantasy fiction, and working on the Agency's social media.
Rebeka has also started building her own list of contemporary romance and women's fantasy fiction authors at the Agency.
@rebeka.finch
With the start of the New Year it's time to introduce the Darley Anderson instagram account.
Keep up to date with all of our publications, authors, illustrators and more. Go and give it a follow @darleyanderson_agency
You don't want to miss out...
Jade Kavanagh
Jade Kavanagh
Jade joined Darley Anderson as Camilla’s assistant and Junior Agent in April 2020 after assisting at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. Jade has also recently started to build her own list at the agency.
Jade has a degree in English Literature from the University of Westminster then went on to achieve her Masters in Modern and Contemporary Fictions.
Chloe Davis
Chloe Davis
Chloe joined the Darley Anderson team in 2019 as the Children's Book agency assistant. She works very closely alongside agent Clare Wallace, assisting with her clients and talent spotting. She often gets a first look at submissions and passes on any promising manuscripts and portfolios to Clare and agent Lydia Silver. Chloe has also recently started to build her own list at the agency. She particularly enjoys middle-grade stories with plenty of heart, humour and adventure, as well as contemporary YA love stories.
Chloe previously worked in the Rights department at Pan Macmillan and as a Bookseller at Waterstones. She also has a degree in English Literature and French from the University of Edinburgh and spent a year studying in Paris. She particularly enjoys reading submissions, especially middle grade adventures and contemporary YA love stories.
PAWS, the debut novel by Kate Foster, is out today in the UK. Published in Australia in 2021, this gentle and charming story is set to also be released in the US in 2023.
Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he’s devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park ... right?
Available in the UK and Australia!
The Bravest Word celebrates its Australian publication day today! This rescue story of love and trust between a boy and an abandoned dog is Kate Foster's second novel following the success of her debut PAWS, and deals with the important theme of childhood depression.
When eleven-year-old Matt finds Cliff, a hurt, neglected dog abandoned in the bush, he knows the brave little pup needs saving. He wants to help. But can he?
Lately, Matt has had way more bad days than good days. The pieces of his life just don’t seem to fit together any more and he doesn’t understand why. He’s finding it impossible to concentrate at school and has lost interest in the activities he used to love. Plus, he’s tired all the time.
Matt’s too afraid to share what’s really going on in his own head with anyone. His friends and family will never understand . . . maybe it’s not only Cliff who needs saving.
Available now in Australia.
Laura Heathfield
Laura Heathfield
Laura joined the Agency as Tanera's assistant at the beginning of 2022.
Laura studied law at university and then worked in aviation for 20 years until she decided to pursue working with her real love – books!
Tom Fry
Tom Fry
Tom joined the Agency in March 2022, and is the Dramatic Rights Assistant to Sheila David, submitting agency-repped titles to production companies in order to instigate adaptation for Film & TV.
Tom studied Film Production at the University of Salford, has been a Script Reader, Editor and Programmer for various different film festivals, and has written a multi-award winning short film 'Boxes & Blankets'.
@tomfrymedia
Kira Walker
Kira Walker
Kira joined the agency in May 2022 as a Rights Assistant. She handles the processing of contracts, invoices, and royalty statements, as well as the general admin for the Rights team.
Kira studied Philosophy at the University of Reading and has always had a huge passion for books, film, and literature. Her favourite genres are science-fiction and romance – BookTok has definitely been life-changing when looking for romance recommendations!
Samantha Balfour
Samantha Balfour
Samantha joined the Darley Anderson Agency in September 2016.
She is a graduate in Business Studies from London University. She has worked in interior design, property development and an Art Gallery and has travelled extensively in the course of business. She has a sports background in tennis, golf and swimming and taught Pilates for 8 years.
Samantha is in charge of the smooth running of the office and premises and takes particular care of new authors.
Rosanna Bellingham
Rosanna Bellingham
Rosanna became the Agency’s Financial Controller in 2008.
After graduating in English Literature at the University of Nottingham Rosanna joined a dynamic new finance house and fell in love with deal making, deadlines and pressure, finding work more fun than fun.
She won Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Cook of The Year Competition and took up the prize of the one year Diploma Course at Leith’s School of Food and Wine which also included the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Intermediate Course. She then passed the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. She has worked in farming, banking, law, hotels, catering, the wine trade, import, export, retail, wholesale and fashion.
She takes great delight in all aspects of the Agency and thoroughly enjoys being, in the words of Lee Child, The Money Lady.
Steve Fisher
Steve Fisher
Steve began his career in television journalism in New York, working for ABC News and CNN. At ABC he worked for World News Tonight as Head of the Research department and an Off Air Reporter and worked closely with then host Peter Jennings. At CNN he wrote anchor copy and field produced.
Turning to Hollywood, Steve trained at ICM, then began his agenting career at the venerable H.N. Swanson Agency, the oldest literary firm on the West Coast. Specializing in representing books to the film and TV business, he represents such authors as Lee Child, John Connolly, Tana French, the estate of Patrick O'Brian, Robert Stone, Gregory Maguire, Peter Matthiessen, James Sallis, and many others.
His current company, Agency for the Performing Arts, has offices in Beverly Hills, New York, and Nashville.
Our UK literary agents have a long history of producing commercial success for our authors in a broad variety of genres. Many of our writers are among the highest-paid, bestselling authors in the world.
