As of January 2025 we are delighted to be OPEN to submissions from writers and illustrators working on children’s/YA book projects.

Please note that we do not currently consider submissions from writers or illustrators living outside the UK and Ireland.

Following the guidelines below will ensure you give us everything we need to consider your work in the most advantageous way…

For ALL submissions:

  • Please email to: submissions@alicewilliamsliterary.co.uk

  • Briefly introduce the submission, mentioning genre, age and word count (eg is it a funny picture book, or a middle grade fantasy?).

  • Tell us a little about yourself, mentioning any books already published and any writing/illustration courses taken. It's also helpful to know where you are currently based.

  • Attach your submission, as outlined below:

    Fiction:  

  • Pitch your novel in the body of the email – ideally this is a single paragraph outlining the main themes and/or story arc. What makes your novel fresh and exciting?

  • Attach the full typescript as a Word doc, preferably formatted with double line spacing.

  • Attach a synopsis of the novel outlining the entire plot arc, including the ending - one to two sides of A4.

    Picture book Texts:

  • Attach two or three texts in separate Word documents.

  • Synopses aren’t necessary, but you could just outline the main themes of the texts in the body of the email.

    Non-fiction:                      

  • Give a brief overview of the book concept, proposed length, structure, readership, what led you to write it, and what published books you see it sitting alongside.

  • Attach some sample spreads or chapters.

    Illustrators:                       

  • Mention whether you are developing your own book ideas, or prefer to work as an illustrator only.

  • If you have a worked-up dummy book to show, attach this as a low-res pdf (not a download link, please). Not every spread needs to be polished artwork.

  • Include a link to your portfolio on your website and/or instagram.

We consider submissions carefully. In order to maximise time spent reading, and allow us to stay open for longer, we have taken the difficult decision not to respond to every submission received. If we are interested in discussing your work, we aim to respond within eight weeks. If you have not heard from us after twelve weeks, please assume that we will not be taking things further at this time.

Do please get in touch at alice@alicewilliamsliterary.co.uk with an update if you have serious interest from another agent.

And do, of course, feel free to resubmit with a new project further down the line.

Remember there are many reasons we may not be the right agency for a particular writer or illustrator, and another agent may respond quite differently.

Thank you for sharing your work with us. We wish you every success.