Glossary beginning with G

Society of British garden writers set up to improve the quality of gardening writing. Holds briefing days and has annual award scheme.

General adult fiction and non-fiction

Query by post only.

Works in conjunction with Curtis Brown, London.

Big American commercial site which offers all you need to know to trace your family tree. Basic annual membership $69.99, but there is a lot of information available and a powerful search engine to help you find it. www.genealogy.com

Founded 1967. Full-length and short MSS. Agents in most foreign countries. The agency represents novelists and nonfiction writers as well as several major literary estates.
Primarily an agency for English language writers, and currently represents over 200 authors including eight Pulitzer Prize winners and two Nobel Prize winners.


We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Describes itself as 'the world's leading provider of images, film and digital services'. Material available includes the Hulton Archive.

Founded 1976. Adult book length fiction and non-fiction.

Accepting new clients by referral only.

General non-fiction: autobiography, memoir, business & self-help, web-to-book, food and drink, health, lifestyle, parenting, self-help, how to, popular science, history, culture, reference, humour & gift and TV tie-in.

No fiction, children's books or poetry.

Submit a one page summary of the topic, a paragraph on the contents of each proposed chapter, your qualifications for writing the book, a not on the market (who will buy it?) and competing titles, how you could help promote the book and your full contact details.

Submissions by post only, enclose an SAE for return of work.

Robust and often entertaining American online guide from Jack Lynch, offering plenty to chew over. http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/index.html

The late Elaine Greene founded the agency in 1963, and a number of Elaine's first clients - including P.D. James, Michael Frayn and William Shawcross - are still represented by the company.

All types of fiction and non-fiction. No poetry or original scripts for theatre, film or TV.

Handles picture books, fiction for 5-8 and 9-12 year-olds, teenage fiction, series fiction, poetry and non-fiction.

Also handles adult fiction and non-fiction.

Overseas associates worldwide.

When submitting please include the following:

• A covering letter,
• a synopsis and
• three chapters (or about fifty pages if that's easier).
• Be sure to include your email address and an SAE for the return of your material.

For permission to reproduce extracts from books by this agents authors approach them as follows:

Advise them which extract you would like to use; the context in which you plan to use it; the print run (if you intend to use the extract in a published work); the territories the permission needs to cover; and whether or not your use of the extract will be for profit. All of these factors will determine how much they charge for the permission. Upon receipt of this information they will send you an agreement letter listing appropriate terms.

They do not answer permission requests by telephone.

Send all requests to Nick Harrop or email to permissions@greeneheaton.co.uk

Clients include Bill Bryson, Jan Dalley, Suzannah Dunn, Marcus du Sautoy, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Michael Frayn, P.D. James, Jonathan Jones, William Leith, William Shawcross, Sarah Waters, Jackie Wullschlager. Children's authors include Helen Craig, Joshua Doder, Amber Deckers. Founded 1963. Children's authors include Helen Craig, Joshua Doder, Amber Deckers.

Gregory & Company Authors' Agents specialises in adult fiction and general non-fiction. They are particularly well-known for representing crime novels and thrillers, although they have also expanded their list to include the best of commercial, literary and historical fiction alongside travel writing and general non-fiction.

Represents Crime, thrillers, historical fiction, commercial fiction, family sagas, literary fiction, biographies and auto-biographies. Does not represent science fiction, supernatural/paranormal, self-help/lifestyle books, poetry, short stories, children/young adult fiction, business books and spiritual or new age philosophy.

To submit, send a synopsis, no more that the first ten pages, double-spaced together with a covering letter telling them about yourself, your past work and future plans. Send this by post to: Mary Jones, Submissions Editor, Gregory and Company Authors' Agents, 3 Barb Mews, London, W6 7PA. Include SAE for return of material.

Alternatively you can send a brief enquiry by email to MaryJones@gregoryandcompany.co.uk Put your books title followed by '(submission) in the subject line of your email. Do not send attachments of chapters or the entire typescript unless they have specifically asked.

Founded 1987.

Association of Authors' Agents

Sophie and Emma's own site for children, this is the perfect place for any child writer who wants to share their work with other kids. Poems, stories, reviews and competitions, plus a list of groovy schools. www.groovychildwriter.co.uk

Excellent Guardian site has useful up-to-date style British English style guide.  Much recommended, to the probable surprise of those for whom the Guardian is renowned for its errors. http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide

Not just for writers, but a must for anyone interested in books, this is quite simply one of the best places for keeping up with the literary world on the net. http://books.guardian.co.uk

Extremely useful commercial American site (http://literaryagents.org/) which helps you to find an agent. Includes agent news, agent guides and tips for finding an agent.

Commercial fiction and non-fiction including literary, thrillers and celebrity autobiographies (home 15%, overseas 20%).

Authors include Jenny Colgan, Brian Freeman, Sarah Webb, Martina Reilly, Mil Millington.