I'm keen to read the writign first, and then go back to the synopsis and covering letter. The voice of the writing is most important to me. #AskAgent

I'd totally agree with Kate here - don't be worried about mixing genres, but do be clear what you are mixing and what the main thrust of the story is. #AskAgent

It does vary from agent to agent. I tend to pay more attention to the writing first and only close attention to the letter second. #AskAgent

My advice would be to decide which is the "lead" genre and which is the secondary "genre", i.e. is it a futuristic thriller or a thrilling SF. But at the same time don't be afraid to say it is a crossover in your submission if it really is. #AskAgent

There is always the chance that the writing doesn't grab us the way that the sample suggested, or that the plot doesn't go the way we were thinking from the synopsis. If there is enough promise, then I'm always up for an edit!

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Most important for me is: why should someone else care about what you are writing. Memoir can be intensely personal, but it is when that experience resonates with other people that is key.

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Certainly we're always on the look out for crime and thrillers. It's the UK's biggest genre and so we can never have enough submissions here. #AskAgent

Great question! I think that first and foremost we're here to help our authors have sustained and worthwhile careers. We look for the right editors at the right publishing houses for their writing, and then negotiate the best possible contracts. #AskAgent

We have some suggestions of what we would like to see in your covering letter (see link below). In terms of the order, my only "wish" is to see that one line elevator pitch at the start. #AskAgent katenashlit.co.uk/submissions/

Our submissions have been closed for a few months but are now open again! We'd love to see more psychological thrillers, more fantastic crime (I'd love some gangland), more romcoms!

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We likely will, but no firm plans as yet. I'm really interested in what happens to genres in 2021 - we're seeing a lot of interest in crossover fiction that can appeal to multiple reader types. Will this continue? #AskAgent

Memoir would be nonfiction, I'd say!
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Good question. Yes, I really hope we'll be able to update our trends survey. A huge range of fiction is booming in popularity at the moment across all the main genres. I am wondering - with Bridgerton on Netflix - will the Regency romance make a comeback? #AskAgent

Hi Emma, we'd like to see a few chapters, as well as a chapter synopsis. We've updated our submissions guidelines to break that down. katenashlit.co.uk/submissions/

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If your previous novels have been published then a sample would do - we can take your track record from there. But generally, we'd expect any work of fiction to be finished. Nonfiction works differently, and we've updated our submissions guideline to reflect this. #AskAgent

We'd always prefer a completed novel manuscript.

I am afraid we had over 300 submissions to our mentorship programme and so were unable to give individual feedback. #AskAgent

I would love to see more historicals! It is important to me that the setting doesn't get in the way of the story - it has to feel authentic, yes, but I don't want to have to chomp through infodumps. #AskAgent

For fiction we ask for the whole novel to be completed before submitting but as an established author we'd be happy for you to approach us with a sample and synopsis. For non-fiction we can consider a sample. #AskAgent

We do accept submissions from the US, yes, though as we are based in the UK, we're looking for stories that would resonate with UK publishers first and foremost, so that is worth bearing in mind. #AskAgent

Sure.