non-fiction submissions

Please send Caroline Davidson:

A covering letter explaining why you are writing your book, your qualifications, and the impact you hope it will have. Give the proposed length/word count. If the book is already complete, say who has read the typescript and how they have responded.

A c.v. or resume.

Your book proposal should ideally include the following:

The table of contents of your proposed book
A detailed chapter-by-chapter synopsis
A description of your sources and/ or research for the book
An assessment of the readership and markets for your work
An analysis of the competition (if applicable) and how your book will fit.

If possible, support your submission with one or two sample chapters, preferably the first two in the book, and include photocopies of sample illustrations, if relevant.

SUBMISSIONS should be printed with 1.5-line spacing and generous margins all-round. Sample chapters must be paginated.

Your submissions package should contain a self-addressed stamped envelope suitable for a reply and/or a suitably sized, self-addressed and stamped padded envelope that is the right size for the return of your supporting material if you want it back.

Please note that the agency doesn’t reply to submissions made without a self-addressed and pre-stamped envelope. Nor can we offer to reply by email.

It is not necessary to send your material by recorded or registered delivery. In fact to do so can cause delay.

If you are making a submission from abroad, include a sterling cheque or the correct value of international reply coupon(s) sufficient to cover the cost of a response and/or returning your materials, along with a suitable padded envelope. The agency doesn’t respond to submissions without these.

Please note that we are not interested in certain categories of writing: poetry, children’s books, textbooks, personal sob stories.

Response time? Our aim is to reply within two weeks of receipt of your work.

Can you call first, before making your submission? Yes, of course.