Christabel McKinley An agent with David Higham Associates (see other agents at this agency). About I came into publishing via teaching English in Korea, where I taught literature to children between 6 and 11 years of age. I loved seeing how my students interacted with the stories we read and discussed together, and wanted to be a part of finding the perfect books to get into their hands. I believe children’s books should be accessible, inclusive and unpatronising – as well as impactful and, of course, a pleasure to read.I represent authors and illustrators across the spectrum of writing and illustrating for children and young adults, spanning fiction to non-fiction, picture books to graphic novels. I love all genres, and what draws me in is a confident storytelling voice, strong world-building, and an immediate sense that we are seeing the world from a real child’s perspective. Favourite books from my childhood include The Worst Witch, Carbonel, The Princess Diaries and Across the Nightingale Floor. This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting 90 days, assume your submission will not be accepted. Country United Kingdom AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Slower Christabel McKinley's overall average response time is slower than most agents. Fiction Open In sci-fi and fantasy novels for adults, I am won over immediately by immaculate and imaginative world-building, thoughtful examinations of society and/or humanity and, above all, a story that makes me believe in that world. I have a soft spot for historical and ahistorical, both cosy and dark varieties, and will always perk up if I hear a witch, magician, werewolf or teashop make an appearance. Recent favourites include the Daevabad and Scholomance trilogies, and I will devour anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.Audience:Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, Children, Middle grades, Young adults.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Historical Science Fiction Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: NovelStyles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Folklore/Mythology.Submissions:Method: Email. Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to agent's webpage Report: Submission/Query Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Instagram @davidhighambooksX (Twitter) @DHAbooks For the Agent: Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Agent Impersonation Scams are becoming commonplace.A legitimate agent will not contact you and request money to represent you. Never pay an agent an up-front fee. That is not how literary agent representation works. Agents earn a commission only after they've landed a publishing deal for you. Also, agents scarcely ever contact writers. If an agent that you haven't queried contacts you about representation, be suspicious. Look up the agent and check if the email address is correct for that agent/agency. Christabel McKinley Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the agency or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include other agents at the same agency Accuracy We have received 4 reports from 4 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 112 min | 180.3 mean avg | 179.0 median | 251 max days (75.5 std dev) Other Information The agent will try to make a decision within 90 days. (100.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 90 days.) This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting the time indicated above, assume your submission will not be accepted. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:45 UTC (less than a minute ago). Work submitted to this agent was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted by this agent also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Other Agents at this AgencyVeronique BaxterMaddalena CavaciutiNicola ChangJemima ForresterStephanie GlencrossGeorgia Glover DNQAnthony Goff DNQAndrew GordonJane Gregory CLOSEDMolly Ker Hawn OPTED OUTLizzy KremerSara LanghamCaroline Walsh CLOSEDLaura West CLOSEDJessica Woollard Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the agent or agency being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the agent/agency meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the agency/agent.Unless the agency's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.For agency submissions, it is standard to submit a query letter and sample instead of the full manuscript. Do this unless otherwise instructed.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 21 Jul 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only