Jenny Hewson

For me, everything begins with that sense of voice and the quality of the writing on the page. I like to work very closely and collaboratively with authors, from careful editing of the manuscript right through to final publication and beyond. I’m an eclectic reader but I’m always looking for that strong connection to the writing itself and excitement to read on, regardless of genre. I’m open to submissions and keen to find distinctive voices and great storytelling of all kinds but with a particular focus on literary fiction, book club fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction. I love unique, very literary voices as much as books which sit on that sweet spot between literary and commercial. I’m drawn to short, powerful novels that can be read in one or two sittings, in the vein of Natasha Brown’s Assembly or Penelope Mortimer’s The Pumpkin Eater or Mary Gaitskill’s This is Pleasure, but I also love wide ranging, ambitious intergenerational stories like the Cazalet Chronicles, or Karen Joy Fowler’s Booth. I’d love to find a big, transporting intergenerational story based either in the UK or beyond. I’ve also always loved the gothic, everything from Bram Stoker to Wilkie Collins. To have something along the lines of The Moonstone landing in my inbox would always be welcome. And nothing beats a wonderful historical or fantasy read to truly transport you from the everyday.

For nonfiction, I’m keen to hear from experts looking to write for a general readership, particularly in the fields of popular science, health, and social history.