Cara Lee Simpson

I joined the SLA London office as a Literary Agent with my clients in 2024, having previously been an agent at PFD. I represent literary, book club and general fiction, as well as some narrative non-fiction and am actively developing a carefully curated client list of career authors. My authors have been international number one bestsellers and won or been shortlisted for numerous prizes. I love working closely with my clients to develop their manuscripts, which I then handle direct in all English language territories (UK, North America, Australia, India etc), with my wonderful colleagues looking after their translation and film & TV rights around the globe.

What I’m looking for:

I am on the lookout for general fiction, immersive book club novels and literary fiction. I’m drawn to smart, clean prose or a lyrical voice, books with an interesting form or structure, and character-driven fiction with unusual and absorbing protagonists. I am very editorially focused and looking for writers who I can work with to develop their craft over multiple novels, so the quality of the writing itself is always key when taking on a new client.

I generally lean towards literary fiction that is accessible to a wide readership while remaining beautifully written, and I’m always interested in stories that offer a profound look at relationship dynamics. I welcome submissions that are ambitious in what they set out to do – whether that’s defying genre, bringing a new perspective to stories we think we already know, or taking a deep dive into the mind of a particular character.

Aside from my own authors, enduring favourites include Kazuo Ishiguro, Susan Choi, Claire Keegan, Tessa Hadley, Hanya Yanagihara, Rachel Kushner, Ian McEwan and Kate Atkinson. I enjoy writing that plays with form such as Lanny by Max Porter, and the irreverent and dark humour of Ottessa Moshfegh and Vladimir by Julia May Jonas.

Right now, I would love to find a traditional intergenerational family or friendship story (contemporary or historical), something sweeping in scope with a richly imagined setting, exploring an unusual event or unexpected setup. I’d love to find a book like Flashlight by Susan Choi.

I would also love to find something speculative like Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam. Something that takes an unusual scenario, slightly removed from the everyday, through which regular human relationships play out in a heightened way. Similarly, I’d like to find something quirky like The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, and Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda. Or something compelling and unexpected like Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I am also particularly keen to read books by writers still marginalised by mainstream publishing.

I work on a select number of narrative non-fiction titles and am interested in memoirs and real-life stories, nature writing, and social commentaries told through an interesting lens and with a strong sense of personal journey. Books I loved in this area include Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, The Snow Geese by William Fiennes and Educated by Tara Westover. I’d also like to find something as playfully clever as Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood.

I am open to submissions from international writers. As well as developing home grown UK, Irish and European talent, I also represent clients in North America, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand – and am keen to develop the international side of my list where a book is first written in the English language.

Adult submissions only please.