Agent Elizabeth Roy to retire

Elizabeth Roy, founder of the Elizabeth Roy Literary Agency, is retiring after nearly 50 years working in publishing. The business will pass to Emily Talbot at United Agents at the end of April.

Roy started her publishing career as Mark Collins’ secretary at Fontana, William Collins’ paperback list and work at Eyre Methuen, Hamish Hamilton Children’s Books and Knight Books, Hodder & Stoughton’s children’s paperback imprint, followed.

Twelve years later she started her agency at a time when there were few children’s specialist agents. She launched the careers of the late Marcus Sedgwick and Jackie Morris among others and has proudly overseen the development of many other writing and illustrating careers, including that of Steve Antony, Nicola Killen and Nicola Morgan.

She said: “The late Rosemary Canter was a generously supportive friend at the start of my agenting career, and it seems appropriate that the list should now move to United Agents. Children’s publishing has been such a satisfying place to work and I feel enormously privileged for my time working in such an exciting, friendly industry with so many talented people. And I’m happy to step down now knowing how energetic Jodie Hodges, Emily Talbot and Jane Willis at United Agents are."

Hodges, head of books at United Agents, said: “It speaks to Elizabeth’s diligence and care for her clients that she sought to put in place a strong plan for their business on her retirement. We’re honoured to continue Elizabeth’s excellent representation within our growing children’s department, and I know Emily, recently back from maternity leave, is ready to hit the ground running.”