Camilla Bolton steps up to managing director at Darley Anderson & Associates

Camilla Bolton has stepped up to the role of managing director of Darley Anderson & Associates 18 years after joining the agency, though c.e.o. Darley Anderson is “emphatically not retiring”. 

The agency said it is looking to the future as it continues to grow and succeed in the commercial fiction market, 35 years after forming. 

While senior agent Bolton becomes m.d., “Anderson is emphatically not retiring and continues as c.e.o. working full time with his clients as his group of agencies expands under the Darley Anderson banner, with Clare Wallace stepping up as m.d. of the Children’s and Illustrator’s Agencies,” the agency said.  

Bolton joined the agency in 2007, was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2013 and shortlisted as Literary Agent of the Year in 2022. She representing award-winning and bestselling authors such as T M Logan, B A Paris, Catherine Steadman, K L Slater and Tim Weaver.  

She’s had five titles as Richard & Judy Book Club picks, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and various successful TV adaptations for authors T M Logan and Imran Mahmood. Bolton’s list goes from strength to strength and this Book Fair season saw her sell a soon-to-be-announced début at a six-figure pre-empt. Last year’s LBF also saw Bolton agent auctions on both sides of the Atlantic for début Claire, Darling by new talent Callie Kazumi.  

The agency said: “Throughout her career, Bolton has nurtured a focused list of highly successful authors and is known for building brands and her long-term vision and dedication to her clients. It is this dedication she will continue not only on her own list with agenting remaining her core focus, but how she will lead the team and focus on the future growth of Darley Anderson & Associates.” 

Bolton commented: “The agency’s motto is ‘Our writers mean business’ and as Darley beautifully said when I first started agenting, sign authors you believe you will work with for decades ahead. This focus is the heart of how we do business; we don’t just sign books, we sign whole careers, and it is an ethos I will always keep at the heart of the agency.  

“In June it will be my 18th year working with Darley, yet it feels like only a few years ago when I started one day a week and sat at a little antique table handwriting the submission rejections. The only experience I had was I loved reading commercial fiction and yet Darley offered me the chance to look at submissions and within a few months I was incredibly lucky to sign Tim Weaver and begin my agenting career.” 

She added: “The trust and mentorship Darley showed from day one is at the heart of my focus in our future and growth. We have an incredible team and I cannot wait to work with them as they continue to flourish and build international bestselling careers.” 

Anderson added: “On every level, Camilla is the outstanding agent of her generation. We are all so lucky to have her as the m.d. of Darley Anderson & Associates.”