Cole and McKinley promoted at David Higham

Allison Cole has been promoted to head of children’s rights and Christabel McKinley has stepped up to an agent role at David Higham Associates.

McKinley (pictured above) is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to YA fiction. She has been actively involved in the children's writing community since joining David Higham Associates (DHA) in 2018. One of her early clients was Alexandra Page, WriteMentor's 2019 Children's Novel Award winner, who has now secured two deals with Bloomsbury and Two Hoots. McKinley has also helped run DHA's open days and weeks for writers from underrepresented backgrounds, and will continue building in this area.

“Since day one, it has been a dream to work at an agency that has represented almost half of this nation's Children's Laureates and counts so many truly exceptional writers and illustrators among its ranks," McKinley said. "It has been such a privilege to learn from Caroline and my other wonderful colleagues and I couldn’t be more excited to help expand this illustrious children’s list.”

Director Caroline Walsh said: “When Christabel joined the agency three years ago, we knew that we had found someone with the potential to be an outstanding children’s books agent, and so it has proved. We are all excited to be growing the children’s books side of the business and consolidating our position as the pre-eminent agency for children’s authors and illustrators.”

Cole (pictured right), formerly children’s translation agent, has been promoted to head of children’s rights. Since joining the agency in 2017, “she has brought an intelligent and strategic approach to licensing DHA’s children’s list in translation,” the company said. “Her creativity and ambition for the list are remarkable and under her new remit, she’ll work closely alongside DHA’s primary agents to continue to expand and develop the children’s list internationally.”

Cole commented: “When I first joined DHA, it was a pleasure and an ambition realised to represent such a star-studded line-up of authors and illustrators, many of whom were my childhood favourites. It’s now a double pleasure to be stepping up alongside a growing and hugely talented children’s team. I’m looking forward to this exciting new chapter and to continuing to introduce our authors’ stories, both new and old, to international readers.”

DHA’s translation rights director Alice Howe said: “Allison’s vision for her new role and for DHA’s clients is incredibly inspiring. Her clarity of approach demonstrates an instinctive understanding of the international markets, sensitive author care and a keen eye for new opportunities. DHA is lucky to have her onboard and we can’t wait to explore this new phase of dynamic growth for our children’s list.”