Guillory launches the Underline Literary Agency in Glasgow

Robbie Guillory is leaving the Kate Nash Literary Agency to start his own agency in Glasgow.

Underline Literary Agency will represent a broad range of commercial fiction, from crime and thrillers to the historical and speculative, as well as having a narrative non-fiction list. 

Guillory joined Kate Nash Literary Agency in 2019, securing deals in the UK and US for authors such as McIlvanney Prize-longlisted Neil Lancaster and Novella Prize-winning Joma West. He previously worked at Scottish publishers Freight Books and Saraband Books, where he was managing editor. 

He said: “I am so excited to be launching Underline Literary Agency. As the publishing industry continues to expand outside London, I think this is the perfect time to launch a new Scottish-based literary agency. I’ll be looking to build on my list of brilliant authors, continuing to champion new and established voices, and making sure that their rights are sold around the world.” 

He told The Bookseller: "Glasgow is currently experiencing a literary boom, with the last few years seeing the opening of five independent bookshops, including my local Outwith Books, and renewed interest in Glasgow-set stories, with Shuggie Bain (Picador) and Edge of the Grave (Macmillan) both recent prize winners. In my 15 years living in the city I've met some phenomenal writers who see Glasgow as an inspiring place to work, and I want to support that."

The Bookseller reported on Glasgow's thriving literature and publishing scene back in April and Katia Wengraf, formerly manager of the Review Bookshop in Peckham, opened a new independent bookstore there in July. 

Guillory can now be contacted at robbie@underlinelit.co.uk">robbie@underlinelit.co.uk or visit underlinelit.co.uk.