Viney Shaw strikes first-look deal with Golden Egg

The Viney Shaw Agency has struck a first-look deal with The Golden Egg Academy.

From this month, Golden Egg will offer The Viney Shaw Agency an exclusive look at manuscripts from academy members before other agencies.

Kate Shaw of The Viney Shaw Agency, who signed the deal with Golden Egg founder Imogen Cooper, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing what Imogen sends me. The Golden Egg Academy really stands out from the crowd because they have such talent - not only Imogen but people like Beverley Birch and Dr Vanessa Harbour. They can really make a difference to someone’s writing and their members produce such great work.”

Shaw said she will be looking primarily for brilliantly written page-turners “that will sell”, but added: “I love humour and have always liked books that slightly defy genre. Maybe a romance with an unconventional twist or an adventure book with an unexpected hero. I’m open to all ideas and especially keen to champion diverse voices. I have a lot of middle-grade on my list but I’m interested in all ages.”

She already represents several former Golden Egg members, including James Nicol, whose debut novel The Apprentice Witch was published by Chicken House in 2016, and Vashti Hardy, who was signed by Scholastic last year.

Cooper founded The Golden Egg Academy in 2013 to provide workshops, editorial advice, and social and networking opportunities to aspiring children’s writers. To date 27 of its members have found publishing deals, including M G Leonard, who won the Branford Boase award in 2017 for Beetle Boy (Chicken House), and Lisa Williamson, whose The Art of Being Normal (David Fickling Books), was Waterstone’s Best Book for Teens 2016 winner.

The academy also has first look deals with two publishers: Chicken House (for children’s fiction) and Andersen Press (for pictures books).