Bradshaw launches literary agency to help crack open 'London-centric' industry

Sophie Bradshaw, former non-fiction publisher at The History Press, has launched a new literary agency and editorial consultancy, drawing on her 17 years’ experience in the industry.

The Sophie Bradshaw Literary Agency will represent quality non-fiction and focus on developing undiscovered and first-time authors. Seeking "vibrant, meaningful non-fiction that inspires and makes people think", her remit will span the gamut of commercial non-fiction, from "inspiring" memoir to history, general non-fiction, mind body and spirit, self help and business.

The agency and consultancy is based near Stroud, Gloucestershire, but is already working with authors as far afield as the US, Australia, the Far East and Israel. Hoping to contribute to opening the industry up—still much needed according to this month's The Common People report—Bradshaw has said she is keen to work with authors who "have no experience of the publishing industry and are perhaps intimidated by its white, middle class, London-centric reputation".

"I started the literary agency because I felt there were a lot of authors that had great commercial ideas but they needed a bit more help to develop them than perhaps they would get from a lot of agents. It is very much about working alongside them quite closely as they develop their book," said Bradshaw. "I think often authors go under the radar—they don’t necessarily approach an agent because they feel it [the world of publishing] is off limits to them.

"I feel passionate about opening the industry up to those who are not London-based, or maybe not the classic white middle-class stereotype a lot of people see. I think things are changing and what I'm doing really fits in with that. As the current situation really highlights, I’m able to do my job from here just as well as if I was based in London."

With several clients already on her books, Bradshaw has already negotiated contracts with Penguin Random House and Octopus.

Additionally Bradshaw runs a content services arm, started two years ago after leaving The History Press, offering content development with authors from ghost writing to deep structural editing and coaching. 

Further details are available at www.sophie-bradshaw.com.