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Profile Summary

There is very little in the public domain on this agent, and it appears that John Pawsey is now semi-retired. It is unlikely that he will take on new clients at this point. 

John Pawsey has over forty years of experience in the publishing industry, having worked for Readers Digest, Leslie Frewin Publishers, and Elm Tree Books. He first set up the John Pawsey Literary Agency in 1981. John's agency is still running and is still currently listed on all major industry sites and publications (such as the Writers' Handbook) as accepting submissions. As an old-school agent, John only accepts hardcopy submissions by post with a stamped return envelope included.

It seems that John is mostly interested in non-fiction work. However, he does list crime and thriller novels amongst his fiction interests. Sports, popular culture, music, travel, gardening, politics, and biography are amongst his preferred subject matter for non-fiction submissions. He represents authors for the UK, while working with other agencies for rights in the rest of Europe, the US, and the Far East.

According to the Writers' Copyright Association, John is known for suggesting revisions and accepting further submissions if an initial manuscript is promising. It is interesting to note that unlike most agents, John prefers authors to approach him with an introductory letter before sending any sample material. 

Pawsey's clients include journalist and Television personality Jennie Bond, crime novelist Patricia Hall, sports writer William Fotheringham, journalist Don Hale OBE, as well as authorized biographer of Mother Teresa, Kathryn Spink.



Detailed data

Agency:
John Pawsey
Agent since:
1981
Short biography:
John Pawsey was born in London in 1940. He was managing editor of Leslie Frewin Publishers between 1965-9, followed by a spell as the associate editor of Reader's Digest (1969-71). He then worked for Elm Tree Books and Mitchell Beazley Marketing Ltd, before establishing the John Pawsey Literary Agency in 1981. John is now semi-retired and not accepting submissions.
Client list status:
List largely complete
Genres this agent is interested in:
Memoir and autobiography, Other non-fiction, General Fiction, Crime, thriller, action
Authors & books liked:
General non-fiction, particularly biography, popular culture and sport.
Other loves & passions:
Enjoys watching cricket.
How to make a submission:
Preliminary letter and return postage with all correspondence essential. No submissions by email. Send to: 60 High Street, Tarring, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7NR.
Other advice and background:
Accepts General non-fiction, particularly biography, popular culture, politics, current affairs, show business, gardening, travel, business, music and sport; crime, thriller and suspense fiction only.
Attends Festival of Writing or other WW events?
Yes
Follow on Twitter:
Does not Tweet
Interesting links:
http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/p/21982/John+PAWSEY.aspx
Clients:
David Ashforth, Jennie Bond, William Fotheringham, Don Hale, Patricia Hall, Elwyn Hartley Edwards, Dr David Lewis, Anne Mustoe and Kathryn Spink
Full client list:
No Data
Email address:
john.pawsey@virgin.net

Agents of: John Pawsey

Agency details

Website:
No data
About the agency:
Open to bright, new talent. Handles non-fiction: biography, politics, current affairs, show business, gardening, travel, sport, business and music; and fiction. Will consider any well-written novel except science fiction, fantasy and horror. Special interests: sport, current affairs and popular fiction.
Address for submissions:
60 High Street, Tarring, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7NR
Office address:
No data
Email address:
john.pawsey@virgin.net
Phone number:
0l903 205167
Number of agents:
1
Accepts email submissions:
Yes
Submission type:
Query letter (ie: send query before sending anything else)
Further submission info:
Preliminary letter with sae essential.
More info on this agency:
No data
Average response time:
8 days
Agency Transparency Index:
28/100
Member of the AAA:
No
Overseas offices:
None
Accepts overseas writers:
No
Follow on Twitter:
None
Latest news:
No data
More about the agency:
Open to bright, new talent. Handles non-fiction: biography, politics, current affairs, show business, gardening, travel, sport, business and music; and fiction. Will consider any well-written novel except science fiction, fantasy and horror. Special interests: sport, current affairs and popular fiction.

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