Hayley Steed
Hayley is a Director and Literary Agent representing writers of commercial and bookclub fiction across all genres. She previously worked for seven years at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, joining Janklow & Nesbit in September 2023. Before that she worked in book PR, after completing a degree in English, and she has been named both a Trailblazer and a Rising Star by the UK book trade. Her clients include Sunday Times bestsellers Yomi Adegoke, Leah Hazard, Harry Baker, Sarah Clegg, and half of writing duo Ellis Hunter (also a New York Times bestseller), alongside New York Times bestseller Clare Pooley, Canadian bestseller, Heather Marshall, USA Today bestseller Freya Sampson, and upcoming talent Abigail Avis.
I’m particularly drawn to a strong hook and one line pitch – a setting, structure, or a ‘what if’ that captures my attention immediately and leads the way into a gripping story. I love to find compelling and distinctive voices that are matched with brilliant characters, well-paced plots and commercial appeal. I’m always open to books that cross genres, or which feel a little different, as well as those that just do what they do, but are best in class. Right now, I’m particularly hungry to find; a big character driven love story (contemporary, epic, speculative or otherwise), gripping domestic suspense, upmarket mystery, and uplifting bookclub fiction.
Please do not send me anything that has been written, or assisted, by AI.
Some books I’ve loved in these areas;
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (or anything by TJR)
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson
Wet Ink by Abigail Avis
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall
Long Bright River by Liz Moore (and The God of the Woods)
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
The Couple at Number Nine by Claire Douglas
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
The Favourites by Layne Fargo
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
The Guest by Emma Cline
Things I love to see in the books I represent;
Community of all kinds
Anything set in, or about, space – but think general fiction rather than core sci-fi
Interesting jobs/careers, people doing the thing they love most
The love story behind the love story - sub plots of sisters, and mothers & daughters, friends - alongside romantic love
Characters who are later on in life, and not contributing towards a stereotype
Family secrets, whether in a moving drama, scaled up epic, or something more psychological
Female friendship – the good and the bad.
Social commentary explored through a plotty story
Original locked room mysteries (which aren’t cosy)
Mystery and suspense novels where the story is driven as much by the protagonists and the atmospheric setting as the crime
Enemies to lovers, in any capacity
If I’m reading SFF, I likely need a romance as a main plot, or sub plot
Books about movies, or music (and less so books about art)
Books that take trends but explore them in a different way or area – romantasy in space, spice in bookclub fiction
Anything that keeps me turning the page and is utterly irresistible and truly page-turning.