Samantha Haywood

Samantha Haywood’s submission mandates include:

Plurality of voices, stories and authors of all backgrounds are encouraged! Originality and diversity in my client list is the objective.

Fiction Mandates: Literary fiction to upmarket commercial fiction of all types. Getting more specific, yes to: smart contemporary fiction, upmarket women’s fiction and cross-over/hybrid style novels with speculative elements. Yes to literary thrillers and upmarket mystery with some cozy mysteries and historical fiction.

Non-fiction Mandates: Narrative non-fiction preferred, especially on culturally relevant topics. Some examples: sexuality/gender; investigative reportage; outstanding memoirs (must be truly original or well-known subjects); environmental issues; historical narratives handled in refreshing ways and true crime with societal implications. Essentially, I’m looking for a strong narrative drive and distinctive voice at all times.

Graphic Novels (fiction/non-fiction): Preferably full length graphic novels with author and illustrator as one creator, or already teamed-up. Graphic novel memoirs, biographies, travel narratives and other nonfiction graphica also welcome.

Guidelines: Submissions queries via email only to querysamantha@transatlanticagency.com. Authors are encouraged to email a cover letter with a sample/excerpt of the book in question. Please submit a maximum of 20 pages. Embed the sample/excerpt into the email after the cover letter. Graphic novel submissions may include an attachment. Please submit an author bio/publishing history and a synopsis. Please note if other agents are also considering the project and please do not submit to me if you have already submitted to another Transatlantic Agent.

Due to the volume of submissions received, replies will be sent for only those submissions being actively considered.

Samantha Haywood is President of the Transatlantic Agency. She has extensive experience selling authors in North America for publication and TV/film representation. She launched her client list with Transatlantic Agency in 2004 after working in the international rights departments of Random House of Canada Ltd and WCA Ltd. Samantha represents a diverse and vibrant client list of novelists, memoirists, investigative journalists, graphic novelists, cookbook authors and thought leaders. Samantha represents international rights for the renown publisher, Drawn & Quarterly. She is also a founding member and former President of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents.

Some of her notable commercial fiction authors include: Amy Stuart (STILL MINE), Marissa Stapley (THE LAST RESORT and LUCKY), Nathan Ripley aka Naben Ruthnum (FIND YOU IN THE DARK and A HERO OF OUR TIME), Kate Hilton (THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE), Kerry Clare (MITZI BYTES), Elizabeth Renzetti (BASED ON A TRUE STORY), Teresa Toten (BEWARE THE GIRL), and the Estate of A.S.A Harrison (THE SILENT WIFE). Some of her notable literary fiction clients include: Iain Reid (I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS), Zoe Whittall (THE BEST KIND OF PEOPLE), Elisabeth de Mariaffi (HYSTERIA), Sarah Selecky (RADIANT SHIMMERING LIGHT), Melanie Mah (THE SWEETEST ONE), Rebecca Rosenblum (SO MUCH LOVE), Shauna Singh Baldwin (THE SELECTOR OF SOULS), Shani Mootoo (POLAR VORTEX), Claire Holden Rothman (MY OCTOBER), Miranda Hill (SLEEPING FUNNY), Katherine Ashenburg (SOFIE & CECILIA), Marni Jackson (DON’T I KNOW YOU?), Susan Swan (THE DEAD CELEBRITIES CLUB), Amanda Leduc (THE CENTAUR’S WIFE), Kai Thomas (IN THE UPPER COUNTRY), Chelene Knight (JUNIE), Megan Gail Coles (SMALL GAME HUNTING AT THE LOCAL COWARD GUN CLUB), Canisia Lubrin (THE DYZGRAPHIST) and Gary Barwin (YIDDISH FOR PIRATES and NOTHING THE SAME, EVERYTHING HAUNTED). Some of her narrative nonfiction clients include: Jesse Thistle (FROM THE ASHES), Jean Teillet (THE NORTH-WEST IS OUR MOTHER), Samra Zafar (A GOOD WIFE), Plum Johnson (THEY LEFT US EVERYTHING), Rachel Giese (BOYS: What it Means to Become a Man), Stacey May Fowles (BASEBALL LIFE ADVICE), Emily Urquhart (BEYOND THE PALE), Clara Hughes (OPEN HEART, OPEN MIND), Kevin Donovan (THE BILLIONAIRE MURDERS) and David Macfarlane (THE DANGER TREE). Some of her graphic novelist’s client include: Ani Castillo (PING), Robin Ha (ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL), Michael Cho (SHOPLIFTER), Scott Chantler (BIX), and Sarah Leavitt (AGNES MURDERESS) among others. Some of her cookbook authors include: Sam Turnbull (FUSS FREE VEGAN), Sara Lynn Cauchon (THE DOMESTIC GEEK’S MEALS MADE EASY) and Pailin Chongchitnant (HOT THAI KITCHEN).