Looking for a literary agent?
Despite the mountain of book publishing information online, the world of literary agents and book publishers remains daunting to most writers and subject experts who dream of a book deal with a traditional publishing house.
How do you write a strong query letter? What about a synopsis?
Which agents are right for my project?
And why won’t anybody talk to me?!
Do you have an idea for a book but need someone with publishing industry knowledge to discuss it with?
Or have you started sending out queries — and you’re not hearing back?
As an author and as a former literary agent, I understand these challenges.
I’m on a mission to help aspiring authors find a literary agent and get a book deal by improving your agent query and submissions materials with constructive feedback.
Here’s a partial list of traditionally published books I’ve helped bring into the world.
Check out what my clients say. Questions? Ask away.
I hope to work with you soon!
Click here to join my mailing list & get agent ready!
“Over a couple of years, Virginia has given me immeasurable help with my writing and shepherded my book TRUGANINI to considerable publishing success.”
-Author | Truganini (Allen & Unwin 2020) | Non-Fiction
Cassandra Pybus
“Virginia has been an absolute joy to work with and she has delivered on her every promise. ”
– Author, The Dogs that Made Australia and The Ferals that Ate Australia (both HarperCollins) | Non-Fiction
Guy Hull
– Author, Lola Bensky (2014) Winner, Prix Médicis Étranger 2014 | Fiction / Non-Fiction
Lily Brett
Virginia not only made me a better writer but was the reason I was able to get my first book deal. I couldn’t recommend working with Virginia and her team enough, whether you’re looking to get an agent or pitch publishers!
– Author, YOUNG, LOST & LEADERLESS (Wilkinson Publishing 2021) | Memoir
Nick Bennett
We felt we could trust you to be honest with us. … You have been a great source of encouragement and support.”
–Co-authors, The Talking Cure (Pan Macmillan 2019) | Nonfiction
Prof. Gillian Straker & Dr. Jacqui Winship
Professor Gillian Straker & Dr. Jacqui Winship
Click here to join my mailing list & get agent ready!
Anna Bligh- Through The Wall
Anna and I worked closely for several months during the drafting and editing of her story of female resilience and leadership.
Tim Elliott- Farewell to the Father
I helped Tim turn an explosive feature article in the Sydney Morning Herald into a fleshed-out chapter outline for this book, which sold at auction before it was completed.
David Kowalski- The Company of the Dead
The first book I agented, a phenomenal work of alternate history that went on to win two Aurealis Awards. It was published in Australia and the USA.
Katrina Lawrence- Paris Dreaming
Katrina’s publisher HarperCollins Australia asked me for a structural report to help the author refine and develop the manuscript from final draft through to the version sent for copy editing and, finally, to the printer.
Virginia Lloyd – Girls at the Piano
Girls at the Piano is a tour through the changing relationship between women and the piano over the course of the instrument’s history, as seen through the lives of the author and her grandmother, worlds and generations apart.
Jenny Ackland- The Secret Son
I was delighted to discover Jenny, and then find her a publisher for this warm, haunting novel set in Melbourne and a small mountain village in Turkey.
Maryanne Moodie- On the Loom: A Modern Weaver’s Guide
Maryanne has a large following on Instagram and Etsy for her beautiful modern works of woven art. I was delighted to advise Maryanne on her agreement with a big US publisher.
Kellie Arrowsmith- Skimpy
Kellie and I worked on the structure and a few sample chapters before I pitched and sold her memoir to Hachette Australia.
Guy Hull- The Dogs that Made Australia
Dog behaviourist Guy Hull contacted me after stumbling upon my website, to see if I thought his book idea about the socio-economic history of dogs in Australia had any ‘legs’. After working together on a chapter outline and proposal, HarperCollins acquired the book, which became a bestseller in Australia.
Fiona Higgins- The Mothers’ Group
Fiona was a nonfiction client when she sent me the draft of a novel she’d written. My job was to help Fiona maximise its appeal to prospective publishers through editorial feedback. The Mothers’ Group went to auction and was a bestseller in Australia and Europe.
Virginia Lloyd – The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement
After her beloved husband’s death from cancer after 11 months of marriage, the young widow addresses the chronic rising damp problem in the house they had shared. The book traces the parallels between the house and the young widow having to ‘dry’ from the inside out.
Dr Cassandra Pybus- Truganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse
I helped esteemed historian Cassandra Pybus find a publisher for this important book, which required knowledge of which publishers would be most receptive to the work.
Kylie Ladd- The Way Back
Structural edit for the publisher, Allen & Unwin
Fiona Higgins- Wife on the Run
I was Fiona’s agent for her follow-up to the bestselling The Mothers’ Group.
Tracy Crisp- Surrogate
I edited three drafts of this novel as the author developed it.
Virginia Peters- Have You Seen Simone
Exploratory discussion of the ideas and motivation for the author’s new project
Jane Hutcheon- China Baby Love
I provided a detailed report on a draft of the manuscript.
Sally Cooper- Between a Burqua and a Hard Place
I helped the author shape a publishable book-length work from a diary she kept of her not-for-profit work in Afghanistan.
Maryanne Moodie- Weave The Rainbow- Forthcoming
Reviewing and advising on aspects of the author’s offer from her publisher, Norton
Sally Rynveld & Guy Winship- A Good Life: The Story of Guy Winship and Good Return
Initial manuscript assessment led to a detailed structural report — and ultimately a publishing contract.
Leon Silver- The Miracle Typist
Structural edit for the publisher, Simon & Schuster
Lauren Chater- Gullivers Wife
Structural edit on the bestselling debut author’s second novel for the publisher, Simon & Schuster
Adrian Tame- The Awful Truth
Structural edit for the publisher, Simon & Schuster
Dr Steven Lin- The Dental Diet
I helped Steven clarify his pitch & chapter outline, edit sample chapters, finalize a book proposal and attract a US agent — resulting in a book deal with Hay House.
Jamie Brisick- Becoming Westerly
I provided encouragement and some editorial notes, and found Jamie an Australian publisher for this spectacular book about transgender surfer Westerly Windina.
Brad Hutchins- Game, Set, Cash!
Brad came to me with a great idea and a rough ms. With some editorial tough love I got him a book deal on a partial manuscript.
Brooke Hemphill- Lesbian For A Year
After working with the author on story structure and a chapter outline, I was able to find her a publisher based on a partial manuscript.
Lily Brett- on tour in Australia to promote Lola Bensky
I was proud to edit this wonderful novel, Lily’s sixth, which won the prestigious Prix Médicis Étranger.
Lily Brett- In Full View
The first book of Lily’s I edited, a collection of personal essays.
Ashley Hay- A Hundred Small Lessons
I edited this folllow-up novel to Ashley’s international bestseller The Railwayman’s Wife for Allen & Unwin
Dore Ashton- David Rankin: The New York Years
I interviewed the artist to create a first-person introductory essay to this volume, published by Macmillan, which also featured art historian Dore Ashton’s reviews of his work, which I edited.
Professor Gillian Straker and Dr. Jacqui Winship- The Talking Cure
The authors approached me for constructive feedback on their manuscript. We worked together to turn it from an academic tome into a commercial work now published in Australia, South Africa and the USA.
Laura Garber- In Progress
Structural report and developmental editing on my client’s memoir-in-progress
Fleur McDonald- The Missing Pieces of Us
I worked with one of Australia’s leading rural novelists on this novel about mothers, daughters, and the secrets we keep.