Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams – Editor

Experienced literary agent editing and selling bestselling memoir, crime & thrillers, self-help, nature and travel writing.

Overview

I have over a decade of experience as a literary agent looking to spot incredible talent in my submissions and then working with my authors to create and sell their books to publishers. While my client list is pretty full, I absolutely love working with new and emerging writers to help them craft the best possible opening to their book that is going to get the attention of the right agent for their work.

If you are thinking of submitting your work to an agent and want an editorial assessment or to craft a knockout submission package (query letter, synopsis, first 50 pages) that will get the attention of the right agent for your work, I can help.

I know what makes a query letter stand out (and what gets a submission rejected) and have weekly conversations with editors so I have a good sense of their acquisition meetings and how to get the pitch just right. The first few chapters are the pages that I spend the most time editing with my authors - they have to be unputdownable and I love working to get them just right. Above all, I hope my strength lies in finding the balance between creating a book that will find success in the current market as well as ensuring that the work remains true to the writer.

My areas of speciality are memoir, crime & thriller, contemporary fiction, self-help & development and travel & nature writing. My authors have been bestsellers or shortlisted/won awards in all of these genres and many of them have had their books optioned for film and television.

My authors would probably say that I pay incredible attention to the text, am really approachable and understand that good humour is just as essential as thoughtful consideration of their work.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Nature Self-Help & Self-Improvement Travel
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Psychological Thriller
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Sophie Hicks Agency

Jul, 2014 — Present

I represent a wide range of internationally bestselling authors in both fiction and non-fiction. My authors work in the areas of memoir, reading group fiction, crime and thrillers, literary fiction, self-help and development, travel and nature writing. I run the film and television side of the agency and work with production companies and studios to sell the dramatic rights to our authors' written work.

Ed Victor Ltd

Oct, 2010 — Jun, 2014 (over 3 years)

Portfolio

The Mystery of Love

Andrew M.

CONSTANCE WILDE'S MARRIAGE HAS ENDED. Making a new life in Europe, she reflects on her marriage with Oscar Wilde. Despite her family's warnings, his affairs and his spending, she knows they loved each other in their own way.In this witty and unsentimental reim... read more
The Last Diet

Shahroo I.

'No banned foods, no recipes, no fads – psychologist and addiction expert Shahroo Izadi’s weight-loss book is all about changing the way you relate to what you eat.' – The TimesThis is the last diet you'll ever need. Transform your relationship with food and y... read more
The Hidden Wife

Amanda R.

'Tremendous. Tight plotting and strong writing carries the narrative along to a chilling conclusion' HARRIET TYCE, AUTHOR OF BLOOD ORANGEA STUNNING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, FROM THE AUTHOR OF CLOSE TO ME AND LYING TO YOUEvery marriage has its problems. But ... read more
I Found My Tribe

Ruth F.

‘I Found My Tribe is inspiring, humbling and a picture of what love really looks like’ Marian KeyesAn invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the... read more
How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life

Johansen

Weightless

Sarah B.

Adamsville wasn't a place that people came to. It was a place you were from, where you were born, where you were raised, where you stayed...Before Carolyn Lessing arrived, nothing much had ever happened in Adamsville, Alabama. Each week, at dinner tables and i... read more
Close To Me

Amanda R.

*** NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES, STARRING CONNIE NIELSEN AND CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON *** She can't remember the last year. Her husband wants to keep it that way.Dramatic psychological suspense for fans of Liane Moriarty's Apples Never Fall, Gillian McAllister's That N... read more
I Am An Island

Tamsin C.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Memoir of the year' - Vogue'A wondrous, sensuous memoir of salt-stung survival . . . clear-eyed and poetic prose' Sunday Times'A fascinating memoir' - Daily MailWhen Tamsin Calidas first arrives on a remote island in the Scottish He... read more
Things I Learned from Falling

Nelson

The Kindness Method: The Highly Effective (and extremely enjoyable) Way to Change Your Habits

Izadi

Sarah has 13 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Nathanael W.

Nathanael W.

Jul, 2023

Great experience working with Sarah for an Editorial Assessment! Sarah has a real sense of understanding the intention and direction of a narrative, and can pick up on what works whilst also providing clear examples on how to improve a manuscript's pacing and general commercial viability. I know for sure that Sarah has a genuine affinity for books and publishing, and it shows in her considerate...
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Marc-David M.

Marc-David M.

Jul, 2023

Sarah provided an extremely thoughtful set of suggestions in the editorial assessment that I had requested. Her work was well considered and her advice was uniformly valid. She made herself available for questions after the fact. Her deep experience in the publishing world was very helpful. Thanks Sarah!
Monica W.

Monica W.

May, 2023

Sarah was an absolute pleasure to work with. She gave a thorough and detailed report on my submission package and offered her expert opinion and feedback on hooking an agent. I made the edits she suggested and have since had a full MS request from an agency. I highly recommend Sarah's services!
Anika P.

Anika P.

Apr, 2023

Sarah was perfect collaborator. She was prompt, insightful, and encouraging. I very much hope to work with her again. Anika
William H.

William H.

Mar, 2023

I engaged Sarah as my editor on my debut novel, and I could not have been happier with her services. Her editorial points were well taken, and she delivered her editorial assessment in a very timely manner. I highly recommend her to potential authors Bill H.

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