Book submissions for literary agents
Jennifer Hamilton-Emery
Director, Salt
Welcome to Salt – the home of great writing
Writers are at the heart of Salt, and we’re grateful for your interest in submitting work to us. Before sending anything, we strongly recommend taking a little time to explore our recent books. Reading the kinds of fiction and non-fiction we publish will give you the best sense of our editorial tastes and ambitions – and is invaluable preparation for any agent considering a submission on an author’s behalf.
Explore our latest books here: New Books 2026 and New Books 2027
We are only able to consider submissions sent via literary agents.
Index
Book submissions
Existing Salt authors
If you are already a Salt author or contributor, please submit new work directly to your editor or via your agent.
Unsolicited submissions from non-Salt authors
Salt does not accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors.
We can only consider work submitted to us by literary agents.
We cannot respond to work sent via our contact form, social media, phone, or personal email addresses. To maximise your chances of publication, we strongly recommend securing representation. You’ll find lists of reputable agents in publications such as Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book, and many literature development agencies run workshops featuring agents and publishers, as do most university-based Creative Writing courses. You can find a list of agents we currently work with below.
If you’re new to Salt, the best preparation is to read what we publish. Understanding our list will help you and your agent judge whether your work is a natural fit for us.
See also our guides and information further down this page.
Notes for agents
Salt is proud to publish distinctive, high-quality literary work. We are particularly well suited to agents looking for an engaged, hands-on publisher with a strong editorial identity and a genuine commitment to its authors.
Working with Salt
Salt is one of the UK’s leading independent publishers. Since 1999, we have been a home for distinctive, high-impact literature, combining a long heritage of editorial excellence with a modern, data-driven approach to global discovery. We publish a focused list of thirty-five titles each year, ensuring every book receives the dedicated resource and strategic positioning it deserves.
We place a premium on author care. Our writers are central to the publishing process, collaborating directly with us on editorial development, cover design, and the trajectory of their publicity and marketing campaigns. We believe the best books are the result of open dialogue, professional trust, and a shared commercial ambition.
Authors at Salt enjoy direct access to the core publishing team. By removing the layers of intermediaries found at larger houses, we ensure communication is personal, responsive, and sustained throughout the life of the book. We pride ourselves on being an agile partner – from the initial contract to the long-term growth of an author’s backlist.
Each title is supported by a bespoke, data-backed publicity and marketing plan. We coordinate closely with our sales and distribution partners to ensure maximum trade outreach, high-profile review coverage, and targeted digital promotion. Our goal is to build a lasting market presence for every work we acquire.
Salt has an enviable track record of literary success. For over a quarter of a century, our titles have been consistently recognised by major honours, including two Booker Prize shortlistings alongside numerous national and international awards. We approach prize submissions strategically, as part of a wider commitment to the long-term cultural and commercial life of our books.
We view publishing not as a single transaction, but as a career-long partnership. At Salt, we don't just publish books; we build enduring relationships with writers who define the contemporary landscape.
Agents we work with
Salt collaborates with a wide network of respected literary agencies. Recent and ongoing partnerships include:
A
B
C
D
G
H
J
L
M
N
P
R
S
U
W
This list reflects some of the agencies whose clients we have published across fiction, non-fiction and short stories. We are always pleased to hear from agents who feel their authors would be a strong fit for our list.
Fiction
Literary fiction sits at the heart of Salt's list, and remains our founding commitment. We look for distinctive, ambitious writing with a strong authorial voice, as well as fiction that combines literary craft with a clear narrative drive and a defined readership.
We are also building a broader home for genre fiction of real quality, and are especially interested in:
- Crime and mystery – character-led investigations, procedurals and suspense fiction with a strong sense of place
- Historical fiction and historical romance – meticulously researched novels spanning any period, from intimate domestic stories to wider historical canvases
- Gothic and horror/supernatural fiction – atmospheric, unsettling fiction, from classic Gothic to contemporary horror
- Psychological thrillers – tense, character-driven narratives exploring deception, obsession or moral ambiguity
- Dystopian and utopian fiction – speculative work engaging with contemporary anxieties and possible futures
- Science fiction – character-focused SF with strong world-building and literary ambition
- Myths and fairy tales – reworkings and reimaginings for adult and YA readers
- Humorous fiction – comic novels with wit and heart
- Modern and contemporary romance – well-crafted, character-led romance with a distinctive voice
We welcome work that moves confidently across these categories, provided it is distinctive and well written.
Non-fiction
We are interested in non-fiction that is:- Narrative-led
- Culturally engaged
- Written for curious general readers
- Life-writing projects (autobiography, biography, diaries, memoir)
If a project falls outside these categories but feels strongly aligned with Salt’s list and readership, we are open to discussion.
How to submit
Length: We publish across a wide range of lengths, from novellas to substantial novels. Shorter novels (up to around 80,000 words) sit most naturally within our economics, and we're always glad to see them. Longer work is very welcome too, provided the ambition and quality justify the length – the stronger the book, the more space we'll make for it.
Availability: We work closely with our authors on publicity and marketing, so it matters that they can commit meaningful time to promoting their book – around publication and in the months that follow. It helps if your author is based in the British Isles and able to take part in events, interviews and promotional activity throughout the publication cycle.
Please include:
- A plot summary
- At least the first chapter
- A biographical note
- Two concise, compelling reasons why booksellers might stock the work
- The author’s publication history
- If the author has previously published a book, a brief indication of sales (approximate BookScan figures or publisher-reported numbers) and any notable publicity or prize highlights
Processing your submission
We receive a large volume of work and, though we try, we cannot reply to every submission. If you have not heard from us within one month, please assume your submission has been unsuccessful – though feel free to nudge us if needed.
Format:
We accept digital submissions only.
Please send attachments as Word documents or PDFs.
Email: submissions@saltpublishing.com. Please be aware that we can only process submissions sent to this specific email address. (It’s an admin thing.)
Many thanks for considering Salt.
Join us on social media
Stay connected with Salt across the platforms where we’re most active and where our readers, booksellers and writers gather:
Instagram – our main space for new releases, cover reveals, author features, events and behind-the-scenes news.
Bluesky – literary conversation, industry news and publishing chat.
We also maintain a presence on Facebook and Threads for wider updates. Follow us for new titles, offers, events and the occasional stray fox from Kensal Green.
Last updated 23 July 2026