About

Photo Credit: Rebecca Brooker Photography

The Hannah Sheppard Literary Agency is a boutique agency launched by Hannah Sheppard in 2023. In 2024 Louise Buckley joined the agency as an Associate Literary Agent.

HS-LA is a member of the AAA

Explore books by our clients at Bookshop.org

A note from Hannah

The most common publishing story I hear is the one about how intimidating it is and how impossible it feels to catch that lucky break…let’s write a new one.

Publishing is an establishment industry which has evolved in a straight, white (and white supremacist), patriarchal, classist, ableist and capitalist society and suffers from systemic issues as a result. If you are, for instance, neurodivergent, or from the global majority, or trans, or working class, or disabled or older, or any of the myriad identities who aren’t immediately welcomed by the establishment, I recognise there are barriers to entry for you and I aim to use my knowledge, gained over two decades working within the system as an editor and literary agent, to help dismantle those barriers, challenge unfair systems and support new and marginalised authors to bring their stories to readers who deserve to see themselves represented in the books we publish.

I’ve always identified as a feminist (not the TERF variety). But I’ve been thinking about my part in the publishing industry and in launching HS-LA I wanted to make sure that intersectional feminism stayed at the heart of everything I do. From recognising the capitalist business norms that exploit those working inside the industry, putting profit over people or author care and perpetuating inequalities, to trying to find ways to nurture clients and give writers the space and mentorship to develop their craft, and understanding that each author will face different barriers and challenges as a result of their unique circumstances and making myself available to offer tailored support.

I’m proactively seeking out the books, conversations and teachers that will help me as I continue to run HS-LA. I have found Myisha T Hill’s HEAL YOUR WAY FORWARD instrumental in my understanding of the ways in which white supremacism still pervades everything and how interlinked the systems I mentioned above are. Attending Joquina Reed’s Fireside Chat: Pathalogical White Womanhood – Divesting from White Feminism and Emma Dabiri’s Guardian Live event for the book WHAT WHITE PEOPLE CAN DO NEXT expanded my understanding of how the systems of oppression all work together to maintain inequality and gave me the tools to start making change in my circle of influence. As I launched the agency I took part in a group run by Keri Jarvis which helped me explore how to bring feminist principles into the core of the agency as a way to undermine capitalist norms and I’ve gone on to take part in study and discussion groups where we explore, through books and thought partnership, what a world that isn’t dominated by the white capitalist patriarchy might look like. I’ve also found Sumi Fitzgerald’s newsletter and workshop on inclusion helpful in thinking about how to make sure I’m as explicit as possible about my aims and intentions and how I plan to implement them when it comes to diversity and equity.

So, what are the barriers? And how am I trying to bring them down?

Representation

If you haven’t seen any authors who share your identity it can feel like this isn’t a career path open to you.

I do think this is changing as the industry tries to publish a broader spectrum of work – but it’s a slow process and sometimes it feels like we aren’t always moving in the right direction. However, editors can only (in most circumstances) commission work that is submitted to them so it’s important that as agents we focus our attention on supporting authors from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure this barrier is broken down for future generations. That’s why it’s so important to me to offer mentoring, both through giving time to writers via organisations like Black Girl Writers, and to the clients I take on – we will work editorially to develop both your ideas and your craft so that we can shape stories you are proud of that work for the industry as it is so that change can happen.

Knowledge

It can be incredibly difficult to break into an industry as opaque as publishing – there are so many aspects, that even having worked in it for 20 (something, cough) years, I still find baffling and nonsensical. I aim to redistribute power to authors and try to create more equity by holding a monthly zoom Drop-In where you can come and ask questions about the industry – please register here for the next one.

Publishing Staff Hegemony

When most publishing staff (including me) are white and middle class there can be a real issue with them recognising the merit in stories that are not exactly what they’re used to reading – this is an issue compounded by how the sales channels for book distribution works (come and ask me about this at a Drop-In). I recognise that I need to actively educate myself by reading widely from as many authors and literary traditions as possible so that I understand what readers who aren’t regularly centred by the industry might want in the books they read and so I have committed to diversifying my reading each month by making at least 50% of my reading for pleasure from authors who are global majority or LGBTQ+ or disabled or working class. I add titles I have especially enjoyed and which have elements I would like to see in my submissions to my lists at bookshop.org.

I also welcome people who want to start careers in publishing to join our zoom Drop-In and if you are from a group that is underrepresented in-house in the publishing industry please drop me a message via the contact form – I have, in the past, looked at cover letters and CVs for publishing job applications and I’m happy to start doing that again, get in touch to organise this.

Accommodations

If you are disabled or neurodivergent I imagine it might be an added emotional labour to worry about how this will be received by an agent – will they write you off because you won’t be able to do as many events as another author, or maybe you need communication to happen in a very specific way and don’t feel comfortable saying that.

There is an accessible version of our submission form for those using screen readers, and I invite you to tell me about any accommodations you may need for the Drop-In zoom call (including captions) in the application form so that I can fully prepare.

When we sign you to the agency, our on-boarding process asks you to tell us anything you want to share about your identity and discuss how you’d like to work with us, and what we can do to support you working to the best of your ability. We will do our best to make these accommodations within our own limits, but where there may be a conflict we’ll openly discuss that with you to find a way forward.

Discrimination

It could be incredibly difficult to know which agents and editors might hold political views that are actively dangerous to you if you’re part of the global majority or the trans community.

I am outspoken on social media about my political views – especially in the current polycrisis – and I hope that transparency will reassure people about where I stand on a range of topics. I do my best to maintain an awareness of where editors and publishing houses stand in respect to these issues and will discuss who we’re approaching with each author to help make sure we find the right relationship. Where I see publishers behave differently towards authors from underrepresented groups I challenge that behaviour and seek solutions that redress the balance.

Read more about our promises to authors here.

This is an evolving list as my understanding of the challenges authors face grows and I plan to revisit this statement on an annual basis to make sure that what I say here reflects the industry in that moment and my ongoing learning.

If you think our world views align, please do send me your submissions during our open window each month – I am actively seeking authors who are global majority, Muslim, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodiverse, working class, older, women (trans or cis) or any combination of the above. I’m looking for books that showcase the types of stories that are not currently regularly amplified by the industry.