Caroline Hardman is a co-founder of Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency who represents a broad range of commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction, with a reputation for championing strong narrative voices and high-concept storytelling.
In brief
Caroline Hardman co-founded Hardman & Swainson, one of the UK's well-regarded boutique agencies, signalling a commitment to hands-on author development rather than volume throughput.
The agency's roster spans commercial women's fiction, literary fiction, crime/thriller, and substantive non-fiction — writers should expect a generalist appetite filtered through a clear editorial sensibility.
Because raw source data on Caroline Hardman's individual deals and wishlist specifics is limited in this dataset, writers should treat this profile as a starting framework and verify current preferences directly via the agency's submission page before querying.
Query status was observed as open on 2026-04-16; confirm on the live agency submission page before sending, as status can change without notice.
Hardman & Swainson is a boutique operation — personalisation and research into the agency's existing roster will matter more here than a generic pitch.
Lately
Query status confirmed open in April 2026, indicating Caroline Hardman is actively building their list — a positive signal for writers with well-developed projects ready to submit.
What Caroline is looking for
Caroline Hardman has a track record at boutique level with commercially driven fiction that balances strong plot momentum with compelling characters. Think page-turning narratives with genuine emotional stakes — stories that earn wide readership without sacrificing craft.
Hardman & Swainson has demonstrated appetite for fiction with serious literary ambition — work where prose and structure are as important as story. Distinctive voices and original perspectives are the draw here.
The agency represents crime and thriller writers, suggesting comfort in a genre that rewards plot architecture and tension. Caroline Hardman is likely drawn to work that goes beyond formula — psychological depth, morally complex protagonists, or fresh settings.
Hardman & Swainson takes on non-fiction with a strong narrative spine or clear cultural argument. Platform and authority matter, but so does the ability to write compellingly for a general reader rather than a specialist audience.
The agency has some presence in children's and YA, but this appears selective. Writers in this space should check the agency's current submission guidelines carefully to confirm whether Caroline Hardman is actively seeking in this category at the time of querying.
Not the right fit
On Caroline's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Caroline
Research the Hardman & Swainson roster before writing your query letter — demonstrating familiarity with the agency's existing authors signals genuine interest rather than a scatter-gun approach.
Address your query specifically to Caroline Hardman by name and explain briefly why their list makes them the right fit for your project; boutique agents notice when writers have done their homework.
Lead your query letter with the strongest hook for your book — one or two sentences that capture the premise, stakes, and tone — before moving into the synopsis and biography.
Keep the sample pages polished to a high standard; at a boutique agency, the opening pages carry significant weight in the decision to read on.
Follow the submission guidelines precisely (word count, genre label, page count of sample) — deviating from instructions at a small agency is a quick route to rejection.
If your non-fiction project, confirm your platform and credentials early in the letter; Caroline Hardman will need to see why you are the right person to write this book for a general audience.
Avoid querying multiple agents at Hardman & Swainson simultaneously unless the guidelines explicitly permit it — check the policy on their current submission page.