Christabel McKinley is a London-based David Higham Associates agent with seven years of experience championing distinctive voices in middle grade, YA, adult fantasy, romantasy, sci-fi, and graphic novels, with a particular passion for non-Western settings, queer stories, and genre-defying work.
In brief
Christabel McKinley represents children's through adult speculative fiction at one of the UK's most established literary agencies — their client base is genuinely international, suggesting openness to writers based anywhere.
Their stated wishlist is unusually specific about cultural textures: Russian, Turkish, Korean, and SWANA-inflected settings are named enthusiasms, not afterthoughts — manuscripts steeped in these cultures have a genuine edge.
McKinley is explicit that they do not chase trends, investing only in writing they love, ideally across a full career — this signals a preference for distinctive, slightly unusual work over commercially safe pitches.
Two separate email addresses handle submissions: one for children's/YA work and one for adult submissions — submitting to the wrong address is an avoidable misstep.
The wishlist references animation, TV comps, and fanfiction-style voice alongside literary touchstones, signalling that McKinley responds strongly to work with pop-culture energy and emotional directness.
Lately
McKinley's current wishlist highlights a strong appetite for SWANA-inspired worldbuilding, naming a landmark epic fantasy trilogy as the benchmark for the kind of immersive, culturally specific fantasy they are hunting for in new submissions.
What Christabel is looking for
McKinley is actively seeking lushly constructed adult fantasy with immersive worldbuilding, particularly settings rooted in non-Western, SWANA, or underrepresented cultural traditions. Romantasy with slow-burn romance and genuine emotional stakes is a strong priority. Urban fantasy, gaslamp fantasy, fantasy of manners, dark fantasy, and historical fantasy all fall within scope. Cozy fantasy and paranormal romance are also welcomed. LGBTQ+ fantasy and feminist SFF are consistent enthusiasms.
YA across virtually every subgenre is a core focus. McKinley wants work featuring authentic, child-oriented voices and protagonists who draw the reader in immediately. YA romantasy, YA historical fantasy, YA sci-fi, YA romcom, YA thrillers, and dark academia are all specifically named. Queer love, female friendship, female rage, and found-family dynamics are recurring interests. Slow-burn romance and unresolved sexual tension are noted attractions. A fanfiction-style voice — emotionally open, direct, deeply character-invested — resonates strongly.
Middle grade is a genuine priority, not a secondary category. McKinley is drawn to quirky standalone or series fantasy with found-family dynamics, and to joyful coming-of-age stories with innovative formats. MG fantasy, MG sci-fi, and MG graphic novels are all named. The setting must feel like a character in its own right, and the protagonist must immediately invite the reader in. Unlikely heroes, oddballs, and misfits are especially welcome.
McKinley is looking for grounded near-future sci-fi that balances speculative ideas with humour and emotional warmth — something with the accessible, character-led energy of prestige TV science fiction rather than hard SF. Feminist and LGBTQ+ sci-fi are favoured subsets. Space opera also falls within scope.
Graphic novels across age ranges are within McKinley's list. MG graphic novels are specifically named. The same voice and worldbuilding standards apply — a distinct visual storytelling sensibility paired with strong character work.
Children's and YA nonfiction is listed as within scope, but McKinley's primary enthusiasm and track record lies in fiction. Nonfiction submissions should have a strong narrative or voice-driven quality to align with their broader taste.
Not the right fit
On Christabel's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Christabel
Use the correct email address for your age category — children's and YA submissions go to the dedicated children's address; adult submissions go to the separate adult address. Sending to the wrong inbox is an easy and avoidable error.
Send a cover letter in the body of the email only — do not attach it. Attach your synopsis and opening three chapters as separate Word documents.
Lead your cover letter with voice and setting. McKinley responds to manuscripts where the setting functions as a character and the authorial voice establishes trust on the first page — say something concrete about both.
If your work is set in or draws on Korean, Turkish, Russian, or SWANA cultural contexts, flag this early and specifically. These are named personal and professional enthusiasms, not generic diversity checkboxes.
Queer love, slow-burn romance, female friendship, found family, and unlikely/misfit protagonists are recurring attractions — if any of these are central to your story, they belong in your pitch summary.
Do not pitch McKinley on the basis that your book resembles a current bestseller or is 'right for the market.' They explicitly do not follow trends; lean into what is original, strange, or hard to categorise.
If your work has a fanfiction-style voice — emotionally forthright, deeply invested in character interiority — name that quality. McKinley lists it as an attraction, not a liability.
McKinley reads every submission but cannot respond to all of them. Do not follow up prematurely; check the agency's stated response times before reaching out.