Claire Cavanagh is a literary agent at The Rights Factory who builds a broad, commercially minded list with a particular appetite for compelling voices across fiction and non-fiction.
In brief
Claire Cavanagh operates at The Rights Factory, an agency with a strong reputation for international rights deals — a meaningful advantage for authors with crossover potential.
The available public record on Cavanagh's individual deals is limited, so writers should weight their current stated wishlist heavily and confirm submission guidelines directly before querying.
Their query status was observed as open in April 2026, but submission windows can shift quickly — always verify on the live form before sending.
Because deal-level data is sparse, writers should look closely at any recent interviews or public notes from Cavanagh to calibrate the pitch — specificity about why you're targeting them will matter more here than for agents with a well-documented sales trail.
The Rights Factory's model emphasizes sub-rights and global reach, so manuscripts with international appeal or strong translation potential may resonate especially well with Cavanagh.
Lately
Query status observed as open, with submissions being accepted through the agency's online portal.
What Claire is looking for
Cavanagh welcomes adult fiction with a strong narrative voice and commercial appeal. Manuscripts that blend accessibility with literary craft are a natural fit for their list and The Rights Factory's international orientation.
Adult non-fiction with a clear readership and a distinctive authorial perspective is of interest. Projects that travel well across markets align with the agency's sub-rights strengths.
YA across genres is on the table, particularly projects with a compelling protagonist and stakes that resonate beyond a single demographic.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Claire
Submit through The Rights Factory's online submission portal — this is the required route and ensures your query reaches Cavanagh directly.
Because Cavanagh's individual public profile is still developing, a personalised query paragraph explaining specifically why you chose them (agency ethos, international rights focus, any stated preferences) will stand out over a generic pitch.
The Rights Factory's strength is in sub-rights and global deal-making — if your manuscript has international appeal, translation potential, or a premise that transcends a single cultural market, make that case explicitly in your query letter.
Follow standard query conventions: a tight one-paragraph hook, a brief synopsis, your bio, and word count and genre up front. Cavanagh will want to assess commercial fit quickly.
Verify the submission guidelines on the live form immediately before querying — windows and specific requirements can change, and sending to an outdated spec is an easy reason for rejection.
If Cavanagh has posted any recent public updates or interviews, read them first. Any genre preferences or pet peeves named there should directly shape your pitch framing.