James Catchpole is the founder of The Catchpole Agency, a boutique literary agency known for championing distinctive voices across children's publishing and beyond.
In brief
The Catchpole Agency is a boutique operation, meaning James Catchpole works with a carefully curated list — expect selective, attentive representation rather than a high-volume approach.
The agency's name signals a founder-led identity: James Catchpole is the primary decision-maker, so a query landing well with them carries real weight.
With limited public sales data available, the clearest signal of taste comes from the agency's stated positioning in children's and literary publishing — writers should treat this profile as a starting point and verify current preferences directly.
Query status was observed as open as of June 2026, but boutique agencies can shift quickly — confirm before submitting.
Because intake categories were not publicly detailed at the time of this snapshot, researching James Catchpole's recent interviews and public statements is especially valuable preparation before querying.
Lately
As of early June 2026, The Catchpole Agency's submission portal was recorded as open, indicating James Catchpole was actively considering new queries at that time.
What James is looking for
As the founder of a children's-focused boutique agency, James Catchpole's primary home is in writing for young readers. Strong, distinctive voices and original concepts are the hallmark of what the agency champions.
Boutique agencies of this type typically extend their reach to adult literary work alongside children's lists. Writers with ambitious, voice-driven literary projects may find a receptive reader, though children's remains the agency's strongest signal.
Not the right fit
On James's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query James
Confirm the submission portal is still open immediately before querying — boutique agencies can pause intake with little notice.
Because specific category preferences were not publicly detailed in available data, study James Catchpole's most recent public statements, interviews, or social posts for up-to-date wishlist signals before drafting your query.
Lead your query letter with a clear, compelling pitch for the project itself: boutique agents like James Catchpole are selecting for distinctive voice and concept fit, not volume.
If querying children's fiction, be precise about age category (picture book, middle grade, YA) and genre — a focused, specific pitch will stand out more than a broad positioning.
Follow the agency's submission guidelines exactly; founder-led boutique agencies often have particular formatting preferences and will notice when a writer has done their homework.
Do not query multiple projects simultaneously; identify your strongest, most market-ready work and lead with that.