Saffron Dodd is a UK-based agent at ASH Literary who specialises in children's and young adult publishing, with a growing focus on graphic novels across age groups and a sharp editorial instinct for diverse, structurally inventive storytelling.
In brief
Currently closed to queries as of May 2026 — check the live submission form before attempting to submit.
Novel submissions (CB, MG, YA, New Adult) are restricted to UK-based authors; graphic novel creators worldwide are welcome regardless of location — a meaningful and unusual distinction.
Dodd is vocal about wanting fantasy and contemporary YA where romance is not the central engine — slow burn as flavour, not as plot — a signal that separates them from many YA-focused agents.
The wishlist shows a consistent appetite for humour, heart, and structural play (epistolary, unconventional formats) in middle grade, suggesting they will respond well to pitch language that foregrounds voice and form.
Graphic novels appear to be an active growth area for Dodd's list, spanning MG through New Adult, with named touchstones ranging from cosy younger-reader titles to thriller and accessible sci-fi — a broader graphic novel appetite than most children's agents articulate.
Lately
As of January 2026, Dodd updated their submission guidelines to open graphic novel queries to creators worldwide while restricting novel submissions (CB, MG, YA, New Adult) to UK-based authors only. Any novel query from a non-UK author would receive an automatic pass.
What Saffron is looking for
Dodd is actively building out a graphic novel list and welcomes creator submissions from anywhere in the world — not just the UK. For younger readers, the priority is warmth, humour, and genuine joy. Moving into teen and upper-YA territory, they want genre-bending thrillers, mysteries, and accessible sci-fi with real world-building. A sports-focused graphic novel is also a specific, stated gap on the list. Both standalones and series pitches are welcome.
Dodd is looking to grow the younger end of their list with chapter books that lean fun and wacky — strong voice, commercial energy, and humour are the priorities. Accessible sci-fi in this age range is a specific ask. Diverse stories told intrinsically, not as issue-led narratives, are strongly preferred.
Contemporary MG exploring friendship, identity, first crushes, and coming-of-age growth is a clear priority. Dodd also wants commercially minded MG sci-fi and is enthusiastic about structural experimentation — epistolary formats and unconventional storytelling approaches are welcomed, not just tolerated. Diverse voices centred naturally (not trauma-led) are explicitly sought.
Dodd wants YA contemporary where romance is at most a tertiary thread, not the driving force. Self-discovery, friendship, and family are the preferred emotional cores. They are also specifically seeking mystery for teen readers that skews lighter — not dark or gory — updated for a 2026 readership.
High fantasy, low fantasy, urban, contemporary, and paranormal — Dodd is open to the full spectrum. The critical qualifier: romance should not be the driving force of the story. Other kinds of love (familial, platonic, communal) are actively encouraged. If there is a romantic subplot, it must be a genuine slow burn — gradual, emotionally deep, not the plot's centre of gravity. Genre-bending within fantasy (e.g. murder mystery in a fantasy setting) is a specific and enthusiastic ask.
Dodd includes New Adult in their remit for both novels and graphic novels. Genre-bending work is particularly welcome in this space. Submissions should sit clearly in the upper end of the YA–NA range and appeal to readers in their late teens and early twenties.
Not the right fit
On Saffron's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Saffron
Confirm the form is open before submitting — it was directly observed as closed in May 2026 and may reopen without wide announcement.
If you are submitting a novel (any age category), confirm you are UK-based before querying; non-UK novel queries receive an automatic pass regardless of quality.
Graphic novel creators worldwide may query at any time the form is open — geography is not a barrier for that category.
For YA fantasy, lead your pitch with what the story is actually about — theme, stakes, character journey — rather than leaning on the romantic subplot. Dodd is explicitly looking for fantasy where romance is not the engine.
For MG, if your manuscript plays with structure (epistolary, non-linear, unconventional format), name that upfront in your query — it is a stated positive signal, not a risk.
For chapter books and MG, emphasise humour, voice, and commercial energy before themes; Dodd's touchstones in this range all lead with fun.
For graphic novels, identify your age range clearly and, if your work is sports-focused or accessible sci-fi, flag it — both are named gaps Dodd wants to fill.
Do not pitch a mystery as dark or gory for teen readers; Dodd's stated preference runs toward lighter, character-driven mystery in the YA space.