D H H LITERARY AGENCY LTD

Name

D H H LITERARY AGENCY LTD

Legal name

D H H LITERARY AGENCY LTD

Website

https://dhhliteraryagency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Agency Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Literary agency services
• Author representation
• Rights management
• Publishing deal negotiation
• Manuscript submissions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commission on literary deals: Standard literary agency model where the agency earns commission (typically 15-20%) on deals negotiated on behalf of authors. Revenue comes from selling manuscript rights to publishers, handling sub-rights (foreign rights, film/TV rights, audio rights), and managing author careers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

DHH Literary Agency provides literary representation services for authors, including editorial guidance, manuscript submission to publishers, deal negotiation, and licensing of subsidiary rights (foreign, film/TV, audio, world English). The agency represents both debut and established authors in commercial fiction and non-fiction, earning commission on deals placed with major UK publishers.

Product overview

DHH Literary Agency operates as a single, unified literary representation service rather than a modular platform. Founded by David H Headley in 2008, the agency provides editorial-led literary representation for authors across all genres, including commercial and upmarket fiction (crime, thriller, romantic fiction, historical, gothic, sagas) and non-fiction (memoirs, humour, social justice, lifestyle). The core offering combines author representation with rights management through DHH Rights, submissions handling, and newsletter subscription services. Agents bring commercial awareness from backgrounds in bookselling, in-house editorial work, and television, offering personalised and attentive service to both debut and established writers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Literary Representation Services Full-service literary agency providing editorial guidance, honest assessment, and personalised representation for debut and established authors seeking publication with major UK publishers.
• DHH Rights (Rights Management) Rights management and licensing service handling the sale of various rights (world English language, UK & Commonwealth, foreign rights, film/TV rights, audio rights) to publishers globally on behalf of represented authors.
• Submissions Handling Editorial assessment and submission service processing author queries, cover letters, and manuscript submissions to appropriate publishers, including filtering and pitching to acquiring editors at major publishing houses.

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• The Broken Binding PublishingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026The Broken Binding Publishing acquired Anna Stephens' 'compelling and twisty fantasy' in a two-book deal.
• Ian Fleming PublicationsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Ian Fleming Publications will publish James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy by M.W. Craven, a new children's series for readers aged 8-12 launching June 2026. David Headley at DHH represents M.W. Craven and co-negotiated the deal with Ciara Finan at Curtis Brown.
• John Murray's RenegademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2026John Murray's Renegade acquired Adam Simcox's high-concept thriller Time Jump described as having 'an unmissable twist on the beloved time travel genre'.
• Allison & BusbyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Allison & Busby acquired LC Tyler's The Murder Planner in a two-book deal. LC Tyler is a crime fiction author represented by DHH.
• PiatkusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 February 2026Piatkus won a three-way auction for Scottee's An Amateur's Guide to Staying Alive, a debut non-fiction book by the creator of the podcast Self Help.
• Amazon Original StoriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 February 2026Amazon Original Stories published new stories from bestselling romantic fiction novelists Phillipa Ashley, Milly Johnson, and Veronica Henry, all represented by DHH Literary Agency. Phillipa Ashley's The Distance Between Us published March 2026.
• HarperCollins (HarperNorth)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 January 2026HarperCollins' HarperNorth imprint acquired The Wrong Man by Chris McDonald from David Headley at DHH. The debut PI novel featuring Ethan Adler will be published in June 2026 with a marketing campaign including specially written music by the author.
• Embla Books (Bonnier Books UK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 January 2026Embla Books, the digital-first imprint of Bonnier Books UK, signed two more books from bestselling author Kathleen Whyman. The Mother of All Comebacks will publish on March 12, 2026, with a fourth book to follow in 2027.
• One More Chapter (HarperCollins)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2026HarperCollins UK One More Chapter acquired a three-book holiday series by Claire Carver, continuing her Greek Getaways series. The newly acquired Too Glam to Give a Damn publishes March 2026, followed by Never Too Late to Date later in 2026.
• Corsair (Little, Brown Book Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 January 2026Corsair, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, acquired The Quickening by Claire McGowan from DHH agent Diana Beaumont. The novel will be published in hardback in July 2026. McGowan is a million-copy selling author known for thrillers including What You Did and The Other Wife.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marjacq Scripts: UK literary agency with a strong commercial fiction and non-fiction list. Diana Beaumont at DHH previously worked here, illustrating direct overlap in agent backgrounds, client profile, and publisher relationships.
• Blake Friedmann: UK literary agency with a broad fiction and non-fiction list, known for commercial thrillers, memoir, and history. Directly competes with DHH for authors and access to major UK imprints.
• A.M. Heath: Long-established UK literary agency representing commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction. Flows deals to the same major UK publishers (HarperCollins, Penguin Random House imprints) and competes with DHH for debut and established authors.
• Curtis Brown: One of the largest and most established UK literary agencies, representing bestselling fiction and non-fiction authors across commercial and literary genres. Directly comparable to DHH as a UK-based full-service agency negotiating deals with the same major publishers.
• Andrew Nurnberg Associates: International literary agency with a strong UK and European presence, focused on translation, foreign rights, and fiction deals. Comparable to DHH's rights management function and the foreign-rights component of its service offering.
• Writers House: Large US-based literary agency representing bestselling fiction and non-fiction authors across genres. Comparable to DHH in scope and deal-making function, and a complementary peer given DHH's Commonwealth focus.
• United Agents: Major UK literary agency with a large roster across fiction, non-fiction, children's, and TV/film rights. Comparable to DHH in its editorially-led culture and its work with leading UK publishers.
• David Higham Associates: One of the UK's leading literary agencies, with strong fiction, non-fiction, and children's lists. Directly competes with DHH for premier authors and places books with the same major UK publishers.
• Felicity Bryan Associates: Independent UK literary agency representing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction authors. Comparable boutique model and client profile to DHH, with strong UK trade publisher relationships.
• The Wylie Agency: Independent literary agency with a prestigious fiction and non-fiction list. Comparable to DHH's editorial bent and its work with major global publishers, including in rights-heavy markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/d-h-h-literary-agency-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about D H H LITERARY AGENCY LTD