Edie Astley

I edit a range of fiction and nonfiction projects and am actively building my list at Harper. Some of my authors include Lucy Rose, Tennessee Hill, Anna Hope, Emma van Straaten, Cali Adeline, Louise Nealon, Heather O’Neill, among others.

FICTION: I’m drawn to literary and upmarket fiction with a compelling premise, strong voice, and an electric plot. I particularly enjoy stylish, funny, big-hearted novels about the complexities of life and relationships, epic love stories with a bite, and thoughtfully high-concept novels that borrow speculative, fairytale, mythic, gothic, or magical elements but are grounded in reality. I don’t shy away from dark, weird, and subversive stories that reveal or explore uncomfortable truths about our culture and I enjoy smart suspense/thrillers with a literary bent that feel fresh or are told from a new angle. I have a special proclivity for stories about obsession, in all its forms. I’m a big fan of Ottessa Moshfegh, Miranda Cowley Heller, Alison Espach, Lily King, Katie Kitamura, and Liz Moore.

NONFICTION: In terms of nonfiction, I am primarily looking for narrative nonfiction and essay collections with cultural underpinnings. My favorite nonfiction feels like going down an engrossing internet rabbit hole about a niche topic or community and I am fascinated by the clash between so-called high and low brow culture. As in fiction, I love anything a little strange, dark, or twisted—secret societies, cults, serial killers, Greek life, death and the business of death. I’m a big fan of Dolly Alderton, Michelle Zauner, Amanda Montell, Jia Tolentino, Rachel Aviv, and Caitlin Doughty.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to edie.astley@harpercollins.com

HarperCollins only accepts agented submissions.