Camille Burns

As an agent, I bring together editorial vision, market insight, and a deep commitment to author care. My approach is hands-on and collaborative: I love working closely with writers to refine their manuscripts, balancing creative development with a keen sense of what will capture editors’ and readers’ attention. I believe in a process of steady development, encouraging discussion and exploration so that each draft builds naturally towards the strongest possible version of the work. I strive to communicate with warmth, clarity, and honesty, offering support that helps authors feel confident through the highs and lows of publishing. At the same time, I’m strategic and entrepreneurial — passionate about pitching, alert to opportunities, and always focused on building long-term, sustainable writing careers.

I’m looking for books that combine atmosphere, emotional intensity, and unforgettable relationships. Whether in fiction or non-fiction, I’m drawn to stories that are both accessible and layered — books that capture the heart while also speaking to the head. I love strong sense of place (seasonal, natural, magical, or cultural), inventive premises delivered with elegance rather than bloat, and big ideas that connect back to human experience. Above all, I’m looking for writing that feels alive on the page, with characters and voices that stay with me long after I’ve finished reading.

• Middle Grade: Heart, humour + adventure. Found family, sibling bonds, folkloric fantasy, witty voice, and that mix of magic + emotional truth. (Think Lockwood & Co, A Pinch of Magic, October, October.)

• Young Adult: Big emotions + strong relationships.
  – Romantasy: tension, romance, high stakes (Throne of Glass, Shadow and Bone).
  – Dystopian/speculative: character-led (Hunger Games, Marie Lu).
  – Thrillers: tightly plotted, voicey mysteries (One of Us Is Lying, This Book Kills).
  – Contemporary: luminous/life-affirming (I’ll Give You the Sun) or darker/emotional (You’d Be Home Now).

• Adult: Drama, romance, atmosphere.
  – Romantasy: sweeping, character-driven (Fourth Wing, The Crimson Moth).
  – Romance: from upmarket (Beach Read, Every Summer After) to commercial + fun (Ali Hazelwood, Elle Kennedy, Lynn Painter). I like nostalgia, intensity, and I’m not shy about spice.
  – Historical: romantic (Bridgerton), gothic (The Familiars), or sweeping + dramatic (The Mercies).

• Non-fiction: Big ideas with human resonance. Feminist takes (Invisible Women), work/life + culture (Deep Work, Quiet), nature/science through a human lens (Entangled Life).

❌ Not the right fit for space opera, very military-heavy fantasy or historical, or highly literary fiction. Memoir only if it connects to wider cultural/social questions.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to https://QueryManager.com/Camille

Please follow the instructions on Query Manager and include:

• a one-sentence elevator pitch that captures your book’s central hook — what it’s about and why the reader should care;
• the first five chapters;
• a synopsis (1–2 pages) that outlines the full plot, including the ending.

For tips on writing an elevator pitch, see this article.

I don’t ask for exclusive submissions, as that’s rarely in your best interests. However, please notify us via Query Manager if another agent requests the full manuscript, and again if you receive an offer of representation.

Agents have to balance time spent on new submissions with the work we do for existing clients. While we can’t always respond in a personalised way, we do aim to reply to every submission. If you receive a form-like response, or a quick decline, please don’t be discouraged — it often says more about fit and timing than about your work.

I may update our guidelines, wishlists or response conventions from time to time, so please check before submitting a new project.