Therese Coen (Susanna Lea Associates)

Kate Nash

As a former author, publisher, publicist and marketer, Kate has seen every side of publishing and set up her own literary agency so she could do “the best job in publishing”. Kate’s reading tastes – from crime fiction to rom coms – are highly commercial.

Kate has a degree in History (BA Hons.) from the University of York and later garnered two undergraduate modules in Creative Writing and Literature from the Open University (both with Distinction!). She also holds a postgraduate certificate from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Kate Nash is listed in the Top 20 in UK Fiction by Publishers Marketplace, based on number of deals made. Kate was named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2018 and was awarded Agent of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2019. She was also shortlisted for both Literary Agent of the Year by the British Book Awards and Literary Agent of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2022. Kate enjoys travel, wine, the theatre and fine art.

Kate's Substack 'Slushpile Mountaineering' is her main presence on social media.

Justin Nash

Justin is the Managing Director of the Kate Nash Literary Agency. He is looking for thrillers and crime fiction of all types; book club and historical fiction that moves him and makes him think (including novels featuring fantasy/mythology) and SF. In non-fiction, books which open up the conversation and take him on a journey.

He has a BA in History and an MA in Medieval Studies from Birkbeck, University of London. Justin worked for a number of years as a teacher of History and Politics. He enjoyed teaching any period from the Middle Ages to the present day. Justin has edited and helped research new editions of two books on the Far East Prisoner of War experience in World War Two. Another book which he helped edit is a memoir about the life of a British family trapped in occupied France during the same period, written from the viewpoint of the youngest member of the family.

Justin particularly enjoys military, ancient and medieval history, as well as travel – he dreams about visiting the Himalayas. He is working on a new non-fiction book. He is also learning to play the classical guitar (a lifetime ambition).

Karen Sullivan

Karen Sullivan is owner and publisher of Orenda Books, an independent publisher based in London, publishing literary fiction and upmarket genre fiction, with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers and high-spec historical fiction, with half the list in translation.

Karen was a Bookseller Rising Star, and Orenda Books has been shortlisted for the IPG Best Newcomer Award (twice) and Small Press of the Year in the British Book Awards. They were crowned CWA Crime & Mystery Publisher of the Year in 2020 AND 2025.

Authors include Essie Fox, AJ West, Ragnar Jonasson, Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir, Lilja Sigurdardottir, Thomas Enger, Ørjan Karlsson, Johana Gustawsson, Doug Johnstone, Agnes Ravatn, Will Carver, Simone Buchholz and Antti Tuomainen.

Karen lives in London.

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