A collaborative, editorial process
I work with established experts who want to write ambitious books for a general audience. Many aren’t full-time writers, so I make the process clear, structured, and manageable alongside other commitments.

Drawing on my editorial background, I collaborate closely with authors, shaping ideas conceptually, structurally, and line by line. The result is the same – you write a well-crafted proposal – but with guidance that removes much of the guesswork around the conventions of trade publishing.

Shaping the pitch with industry experience
Expert-led non-fiction asks readers to invest in subjects they may not yet know they care about, so ideas need to feel urgent, relevant, and distinctive.

Drawing on my experience as Editorial Director at Viking/Penguin and The Bodley Head, I shape pitches with a clear understanding of how publishing decisions are made, and help authors show why their book matters now.

I’ve worked closely with editors in London and New York and sat in acquisitions meetings on both sides of the Atlantic, so I know the questions editors – and the marketing, publicity, and sales teams around them – will ask, and position books accordingly.

A global outlook
International reach is a key focus. When I first connected with Vaclav Smil, he had written more than fifty academic books but none for a general audience. Today, he has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, is translated into 35 languages, and achieved his first New York Times bestseller. When I moved into agenting, he chose to follow, and I’ve since sold two more of his books.

At Andrew Nurnberg Associates, I now focus entirely on helping authors shape ideas and reach readers worldwide, supported by an unmatched international rights infrastructure.

Broadly, in much the same way as with any author, as described above. But having worked primarily with academics throughout my career, certain nuances emerge – from understanding the rhythms of the academic year to recognising that many scholars are motivated by reach and impact, underpinned by intellectual integrity.

I’ve advised academics on reaching broader audiences at events ranging from the Bodleian Library to the Institute of Historical Research. As The Bookseller observed, “A part of Connor Brown’s success has been ideas generation and working with authors to find new audiences” – something they described as “somewhat unusual in the smart non-fiction space.”

I always welcome conversations with leading researchers who want to explore how their work might reach a wider readership.

Founded in 1977, Andrew Nurnberg Associates represents a distinguished list of authors, from Samuel Johnson Prize-winning historian Antony Beevor to the estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Harper Lee. While the agency covers a broad range of genres, my focus is exclusively on high-quality non-fiction.

With twelve international offices – from Bangkok and Beijing to Milan and Warsaw, plus our London base in Bloomsbury overlooking the British Museum – ANA operates a global network connecting publishers and readers worldwide.

Every territory has a dedicated expert, many fluent in the local language, who regularly visit publishers worldwide. Meetings of the ANA rights team can feel a bit like a mini-United Nations, and our unmatched scale – around 1,000 deals per month – gives us leverage to secure the best terms for our clients.

I advocate for your work in London and New York, while ANA’s global infrastructure ensures it reaches its full international potential.

When we decide to work together, an author signs a representation agreement setting out the scope of our work and industry-standard commission rates. There are no upfront fees, and commission is taken only once payment has been received on your behalf.

I’m always happy to share the agreement and talk through the details early in the process. The practical side should be straightforward, allowing you to focus on your book.

Andrew Nurnberg Associates is a member of the Association of Authors’ Agents and adheres to its Code of Practice.

Developing a book proposal can take several weeks, or longer if you’re balancing other commitments. Once a proposal is commissioned, writing a book typically takes around a year to 18 months. From delivery of the manuscript to publication, publishers usually require a further year, with a paperback often following a year later.

I often meet writers who hope to author a trade book one day but are waiting for the “right time” – a sabbatical, the end of another commitment, or a quieter period at work or in life. That’s entirely understandable. Even if your schedule is full, however, thinking things through now and discussing your ideas with someone who can help clarify them means that when the time does come, you could already have a compelling concept ready to develop – and perhaps even the right publisher lined up to help bring it to life.

See Submissions page.