LOOKING FOR: YA/NA FANTASY, SFF, HORROR, ADULT FICTION John Baker (he/him) joined the Bell Lomax Moreton agency in 2019, cultivating a list shaped around his passion for science fiction, fantasy, and horror, though has lately also branched out into action/adventure fiction. John focuses on authors writing in the Adult, New Adult, and YA spaces. John leads the wider agency's film & TV desk, is the Secretary of the Association of Author’s Agents, and the co-chair of the AAA’s Bridge Committee. He also serves on the Kingston University MA Publishing Advisory Board. Under the umbrella of speculative fiction, John is looking for fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, or literary speculative fiction. He has built a reputation as a champion of underrepresented voices and stories, be it from creators hailing from the global majority and their diasporas or neurodiverse authors, and naturally gravitates towards this kind of storytelling. In short, if he’s never read a story like yours before, he wants to see it. Adult fantasy: John loves beefy epic fantasy, especially non-Anglo Christian-inspired. Give him an immersive world, a fresh magical or mythic system, and an exciting cast of characters and he’ll be happy. He is a broad church in the genre so loves a political fantasy, swords and sorcery, courtly intrigue, monster hunting and dastardly villains. John is keen to find an urban fantasy that feels fresh and fun and he’s a sucker for a heroic quest narrative. He’s also very open to fantasy that isn’t easily categorised, but it is playing in that world. John is keenly hunting for more historical fantasy, especially inspired by modern history. He’s had fun with mythological retellings in the past, but as ever, let’s make sure it’s shining the spotlight on new stories. He would also love fantasy that centres on types of relationships less celebrated in fantasy, such as established and secure married couples, or siblings. NA/YA fantasy: In this genre, most importantly, John wants to have a good time, whether it’s swoon-worthy kisses in lush ball gowns, or gruesome gore and monsters, so send him pacy, plot-filled adventures. He’d love more books that teenage boys would love: Skullduggery Pleasant forever! Romantasy: The thriving new romantasy genre comes with its own set of challenges, so John wants to know what makes your romantasy different; what will set it out from the (very crowded!) market. Give it completely barmy stakes, cool and unique new settings, or a love story that will make your jaw drop. To be clear, he’s happily sorted for a human person meets a fae creature in the spooky woods. Also, cosmic romance is the genre of the future. Give him romantasy in space. Easy. Horror: John and horror are old friends. He loves horror inspired by myth and folklore, subversive weird horror that leaves your eyebrows in your hairline, historical horror that pulls from ghastly true stories, and anything that you’ll be reading with the light on. He also loves a gothic element and is particularly looking for horror with a strong romantic throughline, fun YA horror, and female & NB horror authors. Science fiction: SF is coming back! And John has been shouting about that. He loves to see an adventurous found-family romp through space or an epic, crunchy space opera. Speculative near-future is fun too, in the vein of Black Mirror’s more uplifting episodes, (e.g. San Junipero). He loves YA science fiction as well; the more creative the better. Literary: John is open to finding more rich magical realism or something character-led yet supernatural and would love a high-concept mystery, in the vein of Stuart Turton. He also loves spec fic that uses the speculative lightly as a way of confronting a deeper truth in society today. Weird stuff: John wants books that will blow people’s minds and defy categorisation. This is hard to describe, but think Gideon The Ninth, The Library At Mount Char, This Is How You Lose The Time War. John loves a pitch that leaves the editors baffled but intrigued. Action/Adventure, Historical Adventure, Espionage: John is branching out into non-speculative adventures, such as John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ian Flemming, and Mick Herron. More as his taste develops, but the hunt is on! Not looking for: military sci-fi or hard SF, or anything with biblical “character wakes up in purgatory/heaven/hell” narratives. The right comedic fantasy has yet to hit his inbox, but please don’t comp Douglas Adams or Sir Terry. John would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (or 5,000 words whichever is longest) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, John is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 10th March 2025
Endometriosis masterclass. Whole day live surgical course demonstrating the full spectrum of endometriosis surgical management.
This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the impact of Import/Export freight movement on the environment and the opportunities available to organisations to use sustainable options. we will cover CBAM , Deforestation, GSPR and many challenges facing Exporters and Importers.
Part 1: ‘Lunch and Learn’ with Max & Fi ✨ ( About 15-20 min) Max and Fi will share various psychological models, resources and ideas to help you feel positive, purposeful and inspired in your EP career. We draw upon positive psychology, with the aim of helping you feel motivated, engaged and purposeful in your EP Career. Part 2: Time to connect 🧠🧠 ( About 40-45 min) Come and find your 'tribe' and connect with like-minded EPs. W e will organise breakout rooms for small group chats, reflections and connection-building within the EP community. You might want to share some ideas with others, find out what others are up to, make connections and explore possible collaborations. Maybe you're feeling isolated (easy in this role!) and just fancy some EP company and connection. We will offer some prompts for your chats and do our best to reduce any awkwardness and make it fun and friendly! Come with an open mind. Be brave. Be curious. See where the session takes you... Bring your own lunch and a cup of PositiviTEA. If your cup is feeling a bit empty, we hope we can fill it during the session* * This is a metaphor. No actual tea is included ;) P.s. Sorry this session is not suitable for aspiring EPs . Please do look out for more appropriate events via Twitter.
LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Una is a Rights Agent at Susanna Lea Associates and am starting to build a client list. She grew up in London and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in English in 2021. At university, Una was particularly interested in contemporary West African and South Asian literature. She started as an agent's assistant at SLA London in 2022 and now handles some translation rights and provides support with editorial work and submissions. Una's favourite reads always set her at ease right away and draws her in with impressive and accessible storytelling, memorable characters or an original hook. Una enjoys writing which expands her worldview, makes her laugh out loud or keeps her on her toes with its twists and turns. She welcomes submissions from debut authors and would be keen to read across a wide range of genres and styles. She is looking for literary, upmarket and book club fiction, and is always drawn to stories that explores the challenges and complexities of love and relationships in all its forms —within families, between friends or in romantic relationships. Una loves the way in which familial relationships are dissected in The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright and the impact of the local community in Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson. She is always drawn to novels with a strong sense of community, whether they are unified by geography, culture, or in other unexpected ways. Una has always loved reading international and translated fiction and welcomes submissions from authors writing contemporary fiction that engages with cultures and traditions from around the world, such as in voices of the deities in Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi or the subversive tales of Sayaka Murata. She is not looking for children’s or YA titles, science fiction or high-concept fantasy, but is open to submissions from authors writing in the speculative fiction space, and books with fantastical or otherworldly elements, be that magical realism or supernatural horror, such as Mona Awad's campus novel with a twist, Bunny. Una would also love to read more writing that engages with the natural world and reminds us of the limitations of human understanding. In non-fiction, Una enjoys books that furthers her understanding of wider societal issues — nature and the environment, culture, and little-known history. Her recent non-fiction favourites are Eve by Cat Bohannon, Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein and Unearthed by Claire Ratinon. Una would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first three chapters or 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Una is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 10th March 2025
There are a number of reasons why it is important to actively promote equality and diversity within your business and the wider community, not only to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination legislation and professional regulations, including the SRA Standards & Regulations. There will also be business benefits to the organisation including attracting and retaining talented staff, improving staff morale, potentially accessing a wider client base and enhancing service levels and client satisfaction. Join us for this useful overview session on equality, diversity & inclusion which will cover the following points; The Meaning of Equality Discrimination Harassment & Victimisation Unconscious Bias The Equality Act & the Protected Characteristics Reasonable Adjustments Complying with E&D requirements Target Audience This online course is suitable for staff of all levels, from support staff to senior partners. Resources Comprehensive and up to date course notes will be provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training. Please note a recording of the course will not be made available. Speaker Amie Higgins, Consultant, DG Legal Amie is a Senior Solicitor, qualified under the Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as an Advanced Caseworker and Supervisor. Amie specialises in all aspects of Immigration, Asylum and Human Rights work, with a specialism in human trafficking/modern slavery cases and working with vulnerable clients. Amie is an experienced trainer, delivering a range of training on both legal and practice management topics.
The Proactive Safeguarding Practitioner (Adults) Spanning 6 weeks, this course is designed to be interactive and fun, with minimal time spent on legislation and maximum time getting to the detail of why effective safeguarding must focus on being proactive and prophylactic to the warning signs of safety NOT responsive and reactionary after an event! Delivered across 6 weeks through a mix of: Pre-course preparation (2 weeks before first Zoom session) 2 x 5 hour Zoom sessions (2 weeks apart) PLEASE NOTE, BOOKING OPTIONS SHOWN, ARE DATE OF FIRST ZOOM Post zoom course work and final coursework submissions Approximately 20 hours total Anticipated learning objectives: Delegates will have a strengthened understanding of, obtained through worked examples of real case studies: 1. The importance of good complaint management 2. When a complaint should be escalated to a safeguarding 3. The difference between a quality concern and a safeguarding 4. Red flags to raising a safeguarding alert 5. What proactive practice looks like and why this is vital to better quality and safer service delivery 6. Understanding the onus on providers in better managing issues including safety incidents
LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Imogen Pelham has been at Marjacq since 2015, and has worked as a literary agent for more than a decade. She represents literary fiction and some upmarket commercial fiction, as well as a wide range of non-fiction. Imogen's looking for fiction with a strong premise, a surprise twist, or sharp humour. Recent favourites include Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam, Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny, and Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason. Her non-fiction list includes history, memoir, medicine and psychology. She is particularly interested in identity, the arts and investigative journalism. Imogen would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 10,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Imogen is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Thursday 6th March 2025
FAA Level 2 Award In First Aid For Youth Mental Health (RQF) Classroom (1 day course), Virtual (3 x 2½ hour sessions) Gives learners knowledge of Youth Mental Health First Aid Gives learners the skills to help young people with mental health problems and improve their mental health Course Contents: What is Youth Mental Health? The role of the mental health first aider Identifying mental health conditions Recognising and managing Stress Mental health conditions Recognising a range of mental health conditions:DepressionAnxietyPsychosisEating disordersSuicideSelf-harmPost-traumatic stress disorderConduct disorders - BullyingDrugs and alcohol Mental health first aid action plan Benefits of this course: These figures, taken from the Young Minds website show clearly how many young people suffer with their mental health... One in six children aged five to 16 are identified as having a probable mental health problem That means that, on average, five children in every classroom have a mental health problem 80% of young people with mental health needs agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse Suicide was the leading cause of death for males and females aged between five to 34 in 2019 Around half of 17-19 year-olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder has self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point In 2018-19, 24% of 17-year-olds reported having self-harmed in the previous year, and seven per cent reported having self-harmed with suicidal intent at some point in their lives So please, learn more about how to help these youngsters, and give them the chance to live happy, healthy lives Accredited, Ofqual regulated qualification Our Mental Health First Aid Courses are nationally recognised, Ofqual regulated qualifications accredited by First Aid Awards Ltd in association with NUCO Training. This means that you can be rest assured that your Mental Health First Aid Certificates fulfill the upcoming legal requirements and are a very good way to make sure you and your employees have a supporting workplace to deal with staff's mental health conditions. The Ofqual Register number for this course is 603/7176/6