Literary Agent: Sallyanne Sweeney – online

Mulcahy Sweeney Associates was founded by Ivan Mulcahy twenty years ago. Sallyanne Sweeney, who has represented authors at the agency for the past decade, is now a director. Ivan and Sallyanne, based in London, are originally from Ireland, moving to London after university in Dublin. They each travel to Ireland regularly to see their authors based there, meet Irish publishers and attend literary festivals and publishing events. Also at the agency are Edwina de Charnacé, a newly appointed literary agent and Maitiú Charleton, the agency scout based in Dublin.

The agency seeks to be ideal for Irish writers seeking an international readership. Mulcahy Sweeney Literary Agency is unique: located in London – at the heart of the UK’s publishing and media industries – whilst also maintaining a regular and strong presence in Ireland. The UK book buying marketplace, being much larger than the Irish home market, is vital (in terms of sales) for most Irish writers. The agency also represents many authors published by Irish publishers. The Irish background and British base of the agency leads to a particular interest in writing that crosses boundaries or contains cross-cultural themes. Our newest agent Edwina de Charnacé, whose background is French and Korean, and who was educated in Hong Kong and the UK, shares our preoccupation with cross-cultural stories. Sallyanne and Ivan look out for new Irish fiction and non-fiction writing talent, from literary to mass- market. The author list features Lisa McInerney, Women’s Prize for Fiction winner and bestselling author of The Glorious Heresies trilogy, now editor of The Stinging Fly magazine. Other prize- winning and bestselling authors represented include Alan McMonagle, Darach Ó Séaghdha, Roisin Meaney and Sarah Davis-Goff. Authors in the newer and exciting digital publishing are represented, such as Shane Dunphy. Clients include well known figures in British life and publishing, notably actor, comic and writer David Mitchell, actor, comic and writer Robert Webb, actor Brian Cox, fashion designer the late Dame Vivienne Westwood, world bestselling economics professor Ha- Joon Chang…, as well as many other academics, journalists, memoirists and other writers across diverse genres. The agency, thanks to the work of Sallyanne Sweeney, is a leader in the representation of children’s writers and illustrators.