Lucy Balfour

Lucy joined WME in 2023 after seven years working as a literary scout on behalf of an extensive list of international publishers, as well as film and television clients. Based out of WME’s London office, she offers UK representation to clients across the agency and is building a list of her own authors. She reads across all areas of fiction but is particularly looking for reading group/upmarket commercial fiction, including family dramas, speculative fiction, thrillers and women’s fiction. In non-fiction, she’s drawn to impactful memoirs and female-focused health and wellbeing titles.

“I moved into the agenting world because I wanted to be closely involved with an author’s journey. WME is an extremely collaborative agency with reach into other media industries; we can offer so much in terms of career opportunity, be it film/TV, podcasts, speaking events and merchandising. It’s a really exciting place for a debut author.

I’m on the lookout for thought-provoking storylines, memorable characters and immersive settings. My favourite women’s fiction authors include Taylor Jenkins Reid, Bonnie Garmus, Emily Henry and Rachel Joyce. In the crime thriller space, I adore Jane Harper, Louise Doughty, Chris Whitaker and Alex Michaelides.

I’m a huge fan of non-fiction aimed predominantly at women, such as Dolly Alderton’s EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE, Natasha Lunn’s CONVERSATIONS ON LOVE and FRIENDAHOLIC by Elizabeth Day. I love hard-hitting memoirs like EDUCATED by Tara Westover and I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jeanette McCurdy, as well as health and wellbeing titles, such as Dr Julie Smith’s WHY HAS NOBODY TOLD ME THIS BEFORE?”