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Emma Bal

Madeleine Milburn Agency

United Kingdom

Open to Queriesform
Submission GuidelinesWebsite
Manuscript Wish List (MSWL)

Looking For

Thought-provoking non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism, cookery and food writing, travel and nature writing, memoirs, and illustrated projects from academics, thinkers, cooks, writers, and those with unique stories to tell.

Not Looking For

Fiction.

Themes & Elements

global historieshistories of ideasoriginal biographiesambitious science bookshumans and animalspeople places institutions phenomenaquality storytellingfood culture history connectionnatural worldevolving landscapeless familiar geographiesoriginal storiesfunny memoirsvisually led curious stimulating beautiful

Comp Titles

The Book of Trespass by Nick HayesAtlas of Remote Islands by Judith SchalanskyOriginal Sins by Matt Rowland Hill1599 by James ShapiroSuper-Infinite by Katherine RundellThe Flavour Thesaurus by Niki SegnitHumankind by Rutger BregmanHow the World Made the West by Josephine QuinnUltra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
Read MSWL profile →

About

Emma Bal is a literary agent specializing in non-fiction and cookery books, representing authors from around the world. Before agenting, she spent nearly a decade in publishing at Penguin Press and Bloomsbury, launching and cultivating the careers of Nobel prize-winning economists, Pulitzer prize-winning journalists, historians, scientists, memoirists, activists, and poets. She joined Madeleine Milburn Agency over 3 years ago and has quickly established an exciting non-fiction list with many international deals.

Submission Guidelines
Format: form
Submission Page: https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk/book-categories/non-fiction/
Guidelines:

Non-fiction submissions Non-fiction titles are often sold on proposal with a sample of writing material, as opposed to a full draft manuscript of the book. When submitting a non-fiction project to the agency, please start with a covering letter introducing yourself and your idea, pasting it into the designated box in the website form. Please attach one document, containing an overview of the work and some sample writing. Your document should include: - What your book is about and why it needs to be written. - Why you are best placed to write the book, with reference to your credentials or professional expertise. - A book outline, with summaries explaining what will be addressed in each chapter.

Notable Clients
  • Corinne Fowler
  • Maikel Kuijpers
  • C. L. Skach
  • Dina Macki
  • Roopika Risam
  • Rebecca Clifford
  • Dannelle Gutarra Cordero
  • Alexander Hurst
  • Diyora Shadijanova
  • Anne Irfan
  • Ayala Panievsky
  • Eleanor Chan
  • Peter Bellerby
  • Wendy Lennon
  • Keshia Sakarah
  • Nicola Jane Hobbs
  • Miranda Malins
  • Hope Reese
  • Kate McLean
  • Nikki Ikani
  • Jonathan R.
  • Unnamed Nanny author
Notable Sales
  • Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
  • Humankind by Rutger Bregman
  • The Establishment by Owen Jones
  • Somebody I Used to Know by David Kynaston
  • Happiness by Design
  • Mudlarking
  • The Anarchy by William Dalrymple
  • Familiar Stranger by Stuart Hall
  • She Said by Megan Twohey & Jodi Kantor
  • Blitzed by Norman Ohler
  • The Unnamed Nanny

Social

Twitter / X@@agent_bal

Sources

MSWL ProfilePersonal Website

Last verified: April 7, 2026

Audience

Adult

Genres

Memoir / Autobiography
Biography
Narrative Nonfiction
History
Science / Nature
True Crime
Investigative True Crime
Food / Cookbooks
Cookbooks
Travel

Focus Areas

Investigative Journalismnature writingglobal historieshistories of ideasoriginal biographiesambitious science booksfood writing

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