Ask The Agent: Sarah Brooks

Simon Whaley chats to Sarah Brooks of the Darley Anderson agency about the resurgence in Regency romance.

This feature first appeared in the print issue of Writing Magazine, June 2026.

Sarah Brooks began her publishing career in 2010 as a rights assistant at Hachette. She spent nine years in Sydney as Hachette Australia and New Zealand’s Head of Rights, Contracts, and International Sales, before joining the Darley Anderson Literary Agency in 2024 as Acting Head of Rights. She’s since become an agent and is now developing her own list.

What do you enjoy most about being a literary agent?

For me, it’s that magical moment when you open a submission and everything clicks. The voice, the premise, the character-and you just know it’s going to be a special read. Getting to experience that thrill as part of my career makes me feel incredibly lucky!

Regency romance is your guilty pleasure. Why?

Regency is my reading comfort food. I grew up watching the 1995 Pride and Prejudice and, as a young adult, I discovered a treasure trove of historical romance; Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, and Julia Quinn among others, who cemented my love of the…