• About

    Margaret Connolly has been a literary agent for more than twenty years, after giving up a career as a lawyer in the mid-1980s.

    She set up her own business in 1992, and since then has developed a client list which resembles a roll-call of Australia's finest novelists, poets, dramatists, non-fiction authors, film-makers, children's writers and illustrators.

    She works from home, on a desk which is covered with papers and one very useful computer.

    The "Associates" in her company's title consist of her husband, three children and a dog named Arthur.




    • Deals

    Lian Tanner: The Keepers Trilogy

    Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

    It has been an exciting twelve months for Tasmanian children’s author, Lian Tanner, as these items from the Publishers Lunch website show: June 5, 2009 Children’s: Fantasy Lian Tanner’s Museum of Thieves, the first in a trilogy about a young girl who escapes the oppressive city of Jewel, where children are required to wear guardchains [...]

    Rachael Treasure: The Cattleman’s Daughter

    Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

    ANZ rights in Rachael Treasure’s exciting new novel, The Cattleman’s Daughter have just been acquired by Ali Watts for Penguin Australia. The planned date for publication is October, 2009. Ali describes the novel as ‘breathtaking’, and said: ‘This is a richly rewarding read that examines the lives of strong, contemporary women, but has the timeless [...]

    Boxed deal for Natalie Jane Prior

    Thursday, November 27th, 2008

    UK rights to Natalie Jane Prior’s proposed four title series for 9-12 year old readers, The Minivers, have been bought by Marion Lloyd, for her imprint at Scholastic. Marion said “Natalie has written an absolute winner … the little classic I’d been hoping for. I love those two inspirational tiny divas — they are super [...]

    UK contract for Rachael Treasure

    Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

    Congratulations to Rachael Treasure, who has recently signed a four book deal with Random House UK for her three backlist titles, and the new novel which she is presently writing. Her UK publisher will be Rosie de Courcy, who has been described as “an iconic publisher, one of the great editors of the last 25 [...]

    Genius Squad praised by Publishers Weekly

    Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

    Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks (Harcourt, May) The backstory: “It’s the most entertaining romp through sinister evil I’ve ever read,” said Kathy Dawson, associate editorial director at Harcourt Children’s Books, about Evil Genius, which she acquired in a two-book deal in early 2006. First published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in 2005, the book [...]

    Rachael Treasure’s German book deal

    Thursday, June 14th, 2007

    As Rachael Treasure announced it on her web site: News is in from our German literary sub-agent that Random House in Germany want to do a deal to buy all my novels! Already they have translated The Stockman. Now it’s Jillaroo and The Rouseabout’s turn. Our sub-agent Sebastian said the deal happened over a bottle [...]

    Six figure US publishing deal for Aussie author

    Friday, April 13th, 2007

    Catherine Jinks has struck a six figure deal with leading US publisher Harcourt for the rights to her Young Adult novel Evil Genius, as negotiated by US agent Jill Grinberg on Cathy’s and my behalf. Kathy Dawson, Associate Editorial Director at Harcourt Children’s Books says, ‘Catherine Jinks has written the smartest, most adventurous romp through [...]