
While working as an editorial assistant in her early years at Virago Press, Rebecca Swift, founder of TLC, realised that there was no professional, trustworthy body for authors to send work to before they approached publishers and agents.
She found that many people writing seemed to know very little of the basics of what publishers and agents expected, and that agents and publishers never had the time to explain in detail what they really felt about people’s work.
The idea for The Literary Consultancy was conceived during these years and set up in 1996 with co-founder Hannah Griffiths, who is now an editor at Faber & Faber.
The Literary Consultancy was invaluable
to me for my first novel. I would not dream of sending a completed novel
to my publisher without having TLC look at it first.
Prue Leith OBE, author of bestselling Leaving Patrick
Despite initial concern that TLC might not work because clients wouldn’t really want to know what an editor thought of their abilities, TLC has found that quite the opposite has proved true. The majority of clients are pleased to have a detailed critique from a professional who has carefully read and thought about their work, even if the final response is not a recommendation for publication, as they may have hoped. At TLC we try always to be honest, and believe that a constructive but firm response enables authors to get on – either with a re-write, a new project, or indeed, with other things in their lives. Letting go of work can be important too.
Rebecca Swift, born in 1964, read English at Oxford University and has since worked as an editor and writer. For seven years she worked at Virago Press, where she first conceived of the idea for TLC (see About TLC).
For Chatto & Windus she edited a volume of letters between Bernard Shaw and Margaret Wheeler, Letters from Margaret: The Fascinating Story of Two Babies Swapped at Birth (1992) and Imagining Characters: Six Conversations about Women Writers, a book of conversations between writer A.S. Byatt and psychoanalyst Ignês Sodré (1995).
Rebecca has also had poetry published in Virago New Poets (1990), Vintage New Writing 6 (1995), Driftwood, US, (2005), and Staple (2008). A libretto written by Rebecca Swift was funded by the Arts Council of England. The opera, composed by Jenni Roditi, and called ‘Spirit Child’, was performed at Ocean, Hackney, in London in 2001. Rebecca has also written and reviewed for The Independent on Sunday and The Guardian. A biography of Emily Dickinson is forthcoming in 2010 with Hesperus Press.
Rebecca is a trustee of the Writers' Centre Norwich, and the Maya Centre, as well as a member of the Free Word Open Word Consortium in London.
In 1999 she completed an M.A. in Psychoanalytic Studies at the Tavistock Centre in London and UEL. Her thesis title was ARE YOU READING ME? An Exploration of the Relationship between people who write and those who read them in the publishing and related industries.
She has appeared at numerous literary festivals and on many panels talking about the work of TLC and the relationship between writers and the publishing industry, and has taught poetry at an American conference in France and West Dean College of Further Education, and lifewriting for the Hackney Music Development Trust. She also teaches ‘Approaches to Publication’ as part of the Writers’ Lab in Skyros, Greece.
Solvej has a Bachelor in English Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a MA in English Literature from the University of Trondheim, Norway. She is also a certified teacher and has taught English language and literature in Norway, Denmark and England. In 2008 Solvej travelled to Beijing, and found herself working for The Beijing Bookworm company and their International Literary Festival. In between studying arts administration, publishing work experience and teaching in London, she returned once again to China to manage another Bookworm International literary festival near Shanghai. Solvej will be covering for Jess Poter's maternity leave and will take care of all administrative duties at The Literary Consultancy.
Caroline McCarthy joined The Literary Consultancy as a reader of Literary Fiction and children’s books in 2004, and managed TLC between 2005 and 2007. Caroline now works part-time at TLC as our in-house literary scout, working with writers, agents and publishers.
Previously, Caroline worked for Dorling Kindersley and as a reader for Viking and Hamish Hamilton. She has written features and book reviews for The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Big Issue, and various fashion and lifestyle articles for women’s magazines and websites. She continues with freelance writing, reading and editing, and is developing her own writing projects.
Jess Porter read Modern History at Leeds University, specialising in the literature of pre-revolutionary Russia. After a period teaching English as a foreign language at a school in Covent Garden, Jess worked at Persephone Books, where she stayed very happily for two years. Before arriving at TLC in 2007, Jess had been working in the charity sector for, among others, Help the Aged.
Jess is in charge of the day to day running of the TLC office. Jess handles all submissions, manages our team of readers, and is the first point of contact for any writer considering approaching The Literary Consultancy. Jess Porter is currently on maternity leave.
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Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, with which TLC gave
me excellent editorial help, sold 30,000 copies to the consumer in hardback.
Your fine and necessary service made it possible for me as a novice to
write a bestseller.
Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Transworld
Editorial acumen and wisdom is difficult to find, and
TLC possesses both. My first novel has found its way onto Waterstone’s
Summer Reads list and it would have not got there without TLC.
Nick Taussig, Love and Mayhem, Revolver Books
Thanks to TLC I got an agent and secured a deal with Hodder
Headline. The help you provided was invaluable.
Max Kinnings, Hitman and The Fixer, Hodder
I found it invaluable to receive a thoughtful and perceptive
report on the strengths and weaknesses of my novel from a professional
whose opinions I could trust.
Christine Coleman, The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society, Transita
If it wasn’t for TLC, my novel just wouldn’t
have made it. 
Heather Reyes, Zade, Saqi
Macmillan have commissioned my fourth children’s
book in the Jammy Dodgers series. Without the Literary Consultancy’s
help with the first book I would never have got this far.
Brenda Sivers Bowering, Jammy Dodgers series, Macmillan
I would like to thank TLC for making my book publishable.

Pam Smart, Who’s Afraid of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Chipmunk Publishing
It is no exaggeration to say that The Literary Consultancy’s
advice and encouragement was invaluable to me when I was writing my first
novel, Isabella.
Fiona Mountain, Pale as the Dead and Isabella, Orion
I think it’s fair to say that I owe my career to
TLC, editorially and financially. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend
their services to anyone.
James Flint, Habitus and 52 Ways to Magic America, Fourth Estate
TLC’s report and recommendation enabled me to secure
an excellent agent and a superb two book deal.
Kim Lloyd, Erskine’s Box, Sceptre
TLC’s feedback motivated me to keep going with my
first novel,
which is now on the bookshop shelves!
Helen Salter, Does Snogging Count as Exercise?, Piccadilly Press
I am awed by your reader’s philosophical, novelistic
and teaching skills. I can’t thank her enough.
Y. J.M Bonavero, Something in the Sea, Bloomsbury
Thank you for your kindness and encouragement and for
choosing such a perfect reader.
Norman Thomas, The Thousand Petalled Daisy, Maia Press
TLC was invaluable to me for my novel. I wouldn’t
dream of sending a completed novel to my publisher without having TLC
look at it first.
Prue Leith, Leaving Patrick, Sisters and A Lovesome Thing, Penguin Books
I am convinced my book’s success is due to the down
to earth, practical advice The Literary Consultancy gave me.
Tony Booth, Cox’s Navy, Pen and Sword
Many thanks to your excellent consultancy for its invaluable
contribution to making this possible.
Michael Richardson, The Pig Bin, Tindall Street Press
TLC introduced my work to agents and publishers on my behalf.
I suspect no-one would have looked at it otherwise.
Jenny Downham, Before I Die, David Fickling Books, Random House
The advice I received from Anna was detailed, forthright yet encouraging, and pretty spot on.
When my agent sent the book off again, we secured a deal with Serpent’s Tail. 
Bethan Roberts, The Pools, Serpent’s Tail
Thanks to Rebecca Swift’s well-informed advice, I was able to get an agent and a publishing deal incredibly quickly.
Tom Feiling, The Candy Machine, Penguin Books
TLC’s report made all the difference in getting The Golden Pig published.
Mark Penny
The Golden Pig, by The Penny Brothers, Lightning Press
TLC was beyond helpful in the writing of my novel. My experience was worth every penny!
Susan Woolridge, The Hidden Dance, Allison & Busby
TLC chose the perfect reader. Thanks to the invaluable advice, my book is now proving to be a hit with children and parents alike!
Karen Andrea, The Enchanted Library, Legend Press/YouWriteOn
I don’t think any serious writer should think of submitting her work to agents or publishers without first sending it to TLC. 
Angela Young, Speaking of Love, Beautiful Books
The advice was clear and perceptive ... and the result, according to the reviews, was a book worth writing 
Peter Webb, Ice Bears and Kotick, Seafarer Books