Over the last 25 years as a Foreign Rights Director and Literary Scout, I have built a large network of international contacts among literary agents and publishers. I started working as a literary scout shortly after moving to the UK in 2002. Born in France, I initially trained as a historian specialising in International Relations. After completing a Master's degree in History, I was given the opportunity to start a publishing career in Germany by selling translation rights from German authors to foreign publishers. A few years later, I joined the foreign rights department at Editions Gallimard in Paris, followed by a move to the US, and later on to the UK. I scout trade fiction and non fiction titles mostly originated in the UK and the Commonwealth.
I joined the agency in January 2017 to scout Children’s and Young Adult fiction and am currently scouting adult fiction. After graduating from Cambridge with a History degree in 2010, I completed a degree in Primary Education. I worked as an editorial assistant at Hot Key Books, then moved to Mind Candy as an editor and publishing manager. In 2016 I started at Pottermore as a development editor looking after digital publishing and have worked as a freelance editor for publishing houses, literary agencies and the BBC. I have a masters in Children's Literature and completed a masters from Bath University in Writing for Young People.
I joined the agency in July 2019 to cover for Rebecca while she’s on parental leave. I have worked as a Rights professional for over 20 years. After graduating from Edinburgh University with an MA Honours in Italian & History of Art, I spent four years in the Hachette UK Children’s Rights team followed by five years in New York at HarperCollins Children’s Books in the subsidiary rights department. Since moving back to the UK, I have spent the last ten years in the Puffin/PRH Children’s rights team, most recently as Head of Rights. Through the years, I have established a wide and extensive network of colleagues and friends in the Children’s Book business, selling US and translation rights to publishers all over the world. I scout Children’s/YA titles originating mostly from the UK and Australia.
Sylvie Zannier Literary Scouting Ltd | The Old Music Hall | 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE - United Kingdom