Mia Dakin
I joined Greene & Heaton in January 2023, after completing an MA in Publishing at UCL. I work across the agency, in fiction, non-fiction and translation, and am now building my list. I continue to support Judith Murray, Antony Topping and the other Greene & Heaton agents with their clients.
Mia's Manuscript Wishlist
In fiction, I enjoy any story focusing on family dynamics, no matter the genre, time or place. An all-time favourite is I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith, and I would love to find something that plays with these family dynamics alongside coming-of-age, in a new and fresh way. I also love reading multi-generational sagas, having recently read the Women’s Prize shortlisted novel THE PERSIANS, where Sanam Mahloudji expertly and seamlessly takes the reader across narratives and timelines. I’m a sucker for anything that focuses on friendship over time, across genre, like the classic romantic comedy HAPPY ALL THE TIME by Laurie Colwin, the ensemble thriller KALA by Colin Walsh and Laura Barnett's latest novel, BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
I also enjoy reading romance, whether that be BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry or DEEP CUTS by Holly Brickley, especially if the protagonist has an excellent cast of friends around them to encourage (or get in the way) of the love story. I’d love to find some more romance that features typically overlooked backgrounds, where culture and society come into play.
In all aspects of fiction, I appreciate a speculative twist, whether it’s a key part to the story or the context to a wider plot point. This can be sinister, boundary pushing or subtle! Some speculative fiction I have recently enjoyed is THE OTHER VALLEY by Scott Alexander Howard, BEAUTYLAND by Marie-Helene Bertino and I WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN MEN by Jacqueline Harpman.
Examples of other recent fiction I’ve loved are SHANGHAILANDERS by Juli Min, MARTYR by Kaveh Akbar, CONFESSIONS by Catherine Airey, BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors, SUNSTRUCK by William Rayfet Hunter and THE SAFEKEEP by Yael Van Der Wouden.
In non-fiction I enjoy narrative/memoir with a twist, such as TAKEAWAY by Angela Hui, fresh interpretations of previously trodden areas, such as CORKER by Hannah Crosbie and non-fiction writing focused on improving our future by learning from our past, such as NOMAD CENTURY by Gaia Vince and SYSTEMIC: HOW RACISM IS MAKING US SICK by Layal Liverpool. I also have a passion for cookery, specifically in ways that authors can combine their social media platforms and their cookbook with a long-term career. Recent examples I have loved are Ruby Bhogal’s baking guide ONE BAKE, TWO WAYS, with a plant based option for each recipe; Ixta Belfrage’s innovative and fresh take on fusion cooking, MEZCLA; and Seema Pankhania’s debut cookbook CRAVEABLE, encouraging both seasoned cooks and beginners to explore flavour and variety in what they eat.