ABOUT
We represent writers and illustrators around the globe from our offices in Sydney, London, and Brussels.
The Zeitgeist Story
Zeitgeist Agency began in 2006 when Benython Oldfield and Sharon Galant met at a party in Shanghai. Sharon was running a chain of English language bookstores and Benython was scouting Chinese writers to represent after working for Random House.
After signing a number of Chinese writers to their fledgling agency, including Murong Xuecun, both returned to their home cities – Sharon to Brussels, and Benython to Sydney.
American Thomasin Chinnery joined the Brussels office in 2014 to focus on Children’s, YA and Crime.
Sharon Galant opened the London office in Primrose Hill in 2024. Rushani Epa joined Sharon there to focus on global food and cookery.
Séverine Pasteger is the Agency Assistant in Europe and Maeve Carragher is the Agency Assistant in Sydney.
ZEITGEIST PEOPLE
Benython
Benython Oldfield is the Sydney-based Director of Zeitgeist Agency trained as a journalist and began his publishing life at Random House in the 1990s.
Within a few years Benython had an opportunity to go on a fact-finding tour of Chinese publishing with the legendary UK Agent Toby Eady. In the thrall of Eady’s bravado and inspired by 2000s China, Benython left Random House to find writers to agent in Shanghai. There he met his business partner Sharon Galant, who runs Zeitgeist Europe.
Sharon
Sharon Galant is the Director of Zeitgeist Agency in Europe and runs the London and Brussels offices.
She started her career with Editions Complexe, an independent publisher based in Brussels that specialises in literature, history and international relations.
In 2004 she moved to China where she managed a major English language bookstore chain (Charterhouse Bookstores). In her role as buyer and events organiser, she reviewed virtually every title published about China and met new and upcoming authors, both Chinese and long-standing expats.
Sharon is a fiction aficionado but has a soft spot for thought-provoking non-fiction. This stems from a previous career in international aid organisations (European Commission, CARE International) which brought her to live in many parts of the world, including the Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe.
Sharon handles manuscripts in English, French and Dutch and can converse in Hebrew and Mandarin.
Thomasin
Thomasin Chinnery joined Zeitgeist in 2014 after several years as a freelance editor and translator.
An American living in Europe for over 20 years, she also speaks distinctively Mediterranean languages – French, Italian, Spanish – and loves spending any free time she has around that wonderful European sea.
Thomasin is on the lookout for great voices in Children’s books, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Books. She also loves a good Crime novel, be it Adult or Young Adult.
RUSHANI
Rushani Epa joined Zeitgeist in 2025 as a literary agent focusing on food and cookery books. Now based between London and Italy, Rushani is originally from Melbourne and was previously the Commissioning Editor for Food and Lifestyle at Hardie Grant Australia. She also works as a travel and food journalist, writing on global dining, identity and the cultural narratives that shape food and hospitality.
Rushani is open to receiving submissions in nonfiction cookery, including memoir, personal essay, or cookbooks.
Maeve
Maeve Carragher joined Zeitgeist Agency in 2024 as an Agency Assistant for the Sydney office. She has a Bachelor of Media (Communications and Journalism) with a major in Art Theory from University of New South Wales. She has previously worked with Sydney Writers’ Festival and Echo Publishing in marketing and communication roles, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Curating and Cultural Leadership.
séverine
Séverine Pasteger joined Zeitgeist Agency in 2025 as an Agency Assistant for the Brussels and London offices. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in French Linguistics and Literature and a Master’s degree in Publishing. During her studies, she worked in multiple bookshops and at the Brussels Book Fair. She is fluent in French and English, and can also dust off her Spanish and Dutch when needed.