Jess Regel
Founder & Agent
Hi! I’m Jess. I started Helm Literary with the goal of helping writers take control of their careers.  I believe my job as a literary agent is to help writers steer that ship (couldn’t resist at least one sea-faring pun!) First and foremost, I work to make sure my writers are compensated for their incredible work, but I’m also their guide to navigating the industry as a whole. No nonsense, no smoke and mirrors. Just the pure magic of publishing books.
What’s my story? As a flashlight under the covers, tripping over curbs while read-walking, never leave home without a book, lifetime reader, I thought I’d found my dream job when I started working at my local library in Iowa. Then one day, I stumbled upon the inciting incident of my professional life: I shelved The Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents.
The summer of 2002, I moved to New York City to intern at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Over the next decade, I worked my way through each department: royalties, contracts, audio, foreign, film, and domestic. I also began taking on my own clients (most of whom I still represent to this day.)  In 2013, I moved to Foundry Literary + Media where I continued to grow my list of award winning, bestselling writers. (And truly just wonderful people.) 
Today, Helm is a full-service literary agency, representing fiction, nonfiction, and children’s book authors. I've hired a team of industry veterans to support me in my back office and in my subsidiary rights department, that way I can focus on selling books.  Because the truth is, nearly two decades into my career, I still get giddy every time I call an author with an offer from a publisher. 
Dream job!
Submission Guidelines:
I am seeking "conversation starters" that pair high-concept hooks with beautiful prose and unforgettable voices. I look for work that is compulsive, contagious, and creative. 
Fiction (Adult, Young Adult,  Middle Grade & Graphic Novels)
Contemporary & Upmarket: I want voice-driven stories with emotional depth and complex moral undertones.  Examples include Ann American Marriage by Tayari Jones, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, and Front Desk by Kelly Yang.
Upmarket Romance: I describe this as a book that is more likely to have “a love story” on the cover. If it’s category romance, it’s likely not for me. So, think One Day by David Nichols or Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.
Speculative & Cozy Fantasy: I prefer character-driven, moody, and atmospheric world-building over sprawling epics. Think Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, or The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh.
Literary Thriller, Suspense, & Psychological: I am drawn to dark, twisty, and eerie narratives like Long Bright River by Liz Moore or Sadie by Courtney Sullivan.
Atmospheric & Genre-Bending: I love books that defy easy categorization, such as Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy or When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
Fun & Offbeat: Surprise me with something so unconventional that I never could’ve predicted it how much I would love it! Think Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe.
Graphic Novels: I accept both author-illustrators and text-only, but I don’t represent solely illustrators. A recent favorite of mine is Bloom by Kevin Panetta; illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau
Nonfiction (Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, & Graphic)
Big Ideas & Culture: I am looking for thoughtful social commentary and feminist narratives, such as Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein or On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen.
Literary Memoir: Send me deeply personal explorations of identity, creativity, and social issues. An example is You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith.
To get a bit more granular, in any of these genres, I love a sister story, or a big family story. Gothic (Rebecca! Frankenstein!) Gender-flipped novels. Untold female stories. Modern retellings (bonus points if it’s non-Western lore or mythology.) 90’s and early aughts nostalgia. 
If you could see it as a Reads with Jenna pick it’s likely for me. 
I am not looking for picture books, screenplays, or bro-thrillers, faith-based books, or practical "how-to" nonfiction. 
If you think your book is a good match for Jess' list you can send your query to helmsubmissions@gmail.com. 
Please include your query and the first 10 pages in the body of the email. No attachments will be opened. 
A Note on Advocacy
As someone who entered the publishing world without prior industry connections, I am passionate about discovering and championing books by historically excluded writers.
Submission Policy
I previously closed to queries because my primary commitment is always to my current authors, and the volume became impossible to manage. However, because I love finding gems in the slush pile—it’s one of my favorite parts of the job!— I am now open indefinitely with a caveat... I cannot promise to read every query. That said, I know how hard it is to not have closure. So if you don’t hear from me within 30 days of submitting, please consider it a pass. If you haven't received a response after a month of waiting and believe my brilliant colleague Claire Harris would be a good match, you are welcome to query her. She open and closes periodically throughout the year. 
Bottom line: I’ll do my best and I look forward to reading your best!