If you are a writer seeking representation – welcome!
Here is what you need to know before you query:
Jess is open to queries. Claire is closed, but will re-open sometime in 2026.
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.
Please read the below before you hit send.
Hello! This is Jess.
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.
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!
Jess
When Claire reopens this is her wishlist:
Claire acquires both fiction and non-fiction for adults, especially projects that shine a spotlight on people, places, and events that are often overlooked or not given the attention they deserve. In fiction, she's looking for horror, standalone psychological thrillers, mysteries, and romcoms. She's seeking diverse characters and authors, stories that twist and subvert classic tropes, and strong female leads. She especially likes friendship stories, revenge stories, and sharp voices across all genres, and has a soft spot for stories with a tie to the Midwest or the South, but she's also interested in small town settings in other areas. In nonfiction, Claire is primarily looking for cultural criticism, true crime, pop culture, lifestyle guides, and illustrated gift books for adults. She loves books that present an untold perspective or bring a fresh take to a well-loved topic. She's looking for strong voices across all genres, regardless of topic and tone.
She is always looking for submissions with these elements across all genres she represents (listed below): LGBTQIA+ characters and authors, marginalized characters written by marginalized authors, diverse stories, compelling writing, dynamic characters, subverting well-known tropes, unexpected endings, books with big emotions, and settings in the Midwest and South.
To be more specific...
HORROR: new twists on classic tropes, not too heavy on the gore (no gore for gore’s sake), unnerving, unsettling, stories that stick with you after you finish reading them, stories including a cultural critique of some sort, heavy use of dread
favorite tropes: house as character, remote location (no cell service), actual hauntings vs. characters losing their minds, a skeptic who ends up believing (or dead!) by the end, found footage, any and all stories that end with a final girl
THRILLERS: standalone psychological thrillers, new twist on classic tropes, revenge stories, elements of horror, shocking endings, unreliable narrators, fictionalizations of actual crimes, fast pacing, stories set in the 90s, social commentary
favorite tropes: unstable (or unhinged) narrator, missing memories or time, seemingly decent people with dark pasts, stalking, gaslighting, revenge stories, motivated by inheritance
MYSTERIES: series or standalone, millennial and gen z characters written for millennial and gen z audiences, unique twists on classic tropes, fun settings we don’t often see, inheritance stories, revenge stories, heists, complex family dynamics
favorite tropes: fun friend groups and secondary characters, female amateur sleuths, full of twists and red herrings, locked room mysteries, complicated victim (with many potential killers), femme fatale
ROMANCE: tender and loving relationships, authentic characters with authentic struggles, genuine connections, emotion vulnerability, any level of steaminess and spice, any level of humor, especially love millennial characters for millennial audiences
favorite tropes: friends/enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, found family, second chance romance
TRUE CRIME, CULTURAL CRITICISM, NARRATIVE NONFICTION: examining society through a unique lens, untold stories and perspectives, shining a light on people / places / events that are being (or historically have been) ignored, journalistic look at crimes of all kind (not exclusively murder cases), author as part of the narrative, a fresh approach to a well-loved topic, social commentary on women’s issues, crimes that have been swept under the rug or haven’t received the media attention they deserve
LIFESTYLE GUIDES + GIFT BOOKS: voicy, fun writing, humor, author/illustrators, helpful tips in an approachable and digestible format, soft hobbies
areas of interest: happiness, quaint living, crafting, party planning, hosting, witches, regional topics, single life, friendship, third places, nature
She is not currently accepting submissions in these areas:
young adult, middle grade, children’s, sci-fi, fantasy, legal thrillers, military thrillers, political thrillers, medical thrillers, memoir, parenting books, fertility stories, self-help centering on grief or overcoming trauma.