JLA is open to submissions.
Instructions
- Submit a query letter per project.
- Below the query, for novels, please paste the first ten double-spaced pages of your manuscript. With picture books: if you are an illustrator, link to your portfolio; if you are a writer, send the full manuscript instead. With non-fiction projects, indicate whether or not your proposal is completed, and enclose, after the first ten pages of the proposal manuscript, the full outline for the project from within the proposal, as well as any comparative titles analysis.
- Don’t forget to include the manuscript’s word count in the query letter itself, and where possible, a comparative analysis to published titles or those titles’ authors.
- Expect, if interested, a positive request for additional materials within 12 weeks of submission.
JLA seeks to represent books that hit the literary-commercial sweet spot, alongside books more nichely literary, more broadly commercial, ever-innovative, ever-revolutionary, and otherwise.
JLA is interested in fiction of the following genres:
- young adult
- literary
- commercial
- women’s
- crime/mystery/thriller
- romance
- sci-fi/fantasy
- graphic novels
- picture books (writers, illustrators)
JLA is also interested in non-fiction: First and foremost, the agency seeks non-fiction authors whose minds; hearts; and personal, professional, academic, or other experiences are ordered to leave impact (cognitive, intellectual, social, cultural, political, practical, or otherwise, or more). Projects ought show healthy degrees of intelligence, research, and advancing discourse.
On the narrative non-fiction side: Query about works of philosophy, theology, psychology, history, politics, economics, journalism, science, culture, tech, business, social commentary, memoir, and humor, as well as, where applicable, a popular (pop) form of any of the preceding. On the practical non-fiction side: Query with books that examine family, marriage, sex, health & wellness, public speaking, writing, reading, lifestyle, art, architecture, and design, as well as any how-to’s, or otherwise.
Dear Writers,
I was the little girl who read books late at night, under covers, with a flashlight—discovering and re-discovering my addiction: to new worlds, characters, and words; to stories, ever-living and ever-great.
I agent from this love of discovery, and look forward to hearing from you, so very muchly—may you send me my new beloved story.
Best wishes,
