TKA: Please share a bit more about yourself and how you became an associate agent. Jackie: I always loved reading and storytelling and wrote tons of short stories and plays throughout my childhood. However, I came from a hardworking, practical family, and didn't realize it was possible to have a creative profession until much later. I started my career in public policy and law, graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies. After, I worked in international trade and consumer protection at the United States Trade Representative and the Bureau of Consumer Protection. I enrolled at the George Washington School of Law, but (quickly) realized I preferred the courtrooms of literary fiction to the actual courtroom. So, after my 1L year, I left law school and pivoted to a career in publishing, starting as an Editorial Fellow for Chronicle Books. I assisted in editing books and novelty items published within the Lifestyle and Food & Drink departments. But as a lover of fiction, I also founded Where to Begin, a blog and newsletter dedicated to exploring the thriller and speculative fiction. My editorial supervisor at Chronicle, Deanne Katz—who also pivoted from law to publishing—mentioned that I should consider agenting. I immediately loved the idea of combining my creative and business sides and working with wonderfully creative people to get more books out into the world. I began conducting informational interviews with agents until I met TKA agent Kristy Hunter, and later Deidre Knight. Soon after, I was offered an opportunity to join TKA! TKA: Who are some of your favorite authors? Jackie: Some of my favorite authors include N.K. Jemisin, Haruki Murakami, Cixin Liu, Greek Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, Blake Crouch, Daniel José Older, Rachel Caine, Brandon Sanderson, and Carmen Maria Machado. TKA: What advice can you give to writers who are submitting to you? Jackie: Having the plotline and conflict is essential, but please don't forget about your characters! A great query not only gives a clear idea of your overall story but also the main characters. TKA: Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? Jackie: No dislikes (as of yet); however, I appreciate writers who try to find a connection between us in some way. Whether it's mentioning that we have the same favorite authors or how one of my tweets resonated with them, this personalization and research allow us to build an immediate connection and working relationship. TKA: Finally, what are you most looking for right now? Jackie: Fiction
 I'm interested in all types of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in MG, YA, and Adult. Novels that span generations similar to Cixin Liu’s Three-Body Problem, Justin Cronin’s The Passage and Netflix’s Dark. Wildly imaginative magic systems like N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON and Samantha Shannon's The Bone Season. Or, magical realism and surrealism books like The Mexican Gothic and Haruki Murakami's work. I also love novels with light-hearted magic such as The Emperor's Soul, the Shadowshaper Cypher series, and The Wayward Children series. Geeky books that inspire nostalgia like Stranger Things and Ready Player One. And science fiction and fantasy mixed with romance like Dark Matter and The Night Circus. Generally, I enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and suspense with smart female protagonists and/or unreliable narrators, like the Lou Norton series, The Wife Between Us, The Other Sister, Sharp Objects, and You. I’m into contemporary books with a unique take on sports, dance, and hip-hop like Love & Basketball, Pose, or The Get Down. I’m also interested in books that explore status and beauty like The Belles and grief and loss like The Astonishing Color of After. I tend to prefer literary fiction with a commercial appeal or that includes elements of other genres; authors like Celeste Ng, Steph Cha, and Tana French are particularly great at this. Nonfiction
Memoirs, inspirational, and mind/body/spirit books that expand the readers' empathy and self-awareness like Educated and When Breath Becomes Air. Productivity, self-improvement, and practical nonfiction that promotes business, entrepreneurship, creativity, success, or leadership like Atomic Habits and Digital Minimalism. Lifestyle and funny gift book topics like Am I Overthinking This? #Ownvoices/Underrepresented communities
Whether it's #ownvoices or diverse characters, identities, and cultures, I'm interested in bringing more underrepresented communities to the publishing forefront. | 
