Christina Zobel is JABberwocky Literary Agency's Subsidiary Rights Manager who also maintains a focused client list, hunting for adult and new adult romance, romantasy, and upmarket fiction with emotional depth, rich representation, and cozy-but-consequential storytelling.
In brief
Zobel wears two hats at JABberwocky: she manages foreign and audio rights for the whole agency while also building her own small but deliberate client list — meaning she is highly selective and her client relationships tend to be long-term partnerships.
Her wishlist is unusually precise: she names specific romance subgenres (contemporary, romcom, historical, LGBTQ+, western/cowboy) and specific romantasy flavors (cozy, fairytale retellings, dark academia, Gothic), making it easy to self-sort before querying.
Her submission window is fixed and time-limited — June 1 through August 31, 2026 — so timing your query matters as much as the pitch itself.
Across every category she seeks, she consistently foregrounds representation: LGBTQ+ characters, disabled and neurodivergent protagonists, and multicultural or BIPOC narratives are cross-genre priorities, not niche add-ons.
Her stated exclusions are sweeping — no SFF (outside romantasy), no YA, no MG, no nonfiction, no literary fiction, no mystery/thriller/horror — which means her active wish list is genuinely narrow; writers should confirm their category fits before submitting.
Lately
Calling all querying writers! I'll officially be open to queries on Monday (June 1st) and will remain open until the end of the summer (August 31st). My full MSWL can be found on the JAB Agency website. Looking forward to seeing you all in the query box! awfulagent.com/agents/chris...
I’ll be attending the @bklynbooksbooze.bsky.social Book Fair this Saturday February 7th! Looking forward to participating in the agent pitch session and chatting with all the wonderful authors there!
Zobel publicly announced her 2026 submission window, confirming she would open to queries on June 1st and remain open through the end of August. She directed writers to her full guidelines on the JABberwocky agency website.
What Christina is looking for
Zobel is actively hunting across most romance subgenres and wants the full emotional range — from grand, sweeping love stories to snappy, banter-driven comedies. Her named priorities include contemporary romance, romantic comedy, historical romance, LGBTQ+ romance, and anything carrying a witchy atmosphere. She has a personal soft spot for western and cowboy romance, and welcomes stories set at university. Her stated dream acquisition is a new adult romance set in the world of college marching band. All spice levels are welcome. Favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and second-chance romance.
An avid romantasy reader herself, Zobel approaches this category with genuine enthusiasm and specific taste. She favors character-driven stories over plot-first worldbuilding, and gravitates toward secondary-world settings, fairytale and myth retellings, sweeping historical sagas, and moody dark academia aesthetics. Her most distinctive priority here is 'cozy' romantasy — books with real emotional stakes that nonetheless leave readers with warmth rather than dread. Recurring elements she enjoys: found family, sapphic love stories, animal companions, Gothic settings, and plant-based or nature-adjacent magic systems. All spice levels welcome; same trope preferences as her romance list apply.
Zobel lists upmarket fiction as a current consideration alongside romance and romantasy, though she provides less specific guidance here than in those other categories. Based on her cross-genre preferences, writers in this space should lean into complex family dynamics, transformative coming-of-age arcs, and strong representation of LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, or multicultural characters. Upmarket fiction with a romantic thread or speculative undertone is likely a stronger fit than purely realist literary work — she explicitly excludes straight literary fiction.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Christina
Her submission window is fixed: June 1 – August 31, 2026. Querying outside that window will not be considered — mark your calendar and submit early in the window to avoid a last-minute rush.
She requires a query letter, a synopsis, AND the first two chapters in the same submission. Missing any of these three components is likely grounds for an automatic pass — have all three polished before you upload.
She does not accept queries by email or phone under any circumstances. Use only the online form.
Her cross-genre filters are non-negotiable signals: if your manuscript features LGBTQ+ characters, disabled or neurodivergent protagonists, or multicultural/BIPOC perspectives, lead with that in your query letter — these are stated priorities, not tiebreakers.
For romance, name your subgenre and your dominant tropes up front. She responds to specific language (e.g., 'grumpy/sunshine friends-to-lovers contemporary romance') rather than genre-blending vagueness.
For romantasy, the word 'cozy' is a genuine hook for her — if your book has high emotional stakes but ultimately delivers warmth and comfort, say so explicitly. Contrast this with grimdark or high-tension romantasy, which is less aligned with her stated taste.
Her background in tabletop RPGs, Critical Role, and Dimension 20 signals comfort with ensemble casts, collaborative world-building aesthetics, and found-family dynamics — manuscripts with those qualities may resonate even if she doesn't name them explicitly.
A college marching band new adult romance is her stated dream project. If you have it, lead with that context immediately.
Her background includes foreign and audio rights management, which means she has direct experience in the subsidiary rights ecosystem — authors prioritizing translation or audio deals may find a savvy advocate in her.
Confirm the form is still open before submitting, as the window closes August 31, 2026.