Jem is a true generalist at Starling Literary + Media who leans hardest into emotionally electric fiction—adult thriller, horror, romance, and upmarket—alongside bold graphic novels and nonfiction that reframes power and history.
In brief
Her wishlist is unusually wide, but her stated passion runs deepest in adult thriller/horror with social commentary and romance across all heat levels—expect her to be most competitive in those lanes.
She accepts picture books and middle grade ONLY from author-illustrators; prose-only writers in those categories should not query her.
Graphic novels are open across all age groups, but again restricted to author-illustrators—she is especially hungry for adult GN.
She does not accept email queries under any circumstances; writers who send email will receive no response, not even a rejection.
Her taste centers on identity, moral complexity, and stories that refuse safe resolutions—high-concept premises without emotional depth are unlikely to land.
Lately
Announced she was finally reopening to queries after a period of closure, expressing clear excitement about the return.
What Jem is looking for
Wants psychologically driven, socially conscious thrillers and horror that use shock and dread to reveal something true about people and systems. She is drawn to morally complex characters, unreliable truths, and an exploration of evil across a spectrum—not just jump-scare plotting but work with real ideological bite.
Seeking across three distinct lanes: (1) rom-com and contemporary romance with genuine emotional honesty and a fresh angle she hasn't seen explored before; (2) paranormal romance or romantasy that is lush, fast-moving, and built for the screen; (3) action-adventure romance where danger and attraction collide in a cinematic, high-chemistry package.
Emotionally resonant stories that sit at the intersection of humor and heartbreak—family dynamics, aging, identity, love, and especially regret. She wants the kind of book that makes a reader laugh and sob in the same chapter, and that would ignite a book club argument about who was right.
Open to mysteries anchored by a strong, distinct voice, pleasurably intricate plotting, and found-family warmth. The tone should balance genuine humor with genuine heart—neither too dark nor too frothy.
Narrative nonfiction that excavates suppressed or overlooked histories, particularly work that interrogates how race, gender, and identity have been shaped—and distorted—by power. She wants revisionist history that feels urgent today, not safely archived in the past.
Accessible but intellectually ambitious books where science, technology, and culture collide. She wants books that ask uncomfortable questions, refuse tidy answers, and carry real-world moral weight—popular nonfiction with the courage to provoke.
Not lifestyle cookbooks—she wants food as a vehicle for story, identity, heritage, and power. Recipes must be genuinely usable, but the narrative surrounding them should explore belonging, survival, desire, or cultural memory in a compelling way.
Fast-paced, voice-driven YA thrillers and horror that use a teen perspective to interrogate fear, power, and social tension. Cinematic execution is a clear priority.
Romantic YA with humor, heart, and a genuine exploration of identity and belonging. She has a specific appetite for projects that incorporate speculative or light fantastical elements—not full secondary-world fantasy, but a fantastical thread that heightens emotional stakes and urgency.
Open across all age groups with a particular emphasis on adult GN. Seeking work where the art—color, linework, movement—does real narrative and emotional work, not just illustration. Contemporary or speculative settings, psychological horror or thrillers, and deeply character-driven stories are all welcome. IMPORTANT: author-illustrators only; she does not accept writer-only GN proposals.
Open exclusively to author-illustrators. Writers seeking a picture book illustrator, or writers pitching text-only picture book manuscripts, should not query Jem.
Open to working illustrators who want representation across any age category, even where Jem is otherwise closed to prose manuscripts.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jem
Do not query by email under any circumstances—her page states explicitly that email queries are deleted without response. Use only her official online submission form.
Her personal statement prioritizes identity, connection, and moral complexity. Open your query by signaling what your book reveals about people or systems, not just what happens.
For thriller and horror, front-load the social or psychological stakes—she is more interested in what fear exposes than in the mechanics of the plot.
For romance, specify your subgenre lane clearly (rom-com, paranormal/romantasy, or action-adventure) since she has distinct appetites within romance and a vague pitch won't land.
For upmarket fiction, the word 'regret' appears in her wishlist with unusual emphasis—if your book turns on that emotion, name it directly in your pitch.
For nonfiction, establish the 'why now' urgency early. She wants history and ideas to feel present-tense uncomfortable, not academically archived.
For graphic novels, describe your visual style and how the art serves the story—she is looking for author-illustrators whose craft is inseparable from the narrative.
She uses cinematic as a recurring aspiration across multiple categories (romantasy, action-adventure romance, YA thriller). If your work has strong adaptation potential or a propulsive, scene-driven structure, it is worth flagging.
Confirm her query window is still open on her live submission page before sending; she has closed and reopened before, and status can change.