Jennifer Herrington of The Harvey Klinger Literary Agency is a character-driven, emotionally resonant storyteller's advocate who hunts for high-concept MG, YA, and adult genre fiction—with a particular weakness for snort-worthy romantic comedies and fresh twists on classic tropes.
In brief
Herrington's wishlist is unusually specific about tone: they want books that make them laugh AND cry, and romantic comedy—across MG, YA, and adult—sits at the explicit top of their list.
Picture books are handled by referral only, a critical gate: writers should not cold-query picture books regardless of how strong the manuscript is.
Illustrators of any age group (including graphic novels) are actively sought—a relatively rare open door at this agency that visual storytellers should not overlook.
The wishlist draws clear lines around what Herrington does NOT want—thriller, suspense, murder mystery, political fiction, high fantasy, sci-fi, adult horror, historical, and nonfiction are all off the table—so genre mismatch is an easy self-screen.
Query status is unverified; writers must confirm the live form state before submitting.
Lately
Herrington updated their wishlist in early 2023, explicitly flagging snort-worthy YA romantic comedy as their highest-priority category and reaffirming interest in high-concept MG, cozy mysteries, and adult romance with fresh tropes.
What Jennifer is looking for
Herrington flags snort-worthy YA rom-com as their single top priority—explicitly called out above everything else on the list. They want contemporary YA romance with banter, tropes done freshly, and feel-good emotional payoff. Love triangles, enemies-to-lovers, and other classic setups are welcome if the execution is distinctive.
Herrington seeks high-concept adult romance with out-of-the-ordinary plots and characters navigating real adult life. Tone can range from sweet to spicy as long as the story has a genuine twist on familiar tropes. Gut-busting romantic comedies are a particular draw. Paranormal romance with a strong emotional core also fits.
Fresh takes on cozy mysteries are actively wanted—Herrington emphasizes outside-the-box amateur sleuths. The key word is 'fresh': familiar structural comforts of the cozy are fine, but the hook and sleuth setup should be unexpected.
Herrington wants high-concept MG with a strong hook and a wide emotional range. On one end: adventurous, scheming kids processing life crises (friend breakups, frenemies). On the other: quiet, introspective stories like a first crush. Paranormal and fantasy are welcome if built around ghosts, witches, or fresh mythology. Horror must be scary or spooky rather than gory. Graphic novels in this age range are a genuine interest.
Herrington seeks unique high-concept YA or fresh spins on classic tropes across a range of sub-genres: feel-good contemporaries, real-world issue stories, light magical or paranormal threads with a romantic element, and mysteries. Horror is welcome if it leans scary rather than bloody. YA graphic novels are explicitly on the list. The through-line in all categories is a strong hook and a distinctive voice.
Herrington actively seeks illustrators who work across any age range—picture books through graphic novels. This is a meaningful open door for visual storytellers and is not limited by the referral-only restriction that applies to picture book writers.
Picture books are represented, but Herrington accepts them by referral only—cold queries for picture books will not be considered. Writers who do not also illustrate their work should not attempt to submit in this category regardless of referral status.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jennifer
Submit via the agency's online submission form—it is the only accepted query route. Fill in every required field; incomplete submissions are likely ignored.
Include a query letter, synopsis, and the first five pages of your manuscript. This is explicitly required; do not swap in a different sample length.
Lead your query with the hook. Herrington repeatedly emphasizes 'high concept with a strong hook'—your opening line should make the concept immediately clear and compelling.
Name the tone upfront. Herrington cares deeply about emotional register: if it's a rom-com, say so and signal the humor; if it's a quiet contemporary, say so. Tone mismatch is a quick rejection.
Do not query picture books cold. Referral is required—no exceptions are implied in the guidelines.
Illustrators should query even if they are not writers; Herrington is actively building the illustration side of the list.
Verify the form is currently open before submitting. Query status was unverified at the time this profile was compiled.