Jo Ramsay is a Toronto-based agent at Transatlantic Literary Agency who ranges widely across both fiction and nonfiction, with a particular appetite for voices at the intersection of identity, culture, and genre.
In brief
Jo Ramsay's stated wishlist is unusually broad — spanning Gothic horror, eco-fiction, neo-westerns, graphic novels, and cultural criticism — which signals that voice and concept will matter more than fitting a tight niche.
The categories listed on Ramsay's agency page skew toward literary-leaning genre fiction (Gothic, speculative, psychological thriller) and identity-forward work (BIPOC literature, LGBTQ, feminism), suggesting a preference for work that carries both commercial energy and cultural weight.
On the nonfiction side, the range from journalism and current events to pop culture and sports points to a pragmatic commercial instinct alongside the literary — pitches with a clear cultural argument should resonate.
Because the raw sales record for Ramsay is not available in this dataset, the category emphasis above is inferred from the stated wishlist alone; writers should treat the agency's live submission page as the final authority on current priorities.
Query status was observed as open in April 2026, but always confirm directly before submitting — status can change without notice.
Lately
Ramsay's agency profile lists an unusually wide range of both fiction and nonfiction categories, with explicit callouts for eco-fiction and neo-western — two markers of a taste that favors genre work with cultural or environmental consciousness.
What Jo is looking for
Ramsay is drawn to fiction that prioritizes voice and cultural resonance — contemporary stories and general literary work with something distinctive to say. BIPOC and LGBTQ narratives appear explicitly on the wishlist, suggesting a strong interest in underrepresented perspectives.
Dark genre fiction is clearly a priority. Ramsay lists Gothic, horror, and psychological thriller as separate interests, indicating genuine depth in this space rather than a passing interest. Work that blends literary craft with genuine dread or psychological tension is a strong fit.
Ramsay's wishlist calls out speculative fiction, science fiction, and eco-fiction as distinct categories — the explicit inclusion of eco-fiction is notable and relatively rare, suggesting an appetite for climate-aware or nature-rooted speculative narratives.
Genre-driven commercial fiction including mystery, thriller, and neo-western is welcomed. The neo-western designation in particular points to an interest in fiction that remixes classic American genre conventions with contemporary or diverse lenses.
Folklore-inflected narratives and humorous fiction both appear on the list, suggesting openness to work that is rooted in cultural tradition or that leans into comedic voice — either as a primary mode or woven through a larger story.
Romance and graphic novels are both listed, though without additional specificity in the available materials. Writers in these categories should bring a strong, distinctive angle and not assume any subgenre will automatically land.
Ramsay's nonfiction wishlist leads with culturally engaged work — criticism, journalism, and current events. The best pitches here will have a clear, arguable thesis and a sense of urgency or timeliness.
Feminist and LGBTQ nonfiction appear explicitly, consistent with the fiction wishlist's identity-forward focus. This is a thread across both lists, signaling that work centering marginalized voices is a genuine priority rather than a box to tick.
A wide band of narrative nonfiction is welcomed — history, science, psychology, pop culture, relationships and family, travel, sports, humor, and art all appear. Projects in these areas will need a compelling hook and strong authorial platform or access to succeed.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jo
Address Ramsay by name and use the correct query email (queryjo@transatlanticagency.com) — always verify this against the live agency page before sending, as contact details change.
Ramsay's wishlist is wide, so differentiation matters: open your query by naming the specific category (e.g. 'eco-fiction,' 'Gothic literary fiction,' 'LGBTQ cultural criticism') rather than a vague genre label — this signals you've read the wishlist carefully.
Identity and cultural perspective appear as a thread across fiction and nonfiction; if your work carries a BIPOC, LGBTQ, feminist, or otherwise underrepresented lens, name that clearly and early — it is not incidental to Ramsay's interests, it is central.
For nonfiction, lead with your argument or thesis, not just your topic — Ramsay lists journalism, cultural criticism, and current events, which are thesis-driven forms. 'A book about X' is weaker than 'A book arguing that X has changed Y.'
For speculative or eco-fiction, name the speculative premise upfront and connect it to the real-world stakes — the eco-fiction callout suggests Ramsay values work where the genre premise carries cultural or environmental weight.
Because the wishlist is broad, comp titles are especially useful here — two or three recent, well-chosen published works will help Ramsay immediately situate your project within their specific taste.
Follow the submission guidelines on the live agency page exactly; if a sample chapter count or synopsis length is specified there, do not deviate.
Do not query simultaneously if the agency guidelines prohibit it — check the live page for their exclusive/simultaneous policy before sending.