Jon Cobb is a fiction-first agent at HG Literary whose deal record and wishlist converge on one clear mission: championing BIPOC voices—particularly Black and Filipino stories—across YA, speculative fiction, and literary fiction, with a secondary passion for mysteries, thrillers, and big-idea science fiction.
In brief
His confirmed sales skew almost entirely toward Young Adult fiction, making YA his strongest commercial lane despite a wishlist that spans middle grade through adult—query YA first if you're writing across age groups.
Every confirmed YA deal centers characters of color or celebrates identity (Black joy, South Asian/Japanese-inspired fantasy, found family in geek culture), signaling that diversity is not a buzzword for him but a consistent editorial commitment backed by real deals.
His sale of A Spin of Fate to Putnam Children's in a significant pre-empt three-book deal demonstrates real commercial muscle at top-tier children's imprints; Brian Wasson's book went to auction at Quill Tree—he can generate heat and compete at major houses.
Earlier work on T.C. LoTempio's cozy mysteries and the Al Sharpton nonfiction title (co-sold with Josh Getzler) shows roots in commercial mystery and narrative nonfiction, but his independent deal record has since pivoted firmly toward YA speculative and contemporary fiction.
He is biracial and part Filipino and has explicitly flagged Filipino stories as a personal priority—writers with authentic Filipino narratives should consider this a genuine edge in their pitch.
Lately
His agency profile continues to emphasize BIPOC stories of all kinds as his foremost priority, with particular personal investment in Filipino narratives and Black joy stories—framed as an ongoing, active search rather than a passing trend.
What Jon is looking for
YA is where his deal record is deepest and most recent. He wants contemporary YA that celebrates Black joy and centers the Black American experience without relying on trauma as the primary lens, as well as YA fantasy drawing on non-European mythologies and cultural frameworks. Stories featuring BIPOC protagonists navigating high-pressure social environments, ethical dilemmas, or identity are strongly aligned with his track record.
He is actively seeking fantasy and speculative fiction that draws on non-European folklore, mythology, and cosmology—African, Filipino, South Asian, and other traditions welcome. Contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, and magical realism set in the real world with a distinctive speculative twist are all on his radar. He specifically wants dark academia with inventive magic systems, time-travel or parallel-worlds narratives that engage with real sociopolitical questions, and speculative takes on enclosed professional environments (think fantasy versions of high-stakes institutional dramas). A speculative novel that uses video game or tabletop RPG mechanics—something with the structural energy of Ready Player One but without nostalgia as its engine—is explicitly on his wish list.
He gravitates toward cerebral, idea-driven SF rather than action-first space opera. Big philosophical questions, innovative world-building, and speculative technology interest him more than straightforward adventure. His personal reading tastes run toward landmark hard SF and literary SF, suggesting he wants work that takes the genre seriously as a vehicle for ideas.
He wants literary and upmarket adult fiction centering BIPOC experiences—particularly Black and Filipino perspectives. A multigenerational Black family reunion novel, stories about a character returning to their ancestral homeland, and romances or rom-coms between two characters of color are all explicit targets. He draws a clear line: Black joy and Black life as full, complex stories, not as trauma narratives for non-Black audiences.
He wants BIPOC amateur sleuths challenging entrenched power structures, horror or mystery set against historically loaded American spaces (Civil War reenactments, plantation settings) where the present-day plot resonates thematically with the nation's past, and spy thrillers with taut plotting and a modern sensibility in the tradition of the late Robert Ludlum. His earlier deal record includes cozy mysteries, but his current wish list prioritizes culturally specific and socially engaged crime fiction over traditional cozies.
Contemporary MG is a stated interest, especially stories featuring BIPOC protagonists. He has not yet confirmed a standalone MG deal in the public record, so the appetite here is rooted in his wishlist rather than demonstrated sales—query with that context in mind.
Not the right fit
On Jon's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jon
Submit through his designated online query form linked from his agency page—he does not accept unsolicited email queries directly.
Lead your query letter with the cultural specificity of your story: if your manuscript centers Black joy, Filipino identity, or non-European mythology, say so in your opening paragraph—this is his primary acquisition filter.
Name your age category and genre clearly upfront (e.g., 'YA contemporary fantasy'). His wishlist spans a wide range, but his deal record is concentrated in YA—if your book fits that age range, make that visible.
If your manuscript matches one of his explicitly named concept targets—the multigenerational Black family reunion novel, the fantasy professional-environment drama, the Civil War reenactment horror/mystery—flag it directly and briefly. He has named these as gaps he wants to fill.
Avoid framing Black characters primarily through a lens of suffering or trauma. His stated preference is for stories that treat Black life as full, joyful, and complex—not as cautionary tales or grief narratives for outside audiences.
If your book involves cross country, track and field, tabletop RPG mechanics, or Filipino culture, mention it. These are genuine personal passions he has openly flagged as submission accelerants.
Verify the live form is currently accepting submissions before querying—his status has not been independently confirmed recently.