Jon graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and later completed a Master’s degree in Publishing: Digital and Print Media at NYU. After gaining experience at Writers House and NYU Press, he joined HG Literary to assist partner and agent Josh Getzler on a wide variety of titles in fiction and nonfiction. In addition to being an agent, Jon also coordinates HG Literary’s internship program. Jon reads all genres of fiction but has a particular interest in contemporary middle grade and YA, science fiction and fantasy, African-American fiction, literary fiction, and mysteries and thrillers. He also has a soft spot for anything related to track and field, geek culture, weird science or cutting-edge technology.
Things I’m looking for
BIPOC stories of all kinds, especially Black or Filipino stories Romances and rom-coms between two characters of color Black joy! Stories that center the Black American experience without centering Black trauma Stories that revolve around a character’s return to their ancestral home Fantasy or speculative stories leveraging non-European folklore, mythology and cosmology Contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy or magical realism–stories set firmly in our world but with a unique twist Smart, taut spy thrillers channeling the late Robert Ludlum, with a modern voice BIPOC amateur sleuths taking on entrenched power structures Thoughtful, cerebral science fiction focused on big ideas Anything involving time travel or parallel worlds, especially if used to comment on real-life sociopolitical issues
More specific
A literary or upmarket novel set during a big, multigenerational Black family reunion A speculative novel that leverages video game or tabletop mechanics like Ready Player One (but with less nostalgia-baiting) A horror or mystery novel set during a Civil War reenactment, on a historic plantation, etc.–where the present-day story links thematically with America’s dark past A speculative take on an enclosed, high-pressure, professional environment–fantasy Law & Order, The Newsroom or Grey’s Anatomy A dark academia novel with unique, creative magic systems like A Deadly Education A speculative novel where characters use metaphysics to steer social change like The Future of Another Timeline
Fun facts about me
I’m a lifelong runner and will read any story that involves Cross Country and Track & Field. I am biracial and part Filipino and am actively looking for Filipino stories in my inbox. I will understand any reference you make to any video game ever. Submission Guidelines Jon accepts unsolicited queries through Query Tracker at QueryMe.Online/Cobb. Guidelines & Details Vital Info jon@ Linkedin Website Agent
Fiction
Action/Adventure, BIPOC Crime Fiction, BIPOC Literature, BIPOC Mystery, BIPOC Thriller, Children's, Contemporary, Crime, Family Saga, Fantasy, Gothic, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, Mystery, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romance, Romcom, Science Fiction, Speculative, Speculative Literary, Thriller, Young Adult
Favorite sub-genres
#ownvoices, African Diaspora, African Fantasy, African Sci-Fi, MG, dark academia I’d like the next… Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala Babel by R.F. Kuang Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The City We Became by N.K Jemisin My favorites include… Books The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Black Boy by Richard Wright