Jonathan Rosen is a wide-ranging agent at The Seymour Agency who hunts for humor-laced fiction across adult and kidlit categories, with a particular eye for diverse voices — especially those reflecting Jewish and Latino/Mexican heritage.
In brief
Jonathan Rosen's stated wishlist is unusually broad, spanning adult crime/thriller/romcom/historical fiction, YA, graphic novels, and nonfiction — but humor and a distinct voice appear to be the through-line across almost every category.
The personal taste profile skews heavily cinematic: film references like Snatch, Lock Stock, Midnight Run, and Back to the Future signal a preference for propulsive pacing, wit, and genre-blending — writers should think about how their pitch sounds as a logline.
Jonathan actively names Jewish-Mexican descent as a lens for their acquisitions — stories that center underrepresented voices, and particularly those reflecting Latinx or Jewish experience, are likely to receive genuine enthusiasm.
Middle grade is explicitly off the table right now, making this a rare kidlit agent who wants YA and picture books (the latter likely from author-illustrators given the graphic novel interest) but NOT the category in between.
Query status is unverified — always confirm the current submission window directly before querying.
Lately
Jonathan publicly identifies as being of Jewish-Mexican heritage and notes that this background directly shapes their acquisitions lens — diverse voices, and especially those reflecting those specific cultures, will always get a close look.
What Jonathan is looking for
Jonathan is enthusiastic about crime fiction of all stripes, with a specific call-out for humorous capers in the vein of fast-talking ensemble heist films — witty, propulsive, and populated with memorable characters. All sub-types of mystery are welcome.
Thrillers of all types are on the wishlist. Jonathan's cinematic taste — spy thrillers, suspense, historical menace — suggests a preference for pace and high stakes. Fatherland is among their stated favorite books, pointing to appetite for historically grounded tension.
Jonathan wants romantic comedies that genuinely deliver laughs — whether grounded in believable relationship-building or gleefully absurd. The bar is simple: make them laugh. Warmth and wit together are ideal.
Historical fiction is listed as a sought category. Favorite books that skew historical suggest Jonathan appreciates specificity of period and genuine research alongside a compelling narrative drive.
Jonathan describes themselves as wide open in both science fiction and horror — an unusually permissive stance that suggests genuine curiosity rather than a narrowly defined target. Humor in these genres is clearly welcome (see: Hitchhiker's Guide as a stated favorite).
A broad nonfiction appetite covers biography, memoir, history, true crime, humor, pop culture, sports, travel, cookbooks, crafts/DIY, and illustrated works. The Bad Guys Won is a stated favorite, pointing toward narrative sports/pop-culture nonfiction with strong storytelling bones.
YA is a priority kidlit category for Jonathan. Voice-driven work, diverse protagonists, and genre variety are all welcome. The personal taste — spanning adventure, sci-fi, humor, and darker fare — suggests openness to YA across the spectrum.
Graphic novels for younger readers are on the list. Jonathan's stated love of Calvin and Hobbes and Marvel/Spider-Man comics confirms a genuine comics background, not a passing interest.
Nonfiction for children is welcomed. The You Wouldn't Want to Be series is cited as a childhood favorite — entertaining, fact-forward nonfiction with personality and humor fits the profile well.
Jonathan will consider picture books and chapter books, but these are noted as secondary considerations rather than a primary focus. Writers in these categories should have a particularly strong hook before querying.
Jonathan actively prioritizes diverse voices across all genres, with particular enthusiasm for stories reflecting Jewish and/or Latinx/Mexican experience. This is not a checkbox — it stems from personal identity and is explicitly named as an ongoing focus.
Not the right fit
On Jonathan's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jonathan
Send your query to Jonathan@theseymouragency.com with the subject line formatted exactly as: Query + [Title] + [Genre] — deviating from this format risks being overlooked.
Paste your query letter, a brief synopsis, and the first five pages directly into the body of the email. Do NOT include attachments unless Jonathan has specifically requested them.
Lead with voice and humor where your manuscript has it — Jonathan's stated favorites and film touchstones consistently reward wit, pace, and personality over premise alone.
If your work reflects Jewish or Latinx/Mexican identity or experience, name that clearly and early in the query letter. Jonathan has explicitly flagged this as an ongoing priority.
For crime and caper pitches, a punchy logline in the style of a film pitch (one-two sentences, high energy) will immediately signal you understand the tone Jonathan is hunting for.
For YA, lead with a distinctive protagonist voice — Jonathan's kidlit favorites span adventurous, character-driven series, so a memorable central figure matters as much as plot.
Middle grade: do not query at this time. Save that manuscript until Jonathan updates their wishlist.
Verify the submission window is currently open on The Seymour Agency's official website before hitting send — status was unconfirmed at the time this profile was written.