Joylanda Jamison is a writer-editor and emerging literary agent at Embolden Media Group who is actively building a list centered on BIPOC voices across poetry, adult fiction and nonfiction, and children's books.
In brief
Joylanda Jamison is a newer agent — spotlighted in 2024 — which means their client list is still being built and query odds are meaningfully better than with an established agent carrying a full roster.
Their stated priorities are tightly defined: BIPOC-centered memoir, Christian romance with character-driven plots (not just romance-as-engine), accessible poetry, and culturally celebratory picture books and early readers.
No confirmed deal record is available yet, so the clearest insight into taste comes from Jamison's own background: a published writer in faith-based and literary outlets and a former guest poetry editor, signaling they will read poetry with a practitioner's eye.
The faith-based publishing background is a strong signal that Christian romance queries from writers who understand that genre's conventions — and can demonstrate character complexity beyond the love plot — will land well.
As a self-described amplifier of BIPOC voices, Jamison is not a generalist: writers whose work does not center underrepresented cultural perspectives should consider whether their project is the right match.
Lately
Jamison was featured in a published 'New Agent Alert' — a clear public signal that they were actively building a client list from scratch and prioritizing new writer relationships over an already-established roster.
What Joylanda is looking for
Jamison wants poetry that finds the extraordinary inside everyday, ordinary moments — verse that makes the reader stop and reconsider something they thought they already knew. Both traditional forms and free or experimental verse are welcome. Plain, accessible language is strongly preferred; elevated or 'lofty' diction is only welcome when it serves a clear artistic purpose. Any abstract ideas must be anchored in concrete imagery. Jamison's background as a published poet and former guest poetry editor means they will evaluate manuscripts with a practitioner's scrutiny.
Jamison is especially drawn to memoirs that place people of color — their experiences, inner lives, and perspectives — at the center of the narrative. Authentic voice is paramount; Jamison is explicit that a story must remain a true reflection of its author, not a polished-away version. Writers of color with a compelling personal narrative should consider this a priority target.
Jamison wants Christian romance novels where the characters themselves are the engine of the story — layered, complex individuals whose arcs extend beyond the central love relationship. Manuscripts that rely on the romance plot alone to carry the book are not what Jamison is seeking. The faith element should feel organic rather than decorative, and character development must be front and center.
For younger readers, Jamison is interested in picture books and early readers that celebrate the specific, distinctive aspects of a cultural identity — not in a didactic or heavy-handed way, but in a manner that feels fun, inviting, and genuinely exciting to a young mind. Cultural uniqueness should be presented as something to be curious and joyful about.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Joylanda
Check the agency website for the most current submission guidelines before querying — the page includes both a form and a direct email address, and guidelines may have been updated since the 2024 spotlight.
Lead your query with the cultural perspective at the heart of your work. Jamison's entire approach is built around amplifying BIPOC voices, so burying or softening this element is a strategic mistake.
For Christian romance, make the character complexity unmissable in your query — describe who your protagonist is as a full person, not just as half of a romantic pair. Jamison has explicitly flagged plot-dependent romance as what they do not want.
For poetry collections, address form, accessibility, and imagery directly. Because Jamison is a practitioner, they will notice whether a query understands how the manuscript works as a craft object — vague descriptions will not hold up.
For memoir, demonstrate authentic voice in the query itself. Jamison has said that a story must remain a genuine reflection of its author; a query written in a sanitized or generic register undercuts that from the first sentence.
For picture books and early readers, be specific about which cultural traditions, practices, or perspectives the book celebrates — 'diversity' as an abstract claim is not the same as concrete cultural specificity, and Jamison's wishlist is explicit on that distinction.
As a newer agent, Jamison is likely still building publisher relationships, but their editorial background and clear vision are strong foundations. Writers who want a collaborative, craft-oriented partnership — rather than simply a deal-maker — may find this a good fit.