Jynastie Wilson is an Assistant Literary Agent at LCS Literary Agency who champions BIPOC, queer, and disabled voices across picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, and young adult — with a particular hunger for YA thrillers, sapphic romance, and middle grade horror.
In brief
Jynastie's wishlist is sharply identity-forward: BIPOC, queer, and disabled representation aren't just welcome — they are the stated priority across every category she works in.
YA thrillers and middle grade horror are her highest-heat areas right now; if your manuscript leans into supernatural dread or one-night slasher tension, she wants to see it.
In both picture books and graphic novels, Jynastie currently requires author-illustrators or illustrators — text-only picture book authors are considered selectively, not as a general open call.
Her taste skews toward emotional complexity and lived realism even within fantastical premises: blended families, immigrant experiences, chronic illness, and 'things not going as expected' recur throughout her wishlist.
As an assistant agent still building her list, her deal history is limited and publicly sparse — writers should weigh this as an early-career opportunity rather than a track record of major placements.
Lately
Jynastie has identified middle grade horror as an exciting and growing category, and described herself as enthusiastically welcoming everything supernatural in that age range — whether the tone is playful or genuinely frightening.
What Jynastie is looking for
Jynastie describes herself as a recent and enthusiastic convert to all flavors of YA thriller. She's especially drawn to slashers that unfold in a single night and boarding-school mysteries or investigations. BIPOC and queer protagonists are strongly preferred. Think tightly plotted, high-stakes, socially aware suspense.
Swoony, unconventional romance is a consistent obsession. She prefers either queer (with extra enthusiasm for pansexual leads) or BIPOC-centered stories, and has a specific fondness for the fake-dating trope. Sapphic romance is especially wanted. Romance layered into other genres is welcome as long as the emotional core is strong.
Jynastie wants fantasy that stays grounded — magical realism and reality-adjacent worldbuilding rather than sprawling epic fantasy. Retellings of BIPOC myths, legends, and folklore are a particular interest. She's also open to broader YA fantasy as long as it carries strong character and emotional weight.
She calls out middle grade horror as being on the rise and says she couldn't be happier about it. Everything supernatural is welcome — lighthearted or genuinely spooky. Friend and family groups working together to break curses, fight monsters, or survive together are especially appealing. Children-are-never-alone is the emotional throughline she's chasing.
Stories that reflect the true texture of childhood: blended families, immigrant parents, awkward first crushes, and plans that fall apart. She wants BIPOC kids to have their own coming-of-age milestones — the awkward romance, the messy friendships, the self-acceptance. Survival stories are a personal wishlist priority: kids-vs.-wilderness narratives with real stakes excite her deeply.
She leans toward the magical realism end of the fantasy spectrum for middle grade, and is especially drawn to retellings rooted in BIPOC myths, folklore, and legends. She'll consider broader MG fantasy but the grounded, culturally specific angle is what excites her most. All subgenres except nonfiction are open.
Open to all subgenres of MG and YA graphic novels, but with an important gate: she is currently only considering author-illustrators or illustrators — writers without illustration ability should not query in this category at this time. She's drawn to two distinct tones: soft, slice-of-life fantasy with an animated warmth, and emotionally complex contemporary. Uncommon family dynamics, living situations, and chronic illness representation are active wishes.
Jynastie is highly selective here. Her primary interest is in author-illustrators, though she will consider queries and text dummies from authors-only on a case-by-case basis. She's drawn to heartwarming stories with a BIPOC focus and to books that capture the wild, expansive imagination of children.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jynastie
Her form is CLOSED as of June 4, 2026 — check the live form before doing anything else. Do not query until it reopens.
Lead with identity: if your protagonist or your own authorial identity is BIPOC, queer, or disabled, say so in your first paragraph. This is not a checkbox — it is central to what she is building.
Name the subgenre precisely. 'YA thriller' and 'single-night slasher' will land much better than 'YA with suspense elements.' She is specific in her wishlist and responds to specificity in queries.
For graphic novels and picture books, make your role crystal clear upfront: are you an author-illustrator or a standalone author? If you are a writer without illustration samples, know that you are outside her current scope for those two categories.
If your MG or YA has series potential alongside standalone viability, say so — she explicitly wants books that work on their own but can grow.
Comp thoughtfully: she names specific, culturally grounded titles. Matching the emotional register and community focus of your comp choices (not just genre) will signal alignment with her taste.
Fake dating, sapphic romance, pansexual leads, BIPOC myths — if any of these describe your manuscript, name it directly. These are not generic plusses; they are specific wants she has articulated.
Since she is an assistant agent still building her list, your query letter has more weight than it would with a senior agent — a tight, enthusiastic pitch that demonstrates you understand her aesthetic will stand out.