JABberwocky Literary Agency

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Query guidelines and other useful info can be found on our website: You can also visit Joshua's Blog to find deeper takes on our posts and our agency's business.

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JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 8d

The theme is: high body count, even higher stakes 💘 A very happy #bookbirthday to DEVOUR ME by Emily Rath and THE KILLING RULES by @breedespain.bsky.social!

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 11d

Publishers Weekly also had a great review of BLIGHTFALL, the first in the Riftwake series by @brandonsanderson.com and @jancipatterson.bsky.social (out in a month!) "Thrilling action, chaste romance, and gentle humor maintain the zippy pace and lighthearted tone...It’s a blast."

A picture of a Publishers Weekly review of BLIGHTFALL by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson. It reads:
"Set in Sanderson’s Skyward universe and spun off from his and coauthor Patterson’s Skyward Flight series, this spirited trilogy launch sees a peaceful mission to a remote human space colony go sideways. After defeating “oppressive galactic empire” the Superiority, the human and alien inhabitants of planet Detritus start contacting other worlds. When communication attempts with far-flung Blightfall prove unsuccessful, flight-leader Arturo Mendez, pilot Sadie Chay, and other teen members of military unit Skyward Flight accompany diplomats on an in-person visit. Evidence indicates that Blightfall’s humans don’t have spaceships, but when Detritus’s delegation arrives, armed drones destroy the diplomats’ vessel, forcing Arturo and company to crash-land. Blightfall’s inhibitor field prevents them from hyper-jumping home, summoning reinforcements, or warning would-be rescuers, so while it’s clear they’ve “drastically misunderstood” the situation on this planet, the crew has little choice but to head for Blightfall’s lone city and find a way to save themselves. Breezy first-person narration alternates between cautious Arturo and ebullient Sadie, interspersed with interludes from amiable alien slugs. Thrilling action, chaste romance, and gentle humor maintain the zippy pace and lighthearted tone, while introspective depictions of intersectionally diverse characters add substance. It’s a blast. Ages 12–up. Agents: (for Sanderson) Joshua Bilmes, JABberwocky Literary; (for Patterson) Eddie Schneider, JABerwocky Literary. (Sept.)"

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 11d

Make that TWO Daily Doubles for Booklist! THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP and THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES, both by @gradyhendrix.bsky.social, are among the Top SFF and Horror Audiobooks! www.booklistonline.com/Top-10-SF-F-...

A picture of an article in Booklist titled Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror On Audio. Among the entries are:

- The Final Girl Support Group [Dramatized Adaptation]. By Grady Hendrix. Read by a full cast. 2026. 9hr. GraphicAudio, DD (9798890559470). This fully produced, 42-voice spectacle is a horror-fan must-listen. Within the gritty survival story, we hear nasty chat threads, therapy notes, articles, book excerpts, incident reports, and interview transcripts voiced by dozens of actors.

- The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires [Dramatized Adaptation]. By Grady Hendrix. Read by a full cast. 2025. 12.5hr. GraphicAudio, DD (9798890559456). Yes, Bahni Turpin’s 2020 narration of the original was grand, but nearly three dozen narrators create this aural feast, enhanced with eerie music and a satisfyingly squelchy, slurpy, slimy soundtrack.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 11d

A Daily Double in Booklist — WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by @gradyhendrix.bsky.social and ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS by Yah Yah Scholfield are among Booklist's essential body horror reads! www.booklistonline.com/products/982...

A list in Booklist Magazine featuring their picks for essential reads in the body horror category. Among the entries are:
- On Sundays, She Picked Flowers. By Yah Yah Scholfield. 2026. 240p. Saga (9781668091210). In a tale that is harrowing yet somehow hopeful in its look at generational trauma, a Black woman goes to extreme measures to get out from under her mother’s thumb in the American South during the 1960s.

- Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. By Grady Hendrix. 2025. 432p. Berkley (9780593548981). he visceral horror of pregnancy and birth are laid bare in this tale of a home for pregnant teenagers and the bookmobile librarian who, with a book on witchcraft, changes their lives forever.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 11d

As Seen in Print! FINAL COPY by Robert Friedman Douglas got a ⭐starred review⭐ in Publishers Weekly! "Friedman races out of the gate with a sure-footed debut centered on investigative reporter turned private eye David Anderson...This is top-notch." awfulagent.com/ebooks/final...

A photo of the starred review for FINAL COPY by Robert Douglas Friedman: "Friedman races out of the gate with a sure-footed debut centered on investigative reporter turned private eye David Anderson. In 1995 New York City, David is surprised when Ellen Foley, his ex-girlfriend and former editor at Gotham Express magazine, walks into his office asking for help. Ellen’s not quite ex-husband, Jonathan Daly—Princeton grad, scion of a wealthy family, and publisher of Gotham Express—has been killed, and a threatening phone call has led Ellen to believe she could be next. It’s been years since David left the magazine, but Ellen asks him to return and investigate Jonathan’s death. With bills to pay and a sense of obligation to his old flame, David agrees. He dusts off his journalistic skills and dives into a thicket of lies surrounding Jonathan’s identity and business practices, raising questions about how much Ellen ever really knew him. Friedman’s sleek prose and knack for well-timed wisecracks carry readers through the plot’s clever reversals and red herrings, and David is a quick-witted and appealing lead. This is top-notch. Agent: James Farner, JABberwocky Literary. (Oct.)"

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 12d

Headed to @laworldcon.bsky.social at the end of the month? Be sure to check out these panels (including a Table Talk) featuring our Founder & President, Joshua Bilmes! 💥 guide.lacon.org

A screenshot of the LA WorldCon schedule for Joshua Bilmes! It lists the following panels:
- The Business Side of a Writing Career / 3pm, Thurs. August 27th in Room 261A (ACC North)
- Writing Cover or Query Letters / 4:30pm, Thurs. August 27th in Room 254 (ACC North)
- The Legal Intricacies of Publishing Contracts / 1:30pm, Fri. August 28th in Room 254 (ACC North)
- What Does An Agent Actually Do For An Author? / 1:30pm, Sat. August 29th in Huntington (Hilton)
- Editors', Agents', and Slush Readers' Pet Peeves / 10:30am, Sun. August 30th in Room 251C (ACC North)
- Table Talk: Joshua Bilmes / 3pm, Sun. August 30th in Monterey (Hilton)

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 25d

This week marks a major milestone: it's the 20th anniversary of @brandonsanderson.com's MISTBORN being published! We're so excited and proud to see this book continue to receive its flowers with readers across the world 🌟 Congratulations, Brandon! awfulagent.com/ebooks/mistb...

The original Mistborn cover for the hardcover edition

The original paperback cover for Mistborn

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· 29d

It's a ~historical~ double #bookbirthday today! A very happy publication day to THE INTRIGUE by @silviamg.bsky.social, a noir thriller set in 1940s Mexico, and THE EYE OF LEVIATHAN by @macarrick.bsky.social, a new fantasy duology set in an alternate Spanish Golden Age 🎉

The book cover for Silvia Moreno-Garcia's THE INTRIGUE. In the top right corner is a side view of a person's nose and jaw. The person has a cigar in their mouth, with a flame at the end of it. The flame also functions as a doorway, as another character is silhouetted against it. The book title and the author name are written in a swooping, almost chalky font (in bright yellow and pink, respectively).

Book cover for THE EYE OF LEVIATHAN by M.A. Carrick. The cover has a light brown, decorative frame that highlights two equal circles on the top and bottom of the cover, in almost an hourglass type configuration. The top circle is a light sea green and features part of an illustrative map. The bottom circle is a light gold with a ferocious, dragon-looking sea monster rearing its head back towards the middle. In the center between these two circles is a red wax stamp with a symmetrical boat design.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Jul 10

The Hallowed War, an epic fantasy trilogy from @timakers.bsky.social, is now available in ebook with shiny new covers! awfulagent.com/serie/the-ha...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Jul 7

We're starting off July with perfect summer reading ☀️ Happy #bookbirthday to BEACH BLONDE BETRAYAL by @elaineviets.bsky.social and THIS MACHINE KILLS BILLIONAIRES by @trnapper.bsky.social!

The book cover for BEACH BLONDE BETRAYAL by Elaine Viets. A pair of sunglasses wrapped in pink polka dot paper is set against a sky blue background

The book cover for THIS MACHINE KILLS BILLIONAIRES by T. R. Napper. A lone silhouetted figure stands in front of an ominous-looking giant digital face that is set above a cyberpunk city.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Jun 1

Our shiny new edition of @realcharlaine.bsky.social's AFTER DEAD, a collection of 130-plus "Where are they now?" stories from the world of Sookie Stackhouse, is now available wherever ebooks are sold! 🦇 awfulagent.com/ebooks/after...

The cover of the ebook edition of AFTER DEAD: WHAT CAME NEXT IN THE WORLD OF SOOKIE STACKHOUSE

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 19

It's a double #bookbirthday today! Happy publication to RACHEL WEST AND THE FALLEN STARLET by Emma Mills and NAVIGATORS YOU CAN TRUST by Patrick Fitzgerald! 🎉

The book cover for RACHEL WEST AND THE FALLEN STARLET by Emma Mills, featuring a hot pink flip phone from the 2000s era. The phone screen shows a young woman falling from a great height.

The book cover for NAVIGATORS YOU CAN TRUST by Patrick Fitzgerald. Against an orange background, there is an hourglass cut-out that shows the hills of a planet and space above. Four figures are silhouetted at the bottom of the cut-out; above them is a ship flying towards a series of symbols that represent celestial navigation.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 19

The crowd starting to filter in for the @brandonsanderson.com Tolkien Lecture in Oxford Town Hall

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 14

Cover reveal! GOOD NIGHT, BREAK A LEG is a precious love letter from fathers to son and a celebration of all kinds of families, Broadway, and Bret Shuford's legacy 💛 Check out the beautiful unboxing by Bret's husband and son: www.instagram.com/p/DYVNdhfgPNZ/

The cover for GOOD NIGHT, BREAK A LEG: LIFE WITH BROADWAY DADS. The book was written by Bret Shuford, a Broadway performer, co-creator of Broadway Husbands, and proud father. The book is illustrated by artist Elena Hager.

The cover features two men in navy tuxedos with red lining and red bowties. Between them, they hold a young blond child in a blue-and-white striped shirt and brown overalls. They are all smiling; the man on the right is holding a Broadway ticket. Behind them, golden lights illuminate the trio against a red and purple background. It is a beautiful illustration of a family having a joyous moment together.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 12

Out now: the tenth anniversary edition of Frederic S. Durbin's A GREEN AND ANCIENT LIGHT! ✨ Available in ebook and paperback, it includes an author introduction and a conversation between Durbin and the magazine editor who helped launch his novel-writing career. awfulagent.com/ebooks/a-gre...

The cover of Frederic S. Durbin's A GREEN AND ANCIENT LIGHT 10th Anniversary Edition featuring the pull quote "A magical quote" from Library Journal (starred review).

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 7

Make that a Trifecta! @lavietidhar.bsky.social's THE THREE COFFIN PROBLEM is featured in this month's edition of Foreword Reviews: "[C]lever and amusing novel...Following a series of memorable, complicated cases, The Three Coffin Problem is a fun, twisting detective novel." ⚰️

A print edition of Foreword Reviews, featuring a review of THE THREE COFFIN PROBLEM by Lavie Tidhar:

"In Lavie Tidhar’s clever and amusing novel in short stories The Three Coffin Problem, a vampire judge and his otherwise unremarkable human sidekick travel through medieval Europe, solving a series of crimes involving the vampire community.

Judge Dee is an ancient vampire whom other vampires summon to rule on cases and enforce the law. In the nine stories of this novel, he and his helper, Jonathan, confront bloody crimes in gothic settings. They contend with multiple suspects with competing motives.

In “The Mystery of the Missing Manuscript,” Judge Dee is summoned to answer for a library book that has been overdue for centuries; he winds up solving a murder that takes place after his arrival. In “The Three Deaths of Count Wenderfels,” the judge is called to solve a vampire’s murder, only to find too many people trying to take credit for it.

Each tale is strong on its own; recurring secondary characters result in clear throughlines, as do lessons learned that help in later cases. Judge Dee’s investigative approach reflects those in closed-circle mysteries: He inspects the scene, questions the suspects, and reveals the culprit to all those present.

The interplay between the characters is quite engaging. Judge Dee is serious, brilliant, and a stickler for a vampire-specific moral code that few of his fellow vampires take as seriously. Jonathan tends to concern himself with what food the hosts have on offer and how much of it, though he sometimes provides the judge with a helpful human perspective on the proceedings. His humor blends well with the gritty noir of the crimes the duo investigates.

Following a series of memorable, complicated cases, The Three Coffin Problem is a fun, twisting detective novel."

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 7

And wouldn't you know... it's a Daily Double! Publishers Weekly also includes a great review for @silviamg.bsky.social's THE INTRIGUE: "Moreno-Garcia keeps the power dynamics unstable in this deliciously dark thriller...The resulting fireworks are difficult to look away from." 💥

The print edition of Publishers Weekly featuring the first third of a review of THE INTRIGUE by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:

"Moreno-Garcia (The Bewitching) satisfies with this devilish tale of a con man in 1940s Mexico who meets his match in the niece of his latest victim. Fleeing a failed effort to con a widow, Ulises Linares arrives in Veracruz at a boarding house owned by Perla Inclán, an older woman with whom he’s been corresponding. Upon arrival, Ulises is both intrigued and disturbed by Perla’s"

(review continues in next image)

The print edition of Publishers Weekly featuring the last two-thirds of a review of THE INTRIGUE by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (first third in previous image):

"beautiful niece, Inés, whom Perla treats like a live-in servant. Inés is observant and wily, suspecting from the jump that Ulises has an ulterior motive in wooing her aunt. Ulises offers to share Perla’s money with Inés if Perla agrees to marry him, but the plan goes awry when the duo discovers Perla is unwilling to cede control of her funds. As Ulises and Inés devise dramatic measures to get their way, their desire to rid Perla of her money wars with their reluctance to cause mortal harm. Moreno-Garcia keeps the power dynamics unstable in this deliciously dark thriller, with most of the characters concealing momentous secrets that inform their respective motivations. The resulting fireworks are difficult to look away from. Agent: Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky. (July)"

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 7

As Seen in Print! SONGS OF THE DEAD by @brandonsanderson.com and Peter Orullian is featured in this week's edition of Publishers Weekly: "[A] solid urban fantasy...It’s an entertaining start." 🎶

The print edition of Publishers Weekly displaying a review for SONGS OF THE DEAD by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian:

"Bestseller Sanderson (the Stormlight Archives series) teams up with musician Orullian (Metropolis Pt. 2) to craft a solid urban fantasy, the first in their Strata Wars series, in which songs are magic with the power to shape the afterlife. Jack Solomon, just fired from a British metal band, dies alongside his mentor, Henry. Henry stays dead, but Jack comes back to life, assuming responsibility for Henry’s pub, the Iron Horse, and navigating the newfound abilities to see the Strata, the layers of afterlife that underlie present-day London, and manipulate the music that controls them. Still struggling with trauma due to his mother’s desertion of the family and his father’s leadership of a notorious L.A. street gang, Jack must master his magical abilities to pin Henry’s murder on Muster Brach, leader of a rival faction fomenting revolution in the Strata to replace the “unregulated” music Jack loves with his own more orderly tunes. The authors center the narrative on music’s ability to move people to both war and peace, dotting the text with copious references to composers and bands old and new to illustrate its timeless power. This well-realized magic system, which feels like classic Sanderson, will draw readers in, and though the fast-paced plot takes some complicated turns, the authors stick the landing. It’s an entertaining start."

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· May 5

We have a multi-book birthday today with four new client books published! Available now: ☀️ THE STORY OF EVERYTHING, THE STORY OF YOU written by Kara Newhouse 💥 SQUAD KILL by Jack Campbell 💐 FATALLY YOURS by Jessica Lacy ⛪️ FOR BETTER OR MURDER by Simon R. Green

The book cover for THE STORY OF EVERYTHING, THE STORY OF YOU! written by Kara Newhouse and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove featuring chalk-like drawings of topics covered in the book, such as planets, dinosaurs, sea creatures, and more.

The book cover for SQUAD KILL by Jack Campbell, featuring four members of a team in mecha-gear, carrying guns, and looking intensely around the room they're in.

The book cover for FATALLY YOURS by Jessica Lacy featuring a lacquered skull with a bouquet of vibrant red and pink flowers displayed in its jaws.

The book cover for FOR BETTER OR MURDER by Simon R. Green, featuring the silhouette of a church with a cross protruding from the top against the night sky with a full moon.

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 20

Finally, Mary Soon Lee's THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON rightfully earned Mary an Elgin Award, and this ebook edition of the epic-in-verse includes 40 gorgeous illustrations by Gary McCluskey. awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-s...

The cover of Mary Soon Lee's THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON accompanied by the text:
Elgin Award Winner!
“I read the first couple of pages and I was caught. This is indeed an epic, and it’s brilliant.”
–Kelly Jennings, Asimov’s
Now Only $3.99
Ends March 31

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 20

Third is TOO MANY MAGICIANS, a Hugo finalist by the late Randall Garrett. It's set in an alternate reality where Richard the Lionheart’s descendants rule and the laws of magic developed in place of physics—fantasy crossed with old-school locked-room mystery. awfulagent.com/ebooks/too-m...

The cover of Randall Garrett's TOO MANY MAGICIANS accompanied by the text:
“The magical system that Garrett devises is interesting and complicated ... a great example of the locked room mystery form. The solution is quite ingenious.”
–Mysteries Ahoy!
Now Only $3.99
Ends March 31

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 20

Then we have A GREEN AND ANCIENT LIGHT, a lush literary fantasy from acclaimed author Frederic S. Durbin. The Realm Award winner is set in a world that parallels our own during a war that parallels World War II. awfulagent.com/ebooks/a-gre...

The cover of Frederic S. Durbin's A GREEN AND ANCIENT LIGHT accompanied by the text:
Realm Award Winner!
“This gentle, engaging, and very personal coming-of-age story is mythic in its universality.”
–Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
Now Only $4.99
Ends March 31

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 20

First up, BUTTER COOKIES AND DEMON CLAWS is a cosy whodunnit set in internationally bestselling author Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle universe. Need we say more? awfulagent.com/ebooks/butte...

The cover of Peter V. Brett's BUTTER COOKIES AND DEMON CLAWS accompanied by the text:
“A cosy fantasy taking place in the world of The Demon Cycle? It feels like it shouldn’t work, but it actually does work really, really well.“
–Grimdark Magazine
Now Only $3.99
Ends March 31

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 19

A HUGE congratulations to JAB client @ajirving.bsky.social — THE BI BOOK is a 2026 Lambda Literary Award finalist in the LGBTQ+ Children's Books category! 🎉💖💜💙 A sweet, loving lesson in language and love, on a subject rarely covered." —Booklist, starred review! awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-b...

Screenshot of the 2026 Lambda Literary Award finalists for the LGBTQ+ Children's Books category. Of the six finalists, THE BI BOOK, written by AJ Irving and illustrated by Cynthia Alonso, is included!

The full list of nominees:
- A Year of Pride and Joy // Simon James Green. Magic Cat
- Devin’s Gift // Alana Tyson, illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Philomel an Imprint of Penguin Young Readers
- JIM! Six True Stories about One Great Artist: James Marshall // Jerrold Connors. Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers
- O.K. Is Gay // Vincent X. Kirsch. Abrams Books for Young Readers
- Tales from Beyond the Rainbow // Pete Jordi Wood. Penguin Young Readers
- The Bi Book // A.J. Irving, illustrated by Cynthia Alonso. Random House Children’s Books | Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 17

"Charm and levity lurk around every corner in THE SOMEWHAT WICKED WITCH OF BRIGANDALE, a sprightly cozy fantasy from C.M. Waggoner." — @readbookpage.bsky.social A very happy #bookbirthday to THE SOMEWHAT WICKED WITCH OF BRIGANDALE indeed! awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-s...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 16

PS: it's also the perfect time to pre-order THE INTRIGUE, forthcoming July 14! awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-i...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 16

According to Kirkus, @silviamg.bsky.social's THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME "proves, once again, that she is a master of her craft." You can snag this GMA Book Club pick in ebook for $1.99 now through March 22! awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-s...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 11

We’re delighted to announce that Aliette de Bodard's THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS has been chosen as one of Kobo's Best Books of the Month in Canada! 🏆 www.kobo.com/ca/en/list/b...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 10

Happy #bookbirthday to these new editions of @aliettedebodard.com's Dominion of the Fallen trilogy, complete with introductions, short stories, and gorgeous new covers designed by @fringe-element.net! Published by JAB Books in partnership with @zenoagency.bsky.social. awfulagent.com/serie/domini...

JABberwocky Literary Agency@awfulagent· Mar 10

and too many books to only be reading one