Jade Wong-Baxter

Frances Goldin Literary Agency

My Manuscript Wish List®

Jade joined the Frances Goldin Literary Agency in 2021. She previously worked for three years at Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents as a junior agent and foreign rights associate. A graduate of Vassar College, Jade got her start in publishing at Writers House, W. W. Norton, and Folio Literary Management. Her clients include Chris Belcher (PRETTY BABY, Avid Reader, 2022); Delia Cai (CENTRAL PLACES, Ballantine, 2023); Hannah Matthews (YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE, Atria, 2023); and Courtney Preiss (WELCOME HOME, CAROLINE KLINE, Putnam, 2024).

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I am looking for adult upmarket or literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, with an emphasis on narratives by and about people of color, as well as the perspectives of marginalized identities. My other areas of interest include magical realism, memoir, cultural criticism, and Asian-American history.

My general wishlist includes (but is not limited to!):

Asian-American writers, particularly SE Asian-American writers
Upmarket grounded speculative (must be set in this world; no high fantasy, please)
Stories focused on non-nuclear families and extended, nontraditional family relationships (including found family)
Queer coming-of-age stories that are still for an adult audience (i.e. not YA)
Smart, upmarket romcoms for the Emily Henry reader
Narrative food writing (not cookbook/prescriptive)
Nonfiction writing on contemporary social issues, especially on topics where there’s a sociological or public policy framework
Nonfiction exploring hidden histories or subcultures
Books focused on reproductive justice and equity

Specific niche interests I’ve been drawn to recently include:

Novels set in small towns or rural areas, especially with an adult return-to-hometown arc (a “she’s from the big city but she’s got to go back and confront her past!” vibe)
Books about sports, especially those that straddle the line between sport and art (dance, gymnastics, skating, cheer, etc.), and their intense subcultures
Books about music, musicians, and modern fan culture
Science-driven nonfiction about the natural world and the outdoors