Book Broker: an interview with Jonah Straus

March 28, 2025

Book Broker: an interview with literary agent Jonah Straus

Agent: Jonah Straus

Website: StrausLiterary.com

Preferred genres: literary fiction, history, social issues, biography, popular science, the environment, and the culinary arts.

Bio: Jonah Straus got his start in the warehouse at Atrium Publishers Group, an independent book distributor in Northern California, and went on to hold positions in production, editorial, sales, and marketing at several publishers in the San Francisco area. He moved to New York in 2005, where he worked in marketing for arts and literary programs, including the Selected Shorts NPR reading series at Symphony Space. He established Straus Literary in 2007, and moved the agency back to San Francisco in 2013 while maintaining a regular presence in New York. He has appeared at numerous writing conferences, including Community of Writers in Olympic Valley, the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference, the Guadalajara International Book Fair, and Muse and the Marketplace.

1) What stands out in a good submission?

Show that you've researched the agency and know what kind of work we represent. Explain why your work will appeal to us specifically. Be detailed, but prioritize brevity. Provide comparable titles. Tell us about yourself, but only in terms that apply to your work. List writerly achievements, as well as academic and professional ones.

2) What's a typical warning sign that a manuscript isn't ready for representation?

Typographical errors. Sloppy or pedantic writing.

3) What's at the top of your manuscript wish list right now?

We're always looking for unique ideas showcased by stellar writing. Our fiction tastes run to the multicultural and international, and often involve a journey of discovery. In nonfiction we look for narrative takes on the social, scientific, and environmental issues of our day.

4) For writers without prior publications, what can they say in their "about me" query paragraph to catch your attention? Does it help to know if the manuscript has gone through workshopping or developmental editing?

We favor writers who have some applicable life and/or professional experience related to their writing. So even if they haven't published before, it's helpful to know how their experience has informed their submission in a way that gives it authenticity. It helps to know if the manuscript has gone through workshopping or developmental editing, but not all workshops/editors are created equal.

5) Some people say that "agents hate prologues." Is that true for you? What is the most common reason that a prologue falls flat?

Hate is a strong word, I like historical context, but unless you have something pretty grabby in mind, often best to cut to the chase.

6) If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be and why?

The death of the midlist and the idea that every book has to be a blockbuster to be worthy.

7) How important is it for an author to have a strong social media presence when querying?

Not overly important unless the book's prospects are in some way directly tied to it.

8) What red flags in a query letter are enough to cause you to pass on a project without looking at the writer's sample pages? What percentage of submissions would you say die with the query letter?

We'll give everything a chance, but make sure to address our agency specifically, and spell things correctly. Do not ever include multiple agents in the "To:" field of a submission. At least 20 percent of submissions die with the query letter, but that's mainly because the author is working in a genre we don't handle.

9) What's the best (non-client) book you've read recently, and how did it hook you?

Robert Macfarlane's UNDERLAND. Literary nature writing full of wonder and adventure.

10) Can you tell us about an exciting author you're working with at the moment?

Tatjana Soli's new novel, details to come!

Interview with Jonah Straus, book agent from Straus Literary

About the Darling Axe

Our editors are industry professionals and award-winning writers. We offer narrative development, editing, and coaching for every stage of your manuscript's journey to publication.