Hi, I’m Jesse.
I’m an editor at Ballantine BOOKS, an imprint of Random House.
The authors I work with are Alexia Arthurs, Adrian Bliss, Jinwoo Chong, Katie Collom, Megan Cummins, Rose Dommu, Kallie Emblidge, Jo Firestone, Callie Kazumi, Shelly Jay Shore, Mary Helen Specht, Catherine Steadman, Leigh Stein, and more.
Books I’ve Edited
Works-in-Progress
DEBUT NOVEL
ALEXIA ARTHURS
The debut novel from the O. Henry and Plimpton Prize–winning author of How to Love a Jamaican.
MUDLARK
Mary helen specht
A literary speculative novel—for fans of Station Eleven and A Visit from the Goon Squad—about a troubled rock star gone missing after a fateful hurricane and her daughter years later, a “mudlark” who salvages art from a flooded New York and embarks on a mission to discovery the truth of her mother’s disappearance after finding her long-lost solo album.
TWO LEFT FEET
Kallie emblidge
A debut romantic comedy—Red, White, and Royal Blue set in the Premier League—about an injured star midfielder forced to mentor the younger new hotshot called up to replace him—risking his celebrity, his legacy, and his closely guarded heart.
Wishlist
I specialize primarily in fiction: literary / commercial crossover, suspense, romantic comedy, and more. I’m a passionate advocate for queer stories and love art, history, music, and writing.
Upmarket & literary fiction
I’m looking for work that combines exceptional prose, strong narrative momentum, and an enticing hook. I love lost but loveable protagonists, good people who behave badly, stories that drop me into a world or subculture that I didn’t know about before; and I also love adventure stories, coming-of-age stories, quirky family dramas, humanistic speculative fiction, and lots more. The books I tend to acquire manage to combine emotional poignancy with humor and expand outward. By that, I mean they’re ambitious and span time and place with a graceful stride.
thrillers & suspense
For our Bantam list, I’m looking for psychological suspense, voice-driven or character-driven mysteries with charming sleuths, dark academia thrillers, and heist novels. The suspense market is saturated, so I’m on the hunt for books that can really stand out, that feel fresh, or are from diverse voices that we don’t often see in the genre. With every thriller, I’m looking for writing that instantly pulls me in and keeps me on the edge of my seat, a strong sense of atmosphere, emotional resonance, and a winning premise.
romantic comedy
For our Dell list, I’m looking for high-concept love stories full of heart and humor. My taste in this area tends to be out-of-the-box; I’ve worked on a rom-com set in a Jewish funeral home and a lyrical historical romance inspired by two real-life medieval kings who were sworn rivals and lovers.
SELECT NONFICTION
I primarily edit fiction, but I never say no to nonfiction. I’m looking for memoir, essay collections, cultural criticism, humor, popular science and history, food and music writing, reportage, and anything that offers insight into the surreal nature of our digital age.
If you’re thinking of submitting a project in one of these categories, there’s probably a better editor for you out there: science fiction and fantasy, women’s historical fiction, young adult, short story collections, cookbooks, sports, graphic memoirs and novels, poetry, business, self-help, health and wellness, and serious nonfiction.
ABOuT
Previously, I held editorial positions at Knopf Doubleday, A Public Space, Writers House, Massie & McQuilkin, and PEN America. I grew up on Long Island and now live in Brooklyn.
Experience
EDITOR, BALLANTINE BOOKS
I acquire, edit, and oversee the publication of around ten titles a year—ranging from high-end commercial to literary fiction, and select nonfiction. I collaborate deeply with authors to conceptualize, refine, and edit manuscripts, providing in-depth editorial feedback and guidance on the macro- and micro-level. I liaise with various departments including marketing, design, and production to ensure a cohesive and impactful book launch strategy.
I started in 2018 as an editorial assistant.
EDUCATION
I graduated with Honors from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in the Writing Seminars. I won the Stephen Dixon Prize for Fiction Writing and was published in the Hopkins Review, Bmoreart, and other magazines.
