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Jackie Garcia-Morales | Literary Agent, Author, Advocate

@hellojaymorales

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🇵🇷🌙 Literary Agent + Foreign Rights @stormliteraryagency
📝Author of Pesky Roots
🏆Rep’d Analía @andreabrownlit
@nieveesol 🌈 @usbby_books 🇺🇸

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

The Kirkus review for PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS is officially live!

“A sincere look at the intersection of hair and heritage.” - Kirkus Reviews @kirkus_reviews

I really love that line because hair and heritage are so intertwined at the heart of Izzy’s story. This book started with questions about what happens when something you have built your identity around begins to change, and how complicated it can be to figure out which parts of ourselves belong to us and which parts have been defined by the people around us.

Kirkus also called Izzy “likable and relatable” and highlighted the book’s exploration of self-discovery, identity, and colorism within Latine communities.

It still feels a little surreal every time someone new reads this book, especially now that we are getting so close to sharing Izzy with everyone.

PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS is a forthcoming bilingual English-Spanish middle grade novel from Piñata Books / Arte Público Press @artepublico.

🌱 Preorders are open now, and if you’re a librarian, educator, bookseller, or someone who believes this story belongs in the hands of a young reader, I would be so grateful if you considered adding it to your shelves. by @hellojaymorales

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22 days ago

So incredibly honored to see PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS included in @sljournal School Library Journal’s “Highly Anticipated Middle Grade Fiction Releasing Fall 2026 and Early 2027.” 📚💛

Thank you so much to School Library Journal for including Izzy’s story among this wonderful group of forthcoming middle grade books, where PESKY ROOTS is featured in the “Fear of Failure” category.

With PESKY ROOTS publishing October 31, seeing it recognized as a highly anticipated fall release means more than I can say.

PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS is available for preorder everywhere books are sold!!

I’m so grateful for every person helping this little bilingual Boricua book find its readers. 🇵🇷💛

To shop: check the link in bio or search PESKY ROOTS anywhere you can buy books, including Edelweiss for our bookseller and teacher/librarian family.

#middlegradebooks
#diversechildrensbooks by @hellojaymorales

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a month ago

So honored and grateful for this review of PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS from Publishers Weekly, calling it:

✨ “an empowering story about one tween’s attempts to connect with and embrace her heritage on her terms.”

If you’re an independent bookseller looking to carry a Latine #OwnVoices title that meets middle grade readers where they are, with humor, heart, and complexity rather than didacticism, slide into the DMs ✅.

And if you’re an educator or teacher, I’d love to hear from you too. I hope PESKY ROOTS can help open thoughtful conversations in classrooms around identity, belonging, beauty standards, culture, and what it means to feel at home in who you are.

I can't wait to see PESKY ROOTS on shelves and in classrooms this fall. 💛

The full Publishers Weekly review: @publisherswkly

979-8-89375-045-4
Using a tête-bêche format, PW contributor Garcia-Morales debuts with a thoughtful dual-English- and Spanish-language exploration of Puerto Rican identity. Twelve-year-old Ignacia Rivera-Colón—who prefers to be called Izzy—doesn’t feel like she has a lot in common with her family. Moving from New York City to Ivory Peak, N.J., and realizing that she’s the only Boricua student at her new school, exacerbates this feeling of being an outsider, which becomes more pronounced when the school librarian refers to Puerto Ricans as a minority, a term that’s new to Izzy. Her emotional turmoil heightens at the onset of puberty, during which her straight blond hair starts becoming dark and curly. As she struggles with self-image, Izzy finds comfort in new school friendships and in learning more about her culture and its history, including Taíno leader Hatuey and spirit guides called the Orisha. Izzy’s relationship with her mother is a bright spot: over the course of the novel, her mom approaches Izzy’s concerns with grace and patience, providing a safe space for the protagonist to make mistakes and try new things. The result is an empowering story about one tween’s attempts to connect with and embrace her heritage on her terms.

📚 October 31, 2026 from Arte Público Press @artepublico
Available at any bookstores!

#raicesyrelatoschallenge by @hellojaymorales

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2 months ago

Querying, and its agented cousin “going on submission” 😊, can be very stressful for authors and illustrators. There are VERY LONG wait times, periods of silence, false alarms for YES or NO, people changing minds, revisions required, and more work needing to be produced (or a pause on production). From someone with experience on both sides as author and literary agent, I think the best advice I ever got was to distract myself by working on other work until times for work on that project arise again. I’ll one up that advice today: I think sometimes authors and artists just need a minute to breathe. It doesn’t make sense at first…you may think that you have too much time to breathe as you wait. But people rarely TAKE it because of the emotional stress and mental gymnastics going on during this time of uncertainty. You have to force yourself to be mindful and find some escape to make sure you don’t deplete yourself! Go do something other than write or create. 💓You can take an hour to break. You can take a week. But do take time for yourself. by @hellojaymorales

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18 hours ago

One of the things I love most about publishing is that there's no single path to building a successful writing career. And sometimes, a book's journey is far from over after publication!

I'm welcoming submissions from published authors interested in subsidiary rights representation, including foreign translation, film/TV, audio, and other opportunities.

🔗 Special submission form linked in my Instagram bio under All My Links. It's clearly denoted and on top.

Having several self-published author friends, I've seen firsthand just how much dedication, creativity, and hard work goes into building an independent publishing career. I'd love to help champion those stories and explore opportunities to introduce them to new audiences.

📖 This special submission form is exclusively for published works seeking subsidiary rights representation. General queries and unpublished manuscripts submitted through this form will receive an automatic decline.

📖 I may close this special query window earlier than anticipated, so please keep an eye out for updates. It will at least be open through November. It will re-open periodically because this is one of my passions.

📖 For everyone already in my regular QueryTracker inbox: If your query is still there, it's still under consideration! I'm continuing to work through submissions and genuinely appreciate your patience.

📖 If you've received an offer of representation and need a faster response, please use the Message button in QueryTracker to let me know. I can't guarantee a response before your deadline, but I'll do my best.

My existing clients will always come first, but I take every query seriously and do read each one. by @hellojaymorales

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2 days ago

My uncle unexpectedly passed away on Monday, and one of my first thoughts was, “He never got to see my book.”

At first, I felt selfish for even thinking that. Why was I thinking about my book at a time like this? Was I really upset that I wouldn't get to share an accomplishment with him?

But today, it finally hit me.

When I was a kid, I changed my name. Just a kid doing kid things, trying to figure out who I was.

My mom told me my uncle thought it was funny. But the next time he visited, he greeted me by my new name.

And I lit up with happiness.

In PESKY ROOTS, my main character does something similar. She changes her name to one she thinks suits her better, and her family and friends go along with it.

That part of the plot? Inspired by him.

It's funny how small acts of acceptance and validation, things that might seem insignificant to adults, can leave such a lasting impact on kids.

Now, I don't think my uncle would have ever picked up a middle grade book (and the running joke is that most authors' families don't read their books anyway, lol). But, man, I wish I'd had the chance to throw the book at him during the holidays and say, “Hey, remember when...”

I immortalized that kindness of his.

My first book honors a little piece of him, and I never got the chance to tell him.

It wasn't about him seeing my accomplishment. It was about showing him that something he did, probably without giving it a second thought, meant so much to me that I wanted other kids to feel that same acceptance.

Writing it into my book was my way of saying a proper thank you.

It's funny how our books and our lives intertwine.

So, to my fellow writers: If you've written someone into your story, tell them. Tell them why.

I think they'd appreciate knowing that a little piece of them will live on in your words. ❤️ by @hellojaymorales

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3 days ago

Every writer has a story to tell. But how do you introduce yourself and your work in a way that makes people want to learn more?

Author and literary agent Jackie Garcia-Morales @hellojaymorales is joining @writegirlglobal for Planning to Publish, helping the next generation of authors master two essential publishing skills: crafting a compelling author biography and perfecting their pitch.

Drawing from her experience on both sides of the publishing industry, Jackie will share insights on communicating your creative identity, identifying what makes your writing stand out, and presenting your work with confidence and authenticity.

Whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or exploring different genres and formats, knowing how to introduce yourself and your stories is an important part of your creative journey.

If you're a teen girl or gender-expansive teen, ages 13-18, you are welcome to join us for this free workshop! To register, contact membership@writegirl.org. by @hellojaymorales

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3 days ago

Well, I'm doing this a little sooner than I thought I would!

With the holidays coming up, I'm hoping some of you are better at taking time off and spending it with family than I am (hello, fellow workaholics). So, I'm opening a special query form for self-published authors interested in exploring foreign, film/TV, audio, and other subsidiary rights opportunities!

I'm particularly excited about adult romance in all its forms. Contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, gothic, horror, holiday romance, and everything in between. All spice levels are welcome!

As someone with several self-published author friends, I know just how much work goes into building an independent publishing career. I'd love to help champion your stories, nurture your craft, and explore opportunities to bring your books to new audiences. And no, you don't have to give up self-publishing to work with an agent!

A few housekeeping notes:

This is a special submission form exclusively for self-published works seeking rights representation. Please don't use it for general queries, as those will receive an automatic decline.

I'm not sure how long I'll keep this form open and may close it earlier than anticipated, so please stay tuned!

For everyone already in my regular query inbox: If your query is still there, it's still under consideration! Thank you so much for your patience. I know the wait can be frustrating, and I genuinely appreciate the time you've given me.

If you've received an offer of representation and need a quicker response, please use the Message button in QueryTracker to let me know. I can't guarantee I'll be able to respond before your deadline, but I'll do my best.

One thing I wish more querying authors knew is that reviewing queries is only a small part of a literary agent's job. Our existing clients always come first, as they should! But I am steadily working through my inbox, and yes, I really do read every query. I take that responsibility seriously, even if it means I'm a little slower than I'd like to be.

Thank you for trusting me with your stories. I'm excited to see what you've been creating!

Submission link in my IG bio (Chirp Me - All My Links). by @hellojaymorales

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4 days ago

My mindful morning routine as a publishing professional: Wake up naturally after eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Enjoy a slow morning with a warm cup of tea. No screens, no emails, just being present. Work a balanced eight-hour day, close my laptop at 5 PM, and enjoy an evening of rest and relaxation.

Just kidding. 😂

I work in publishing.

My dear, I haven't been outside in...👀 omg nvm. I time my showers military style. The last 3 meals I ate were Orgain protein shakes.

The hours are long, the inbox is never empty, and the line between work and life is often hilariously nonexistent.

Good thing publishing is one of my special interests.

One of my mentors once told me (actually, more than one), "You're here because you love it, not because of the money. Because, there isn't much of that going around and you won't sleep much, I promise." He was right.

He stressed: Long hours. Little rest. Sometimes even less recognition. Was I sure I wanted to be here?

And you know what? Yes, I said then. And yes I say now.

I love books. I love the people who make them. I love discovering stories, championing voices, and getting to be part of an industry I've admired for so long.

That love keeps me going.

Is it glamorous? Not particularly. Would I choose it again? Absolutely. (And, in fact, I HAVE chosen it again and again.)

Anyway, here is my obligatory plig: please consider grabbing a copy of my debut middle grade novel, PESKY ROOTS / RAÍCES FASTIDIOSAS, coming October 31! Recommend it to your local library. Recommend it to a bookstore.

And remember: DON'T LOVE YOUR JOB, JOB YOUR LOVE 😭 by @hellojaymorales

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5 days ago

Meet Jackie Garcia-Morales (she/her)—a Puerto Rican author, literary agent, and publishing professional. Her debut title, Pesky Roots/Raíces Fastidiosas, is a bilingual middle grade novel centered on Boricua identity, forthcoming on Halloween 2026.

At Storm Literary Agency, she serves as an Associate Literary Agent and Foreign Rights Agent. She is also the founder of the Catalyst Creators Scholarship for underrepresented student authors, the Co-Founder/Director of The Storytellers Foundation and its Spotify award-winning podcast The Storyteller's Shelf, and co-founder of the Storyrise app.

Jackie is also a longtime advocate for representation in children’s literature and the founder of the forthcoming USBBY Latido Honor List for Latino children’s literature.

SWIPE 👈🏽 for a sneak peak on the story they want to share more on stages

🎉 Help us celebrate our cultura for Hispanic Heritage Month and amplify the voices of some incredible people who are doing meaningful work in the world

SUPPORT JACKIE
✌🏽 Follow @hellojaymorales and @nieveesol
🎤 Book them to speak at your next event or on your podcast

JOIN THE MOVEMENT
🎉 Follow @speakermovement + comment DIRECTORY to get featured on the official directory website

"I once thought my life was going to follow one very specific path.

I went to medical school, and today I work in publishing as an author and literary agent. That kind of reinvention taught me that resilience isn’t just surviving change. It’s being willing to grow, reassess, and make calculated moves toward the life you actually want.

Growth is required, but self-erasure isn’t. You can evolve, become more skilled, change direction, and pursue bigger opportunities without compromising the core of who you are.”

— Jackie Garcia-Morales

🎉 Help us celebrate our cultura for Hispanic Heritage Month and amplify the voices of some incredible people who are doing meaningful work in the world

SUPPORT JACKIE
✌🏽 Follow @hellojaymorales and @nieveesol
🎤 Book them to speak at your next event or on your podcast

JOIN THE MOVEMENT
🎉 Follow @speakermovement + comment DIRECTORY to get featured on the official directory website by @hellojaymorales

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12 days ago

👻 It’s Spooky Sales Season, witches! Are you an author blessed with an October pub date? 🧐

October is one of publishing’s busiest and most strategically important release windows. Here’s the book math:

In October 2025, U.S. publishing revenue reached approximately $1.5 billion, up 6.7% year over year.

Trade books generated about $1.1 billion. Hardcovers accounted for $521.3 million, while digital audio grew 7.3%.

And October 2025 wasn’t a fluke. In October 2024, publishing sales were up 8.3%, adult fiction rose 17.5%, and adult-fiction hardcovers jumped 28.2%.

So why October?

1. Holiday runway.

An October release has time to build reviews, publicity, bookseller awareness, word of mouth, and reader momentum before Black Friday and December gifting.

And consumers are shopping earlier. In 2025, 44% planned to begin holiday shopping earlier than usual, while nearly half planned to start before Thanksgiving.

2. Books are still highly giftable.

Print represented 76.3% of U.S. trade publishing revenue in 2025, and books were among the categories seeing strong self-gifting during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Will that hold as book prices rise and reading habits shift? I’m curious what you think.

3. Fall is visibility season.

October books arrive during year-end lists, holiday guides, review coverage, awards conversations, and peak bookseller attention.

That creates opportunity and a LOT of competition.

Publishing has been talking about the “fall pileup” for decades for exactly that reason.

And yes, spooky books sell too: juvenile holiday titles grew 6% in 2025, with children’s Halloween books landing among September’s top 10 bestsellers.

Blessing or battle?

Probably both, lol. by @hellojaymorales

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12 days ago

🩸 Happy 20th anniversary to the Dexter franchise!

October feels like an absolute celebration of the brilliant actors, screenwriters, directors, producers, and countless creatives who have built this world over the past two decades. Michael C. Hall gave us one of television’s most unforgettable characters, and somehow, 20 years after Dexter first premiered on October 1, 2006, we’re STILL here. (And yes, I am very much looking forward to Dexter: Resurrection Season 2. Same release/pub date as my book so I'll be celebrating PESKY ROOTS launch by...um...WATCHING DEXTER @sho_dexter on @paramountplus @showtime 💗)

But...because I am forever a book person, I've gotta give a lot of love to the author behind the character.

Before Dexter Morgan ever appeared on our screens, he appeared on the page.

📚 Author Jeff Lindsay introduced Dexter in Darkly Dreaming Dexter in 2004, originally published by Doubleday. It became the first of EIGHT Dexter novels, ultimately ending with Dexter Is Dead in 2015. @vintageanchorbooks @penguinrandomhouse

The television series began by adapting that first novel before developing its own storylines, meaning the books and screen versions eventually became two very different Dexter universes.

And a fun bit of book-to-screen trivia: Lindsay actually made a cameo in the TV series himself, appearing as Vice Officer Jeffries in Season 3!

So, on the 20th anniversary of the television franchise, we get a little bookish inspiration for authors: nurture your ideas. Write the strange thing, the dark thing, the thing you can’t stop thinking about. You never really know what one story, one character, or one book might someday become.

Happy 20 years (and a day?), Dexter. 🔪 PS: Graphic novel tossed in there too with the originals. :) by @hellojaymorales

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15 days ago