 Jessica Berg is a literary agent, author, and founder of Rosecliff Literary. She represents voice-forward, high-concept fiction and nonfiction. A multi-nominated writer with an MFA from Spalding University, she contributes to Writer’s Digest, and teaches nationally on navigating effective querying, comp titles, and building submission-ready books. Jessica is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. We asked Jessica some questions, and she answered! Keep reading to see if she's your dream agent.  What’s your favorite moment so far of being an agent? The first time I got to call a writer and say, “We have an offer.” You can hear someone’s life shift in real time. Gives me goosebumps every single time. What do you love most about agenting? I get to walk into rooms my younger self thought were locked forever and then hold the door open for other writers who were also told they didn’t belong there. What do you wish querying writers knew? Your book is not an inconvenience. You’re not “bothering” an agent by sending it. We want to find something that lights us up! You’re giving us a chance to feel that electric click. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever heard? Write the book you want to read, then edit it like your sworn enemy is looking for reasons to drag you on the internet. Okay, that second half might be me paraphrasing but the sentiment remains the same. Edit ruthlessly. Describe your dream client. Ambitious but not delusional. Obsessive about their craft but still has a life. Knows when to take the note and when to fight for the choice. What project would you love to see come across your desk? A female-led gothic thriller with generational secrets, feral vibes, and at least one scene where the protagonist realizes she’s been living with a ghost. Bonus points if the ghost is helpful but also kind of petty. What interests or hobbies do you have that you’d love to see in a book? Geocaching, but make it magic. I want those hidden caches that lead to old-world secrets, underground libraries, or secret societies with rules older than the country. What book or author made you fall in love with reading? I honestly can’t remember a time before I was in love with reading. Books were my first and only reliable addiction. What author would you love to have dinner with? Kate Quinn. We’d spend hours over dessert dissecting the lives of ruthless women in history, then leave with three new book ideas and a pact to cause trouble together. What book world would you like to live in? Deborah Harkness’s All Souls universe. Give me the libraries, the alchemy, the magic, and the deliciously unsafe politics. See if your project is a fit for Jessica. Read her Manuscript Wishlist. You can send her a query through Query Tracker.  This post was complied by Brandy Vallance, a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency, and an award-winning author. She is the winner of two national writing awards, one of which included a $20,000 prize. Her novel, THE COVERED DEEP, has been featured in USA Today & Writer’s Digest. Romantic Times called WITHIN THE VEIL “passionate and riveting” and Publisher’s Weekly encourages those who like sweeping Scottish sagas to dive in because “the journey is wonderful.” Brandy loves helping writers break the chains of fear and self-doubt. You can find out more at brandyvallance.com.  Attend a writers conference in 2025 - 2026:
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