Expensive Reader,

I’m writing to share the tragic information that Electrical Literature’s former Deputy Editor, Jo Lou, handed away on July 8, 2025, on the age of 33.

We’re all shocked and devastated by this sudden loss. Jo began at Electrical Literature in 2017 as an intern and held many roles; together with Assistant Editor, Interviews Editor, Books Editor and Deputy Editor. Over the course of her seven years at EL she shaped lasting bonds with dozens of colleagues and a whole bunch of writers, and went above and past for each one among them. She was a cherished member of our neighborhood and we’re all heartbroken.

Throughout her time at EL, Jo edited over 1,000 interviews and studying lists, together with a few of EL’s hottest and impactful articles. By means of her editorial work, she fought for the weak, the underdogs, and the ignored. She was unafraid to sort out tough topics. At key moments in historical past, she edited literary guides to antifacism, decolonizing your bookshelf, and understanding Ukraine, and arranged a roundtable of Palenstinian poets to debate the position of artwork in combating genocide. After the sudden closure of Small Press Distribution, she shortly put collectively a listing of indie presses in want of assist, and often compiled assets for writers, comparable to lists of useful newsletters and low-cost residencies. She was additionally all the time in search of artistic methods to interact new readers and knew the right way to make books enjoyable, from spearheading extensively in style e book cowl contests to “guess the e book by the emoji” video games.

Jo was keen about supporting rising writers and various voices, and started monitoring the demographics of EL interviews to make sure EL featured the widest vary of authors doable. She was a beneficiant mentor and gave particular effort to creating certain each single one among EL’s many interns felt cared for and appreciated throughout their tenure, and stored in contact with them after they graduated from this system. One intern, Kristina Busch, famous, “After my time as an intern got here to a detailed, she despatched me a considerate handwritten observe that I nonetheless have taped up on my fridge. I can’t neglect her kindness.”

Jo had an insatiable urge for food for literature and skim extensively, with a specific affinity for work in translation. A few of her favourite books have been Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, Quicksand by Nella Larson, Comfort Retailer Lady by Sayaka Murata, Dispute Over a Very Italian Piglet by Amara Lakhous, and Magnificence Is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan. Jo’s fashion as an editor was seen in each facet of her day by day life; she took delight in her rainbow bookshelf, the place she color-coded her assortment of a whole bunch of books, and she or he was all the time impeccably turned out for each literary occasion, from publicity luncheons to galas. (In an workplace full of girls, all of us had nice enjoyable when she introduced she can be carrying the “Fleabag jumpsuit” to Electrical Literature’s annual Masquerade.)

Earlier than Covid, when EL nonetheless had an workplace, Jo spoiled the workers with scrumptious baked items, which grew to become more and more advanced as her abilities grew. (To rejoice EL’s fifteenth birthday on the 2024 Masquerade, she schlepped a decadent buttercream cake all the best way from Queens to Brooklyn.) Her cute canine Billy was the workplace mascot, and spent many afternoons napping on the laps of editors. 

It’s unattainable to quantify the affect Jo had on writers’ lives and careers; what she meant to our neighborhood can’t be measured. Under is a compilation of remembrances from EL workers and contributors. Her dedication, work ethic, and devotion to literature was unparalleled, and she’s going to by no means be forgotten.

With deepest sympathy,

Halimah Marcus
Government Director, Electrical Literature

EL will maintain a personal, digital memorial for Jo on August 7, 2025 at 11 am ET. Please e mail editors@electricliterature.com in case you labored with Jo and want to attend, or so as to add your tribute to this text. The memorial will probably be recorded.

I need to thank Jo for 3 issues. First, Jo made our small Brooklyn workplace, a tetris of galleys and shared desks, really feel extra like a clubhouse I by no means needed to go away—she reworked the galley stream right into a library, introduced baked items she was all the time perfecting, and shared Billy, the canine who knew how good he had it with Jo, and infrequently left her facet. Second, Jo made me really feel like I may very well be a author and editor—she supplied me alternatives to interview my favourite authors, cohost occasions along with her, and edited my writing in a approach that all the time inspired me to maintain going. And the third factor I need to thank Jo for, is that Jo did this confidence- and clubhouse-building factor for everybody she labored with. She confirmed up for writers in massive and small methods, and she or he did this work on daily basis. She made Electrical Lit a spot you by no means needed to go away. What I’m making an attempt to say, with out being too excessive, is that you simply made publishing higher, Jo. Thanks. 
– Erin Bartnett, former Senior Editor 

I used to be very fortunate to work with Jo remotely over the course of six months and in individual someday final fall, volunteering on the Brooklyn Guide Honest. From the start, Jo was extremely sort, supportive, and inspiring towards me, and actually made an effort to make interns really feel included and supported. I’ll all the time keep in mind what a sort and considerate individual she was, her phrases of encouragement towards me and the way excited she was to satisfy me in individual, and every thing she dropped at Electrical Lit. She was actually a particular one that made my internship expertise immeasurably higher.
– Eliza Browning, former intern

Jo was somebody who all the time had good gossip and a freshly baked deal with each time I noticed her. Each time I talked to her, she made me really feel so protected and fewer loopy once we regaled one another with accounts of microaggressions we skilled as Asian American girls working in literature/publishing. It meant every thing to me. It means every thing to me.

It was all the time a delight to see her and get collectively for meals, together with a very scrumptious one which she cooked for me in her heat, splendidly book-filled condominium on Lengthy Island Metropolis. To say that Jo was supportive is an understatement. She was an especially beneficiant editor and I’m sorry that individuals who didn’t get the possibility to work along with her received’t get to expertise that. All she did was uplift writers and met everybody, particularly writers who got here from “nontraditional” backgrounds, with a lot consideration. She helped me with my first bylines, supported my studying sequence from the beginning, and all the time regarded extraordinarily glam and put collectively. She was such a superb mother to Billy and Liam. I can’t consider that we didn’t get to say goodbye or see one another one final time. I’m so unhappy that I didn’t get to learn extra of her writing.

Wanting on the picture of us on the EL Halloween Masquerade at Littlefield in 2019 brings me a lot pleasure. I’ll miss you and take into consideration you endlessly, Jo.
– Ruth Minah Buchwald, former intern

I labored with Jo typically throughout my internship, and I shortly grew to admire her, her work ethic, and her invaluable perception. After my time as an intern got here to a detailed, she despatched me a considerate handwritten observe that I nonetheless have taped up on my fridge. I can’t neglect her kindness.
– Kristina Busch, former intern

I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Jo throughout her time as Interviews Editor at Electrical Literature. To say she formed my literary path can be an understatement. Underneath her editorial steering, I discovered and refined my voice as an interviewer.

Jo was heat, encouraging, and deeply dedicated to uplifting underrepresented literary voices. In our final dialog, as she ready to step away from her position at EL, we promised to maintain up with one another’s work. I imagined we’d reconnect each few months, commerce tales from our literary lives—perhaps even lastly meet in individual.

I’m heartbroken that her identify will now not seem in my inbox.

Relaxation in peace, Jo. You’ll stay in my prayers, and within the hearts of all these you impressed.
– Bareerah Ghani, author

Jo made me really feel so welcomed, snug, and excited to hitch Electrical Lit once I began as an intern. All through the internship, I liked working along with her. She was a considerate editor and a sort individual. She handled each author’s work with care, which impressed others to do the identical. She will probably be tremendously missed and dearly remembered.
– Vivienne Germain, former intern

Jo was as considerate an editor as she was an individual. From discovering alternatives she thought have been aptly suited to me as an editorial intern at EL to following every thing from my travels to my profession within the years since, she was exceptionally sort, encouraging, and devoted. I’ll miss her opening up about her days in London on wet e book truthful days and evaluating earrings whereas preparing for masquerades – she was sleek and heat in each second. A loss for the e book world, and a loss for us all.
– Lauren Hutton, former intern

Jo instantly welcomed me into Electrical Literature, and by extension the broader literary and publishing world, with an unforgettable heat. Although extremely excited once I began out as an intern, I used to be after all nervous to be working for such a famend group like Electrical Literature. However Jo helped make EL really feel like the house it stays to be for me now. She’d often ship me notes of encouragement and gratitude, ensuring that I knew my contributions to Electrical Lit have been appreciated. Her presence was sort and disarming — she had a knack for making conferences really feel extra snug. And he or she was extremely devoted to her work, all the time providing essentially the most clear-eyed perception throughout our conversations and whereas enhancing. I really feel honored to have identified Jo, and to have been in her presence whereas she devoted herself to uplifting many budding writers like myself. Although our time collectively was transient, Jo will all the time be remembered so fondly. Thanks time and again, Jo. I miss you.
– Jalen Giovanni Jones, Social Media Editor

I used to be thrilled when Jo accepted my first pitch to Electrical Lit, and liked working along with her. The sensation should’ve been mutual as a result of after we wrapped up edits collectively, she requested if I’d cowl one other e book—after which once more, after I’d turned in that project. I’d by no means had a publication ask me to write down for them, and Jo’s enthusiasm and perception in my work meant a lot to me and my writing profession. I all the time liked working along with her; she was so heat and pleasant. I’m devastated to listen to of her passing because it’s such a loss for the literary neighborhood: she was somebody who actually championed literature and writers.
– Rachel León, author

Whereas I didn’t typically work immediately with Jo, we shared a few years collectively on workers. I keep in mind laughing over everybody’s outfits for the “Gown Like a Guide” promotion she coordinated, one among many actions that boosted workers camaraderie. She was full of fine concepts and helped problem-solve on a dime round essential points, like when a contributor, for his or her security, wanted to right away change the identify below which a bit was revealed. I recall a number of instances she went to nice lengths to discover a translator for an essential story or interview in order that the concepts therein wouldn’t go unrecognized just because they weren’t in English. And he or she made certain we credited the translator entrance and heart upon publication. Jo was considered about sending me materials that is perhaps of curiosity to TC, and her style was spot-on. When she despatched me one thing, it normally WAS of curiosity. 
– Kelly Luce, Editor of The Commuter

In an business stuffed with gatekeepers, Jo astonished me along with her generosity and openness the primary time I reached out to ask if she’d be concerned about publishing an interview I did with a Filipino-American creator in 2021. She advised me she was already working an interview of that specific creator, and this might have been the tip of our e mail trade. However as a substitute of letting it finish there, she invited me to interview one other Filipino-American creator, setting into movement our years-long collaboration that spanned many articles and interviews. As a contract author who has pitched and written for varied shops previously, I can say that editors like Jo are a uncommon breed: she was the form of editor who regarded to open doorways for writers who would in any other case have little alternative to write down for shops with as huge a attain as Electrical Lit. As a author based mostly outdoors the US, it has been tough for me to catch massive breaks, however Jo was there to solicit one other article from me for EL, even when it could have been simpler for her to let me fall off the radar. She was the one who considered asking me to create lists of artists’ residency packages after she realized that I used to be writing to her from Storyknife Writers Retreat in Alaska, and when she realized that I used to be placing out my first e book, she was the one who invited me to write down a studying checklist to assist market it, even when my e book was being revealed by a small and pretty unknown press in Australia. For my second e book that was revealed by a college press within the US, she generously invited me to do one other interview and studying checklist for EL—by no means thoughts if my work wasn’t getting the backing of a Large 5 press. 

She appeared to be the form of one that valued her privateness, and our exchanges have been strictly skilled. Seeing now, in her obituary, that she was an immigrant to the US makes me perceive why she was so beneficiant to somebody like me who was submitting my articles from the Philippines. She is a superb loss to the neighborhood and I hope folks keep in mind her for her life-changing kindness. 
– Monica Macansantos, author

I had the pleasure of working with Jo since 2019. On the time, I’d solely been writing creator interviews for a few 12 months and didn’t have many clips to share, however I knew I needed to write down for such a staple outlet within the literary neighborhood. Her enthusiasm to work with me—regardless that I used to be nonetheless comparatively new to the sphere—was unforgettable. As so many writers, particularly freelancers, know, getting a response to a pitch—not to mention an acceptance—is uncommon.

Jo was nurturing from the beginning. She all the time inspired me to place my very own spin on interviews, by no means asking me to carry again my voice. On the similar time, she helped me learn to steadiness that voice with the duty of uplifting others—the right way to let the creator shine, whereas casting that mild in a shade of my very own design.

I’ll endlessly be pleased about her steering, her generosity, and her ardour for literary citizenship. I do know I’m not alone—anybody who had the enjoyment of working along with her, and even simply crossing paths along with her on-line or off, unequivocally feels the identical.

Thanks for every thing, Jo. You’ll all the time have an area in my coronary heart, the identical approach you all the time made house for me.
– Greg Mania, author

I’ll miss Jo. Even working along with her remotely as a nervous intern, she had a singular approach of constructing me really feel welcomed, included, and valued. She helped me really feel like I used to be a part of EL from the second I joined. In fact, I needed to write down an article and was scared and excited to take action. But it surely got here as an enormous shock when, with out my saying a phrase, she gave me my first project. I used to be flabbergasted by the casualness of it…however after all it wasn’t informal in any respect as a result of she supported me the entire approach by means of. She knew I might deal with the piece, and giving me the project was her approach of displaying me that she trusted me. I might really feel it and, in quite a lot of methods, that belief was what I wanted then. I don’t know if she knew that, however it appeared like she did. I feel confidence and belief are one of many biggest presents an editor can provide a author and Jo had an unbelievable capability to share that with so many. She taught me rather a lot, and I’ll miss her. 
– Willem Marx, Assistant Editor

Working below Jo throughout my internship was a real pleasure. Her sharp editorial eye and beneficiant spirit inspired me to stretch myself and develop as a author and editor throughout my internship. She all the time had a sort phrase and a sensible piece of suggestions for anybody who wanted her. I do know her reminiscence will dwell on with myself and an entire era of writers.
– Skylar Miklus, former intern

Once I began at EL as an intern, I used to be excited and embarrassingly keen. I used to be, after taking part in my first editorial assembly, additionally extraordinarily intimidated by Jo. I’d study later that she had a preternaturally heat coronary heart, however for the primary half-hour of our relationship, what I registered was her poise and flawless self-presentation. Jo didn’t say a lot in that assembly—she didn’t say a lot in most conferences, an outgrowth of her innate curiosity in others and need to pay attention fairly than opine—however after the assembly, she instantly messaged me with an enthusiastic welcome and a burst of pleasant questions on myself. Over the following a number of weeks, she used my solutions to these questions to search out me tasks and assignments that match my pursuits. 

After we’d labored collectively for a while, Jo took a go away of absence for medical causes. Once I was invited to cowl her obligations till she returned, I knew “filling her sneakers” was not a risk; nevertheless, I do know I ended up doing a good job as a result of Jo spent her restoration time cheering me on as a substitute of convalescing. Regardless of my pleas to loosen up and bask in some dangerous tv, Jo by no means stopped checking in or sending me useful emails and phrases of encouragement, typically from a physician’s workplace or en path to an appointment. Jo made me really feel particular, however after years of working along with her, I noticed I wasn’t—she championed so many others tirelessly, particularly writers and EL workers, and I used to be neither the primary nor the final individual to profit from her considerate consideration. 

Jo was an uncommon mixture of traits. She was probably the most personal folks I’ve ever met however, throughout my first 12 months at EL, when it grew to become clear we didn’t have the organizational funds to cowl each my airfare and my lodging for an annual occasion, Jo invited me to remain at her place. I’d identified her just a few months, and we’d by no means met in individual. She additionally despatched me a birthday card yearly, shared spot-on suggestions for books and flicks, and often messaged me with invites to attend occasions/meet folks/work on one thing new. Jo was by no means the primary to talk however I believe she was often essentially the most educated individual within the room. Her information of EL, particularly, was encyclopedic. In my expertise, it was all the time simpler and sooner to message Jo with a query—Have we ever revealed an article on X subject? Has Y author written for us earlier than? What month did we put up Z in?—than to do an web search. Jo was, fairly merely, a powerhouse, and her distinctive work ethic was matched solely by her immeasurable kindness. We’re much less with out her. 
– Wynter Ok Miller, Managing Editor

Once I started working at Electrical Literature, I noticed in a short time that I used to be going to must earn Jo’s belief in my management. On the earth of EL, she was a real elder states(wo)man, and had performed an integral half in serving to the journal turn out to be the literary juggernaut that it’s. She liked EL in the best way {that a} chief, or a founder, all the time hopes somebody will love their office, which so not often involves fruition—she liked EL as if it have been her personal. It grew to become an actual pleasure to work alongside somebody with whom I felt I might belief the wellbeing of each the positioning, and workers, so implicitly. Jo had a robust ethical compass, and she or he introduced that to work each single day. It tremendously influenced our editorial conferences, particularly within the face of controversial articles or matters we typically needed to tackle, and even in choices round staffing, the place I relied closely on her council. Her institutional information of EL’s historical past was extraordinary and steadily got here in useful, and her deep understanding of our viewers and readership was an unlimited affect alone. Which is to say that Jo deeply influenced the best way I work at EL, arguably extra so than anybody else. 

I additionally need to give a fast shout out to her love for her canines, and all canines. Jo’s love for Billy was enormously influential to my my resolution to undertake my canine, Hughes, and shortly after I did, Jo spoiled him with treats and pets for hours on finish once we have been tabling at Brooklyn Guide Competition, and she or he even despatched me additional treats and toys, and gave me key recommendation on serving to me navigate his nervousness. A few of my fondest reminiscences of her should not work associated, however fairly are instances we despatched Slack messages backwards and forwards about our fur infants, sharing ideas and proposals for meals, toys, coaching, and even, when she was able to undertake her second canine, Liam, the company she rescued him by means of—Hearts and Bones rescue, from the place I’d adopted Hughes. Jo is, and can proceed to be deeply missed on my own, and by our whole workers. I’m grateful to have identified her, and labored along with her. I’m sending my deepest condolences to her household, associates, family members, and Fredrik, Billy, and Liam. 

– Denne Michele Norris, Editor-in-Chief

Jo was extremely supportive, considerate, and beneficiant along with her time. I used to be capable of take dangers, acquire confidence, and stretch the type of my work in new methods due to her encourage. She has had a profound affect on my life as an artist and author in consequence. I’ll miss her very a lot!  
– Coco Piccard, author

Jo had probably the greatest literary minds I’ve ever met. Once I first began as EL’s social media editor, Jo’s encyclopedic mind for all issues EL and literary was invaluable to me. I’d’ve been misplaced with out her popping into my messages to inform me it was Shakespeare’s birthday and likewise one way or the other figuring out every thing we’d ever posted about Shakespeare. She helped me construct out my very own information by means of collaborating along with her, and bouncing concepts off of each other sharpened my eye and actually helped me discover my stride. Her encouragement, recommendation, and perception within the worth of my concepts and my voice pushed me to develop ever-more assured in my position and past it.

Jo was somebody who was by no means with out a contemporary thought and had countless vitality when it got here to the issues she cared about, particularly pulling collectively essential, thrilling, well timed items when she felt it could be beneficial to EL’s readers. She genuinely liked championing authors, and particularly valued shining a light-weight on small press titles that may most profit from being highlighted. As an editor, she was somebody who all the time made time for her writers and colleagues: to ship them notes of encouragement, to suppose up articles that is perhaps a superb match for them to work on, to create space in her terribly busy calendar to lend her thoughts and coronary heart to the writers she cared about so deeply. She paved a path for me to learn the way I’d do the identical. The affect she had on the literary world is incalculable—however it’s deeply felt. It can proceed to radiate outward by means of the work she introduced into this world and the folks she made higher by means of it.
– Katie Henken Robinson, Senior Editor, Electrical Literature

I do know Jo was an integral a part of EL and I all the time admired her intelligence, poise, work ethic, and kindness. Once I moved to NYC, she was such a heat presence, pondering of me for comp tickets to literary occasions and welcoming me to volunteer at EL occasions just like the Brooklyn Guide Fest and the Masquerade. After we labored the Brooklyn Guide Fest collectively final 12 months, it was raining and freezing chilly, an actual bummer. Besides, she was on the market all day, providing up EL stickers and Masquerade fliers. She advised me to go get pleasure from panels when it was sluggish. Her dedication to her work was clear as day as one thing I actually admired. 

She was a connector too, introducing me to different interns and all the time genuinely constructing relationships. She advised me about studying sequence and bookstores and I felt like I might discuss to her in regards to the realities of publishing, good and dangerous. I liked speaking to her about books, it felt like she’d learn every thing and knew all of the writers to know, and she or he was somebody who appeared so authentically invested within the careers of interns. I nonetheless keep in mind how she gave me a radical walkthrough of WordPress throughout my internship, and I used to be so appreciative of her consideration to element and the way I knew I might go to her with any questions, with out judgment. After I left EL, she carried on the Indie Booksellers Suggest checklist, and I do know so many individuals appreciated that checklist and likewise so lots of the different artistic, sensible concepts she had. 

I’m shocked by this information. I hope her family and friends understand how beloved she was and is by the literary neighborhood. I hope the EL group feels this love too.
– Laura Schmitt, former intern

When Jo Lou began as an intern, her creativity and sensible literary thoughts have been instantly obvious–intimidating, even! She learn and thought deeply, and actually listened to folks, whether or not she was interviewing an creator or propelling the workplace dialogue. Her concepts have been all the time lively and vitality. Jo was an exquisite shepherd of literature; as each author and editor, Jo labored with sincerity and persistence, generosity and openness. Her beautiful canine Billy typically got here to work and his light, contented nature advised you every thing you wanted to learn about how Jo Lou approached the world. Joyce Yijia Lou, thanks to your work and your humanity. You’ll be tremendously missed. 
– Lucie Shelly, former Senior Editor 

It might be tough to overstate the quiet but profound impacts Jo Lou had on my entry right into a literary world profession. Her enthusiastic suggestions on the primary few interviews I did for her as an intern gave me the boldness, that I don’t understand how I’d have discovered in any other case, to pursue a spread of excessive profile interview alternatives in different contexts through the years to return, which in flip has had an unlimited affect on my understanding of how storytelling works. Once I traveled to New York to satisfy the Electrical Lit group in individual for the primary time, after a 12 months of working collectively remotely, Jo warmly opened up her house to me—inviting me to stick with her, her companion, her canine Billy, and her iconic rainbow bookshelves full of color-coded ARCs she’d collected through the years, which I noticed have been typically not less than two cabinets deep in opposition to the wall. Whether or not or not I used to be at EL, Jo often reached out to supply alternatives she thought I’d discover thrilling. However what I most admired about her was the deeply principled and rigorous moral sensibility she dropped at the literary world. She was the rarest of guiding lights by means of among the most morally advanced and emotionally fraught conditions I’ve ever needed to navigate. I will probably be endlessly grateful that I had her mild to observe, for a time.
– Preety Sidhu, Affiliate Editor

I labored with Jo on the very first creator interview I revealed, a dialog with Rachel Heng. Jo was the form of editor I most admire: sort, organized, seemingly unflappable, and deeply considerate about who she was making house for. She was sleek in rejecting my pitches she couldn’t give a house to and a pleasure to be edited by on these she accepted. Her passing is a loss for the literary neighborhood. 
– Marisa Siegel, author

Jo Lou was a caring and considerate coworker, a pointy and thorough editor, and probably the greatest bakers I’ve ever met. She made it truly enjoyable to desk at e book festivals, and I nonetheless take into consideration the hojicha cake she baked and dropped at sustain our spirits and blood sugar ranges. I used to be consistently impressed by her dedication to literature and the true pleasure she present in serving to writers. She actually confirmed me what it meant to care in regards to the literary world and the right way to change it for the higher.
– Alyssa Songsiridej, former Managing Editor

Jo was a lifeline for me. It’s onerous, being a author from the South, disconnected from the literary scene, particularly since, like Jo,  I don’t get pleasure from residing on-line. Over the 27 plus interviews we labored on, Jo linked me to so many thinkers whose work helped broaden my thoughts, like Ibram X Kendi, David Mura, and Mona Eltahawy. She inspired me to interview Amanda Oliver about her library polemic, Overdue, a bit Jo titled “America’s Public Libraries Replicate the Systematic Failures and Social Inequality of Our Nation,” the place, for the primary time, I started addressing why I left the general public college library. Jo assigned wanted conversations with Seyward Darby (“How Ladies Prop Up the White Nationalist Motion”) and Mychal Denzel Smith (“The American Dream Is Useless, What Do We Do?”) within the darkest days of the pandemic. She proposed interviews with fellow Southerners Lee Cole and Wright Thompson, and with novelists Dana Spiotta, Cleyvis Natera, and extra. Jo additionally assigned my first e book checklist, about librarians who’re additionally writers.

I attempted by way of e mail through the years to elucidate to Jo how a lot I appreciated her. How she helped me by means of my restoration, throughout the pandemic, and later, once I was serving to take care of my beloved father-in-law. Once I was about to lose my thoughts making an attempt to get my memoir revealed, she gave me a actuality verify, reminding me that nearly each author she knew was struggling to publish on this local weather. 

Jo was the consummate editor, inflicting me to consider in myself, making me understand what I needed to supply. Multiply that reward instances a whole bunch of writers, lots of whom have been tackling controversial  topics. I attempted to inform her so many instances how a lot I appreciated her, however I don’t suppose she ever knew how a lot she meant to me, to us all.
– Deirdre Sugiuchi, author

Jo was so heat and so sort and so affected person, and I’m grateful to have identified and realized from her. She made such an affect within the brief time that we labored collectively, and I do know that that is true, too, for a myriad of writers and editors who crossed paths along with her at Electrical Lit. 
– Chris Vanjonack, former intern

Although I by no means met Jo in individual, she was an integral a part of my life with out actually figuring out so. She was the editor I labored with essentially the most once I began protecting writers and books. She was all the time sort, sensible, and beneficiant along with her time. With out her, I’d not have grown into the interviewer I’m immediately, and my present path in life wouldn’t exist. In a approach, I owe her every thing. 
– Adam Vitcavage

Jo will probably be so missed. She was an unimaginable mentor to me once I was an intern at EL. Jo all the time made a degree to ask for my suggestions or to ask me to interview authors, all the time making me really feel included and valued. I keep in mind being awed by her voracious studying habits and cautious consideration to literature, I really feel like Jo had an opinion on virtually any e book! She was an unimaginable individual, editor, and neighborhood member. 
– Bekah Waalkes, former intern

Jo was a task mannequin and a real inspiration to me at Electrical Literature. She was the primary editor I ever labored with, and I couldn’t have requested for a extra unimaginable, open, and thoughtful individual to introduce me to the world of writing and publishing. She was an ideal reader and author with an impeccable eye. However greater than this, she had a sort and caring soul. Exterior of labor hours, she would typically ahead me emails about new books she thought I is perhaps concerned about. She was all the time proper. I took Jo’s phrases and proposals as gospel. She was amazingly intuitive and, as an editor, knew the right way to assist all of us convey what we needed to say higher and extra concisely than we knew the right way to categorical it. She confirmed me the right way to discover a voice and the right way to carve out actual that means behind a wall of language. Extraordinarily gifted, she shared her abilities with us selflessly and persistently. After engaged on an article collectively, she would typically generously ship me screenshots of sort feedback or messages she obtained in regards to the piece we’d revealed. It was heartwarming and distinctive for an editor to go so above and past in her encouragement. Jo was supportive and instrumental in motivating me, as a younger intern, to maintain writing and diving deeper into tales. She was a information and a mentor, and I’ll keep in mind her all the time because the giving, loving, and great individual she was. She’s going to actually be missed. 
– Kyla Walker, former intern

Jo was the primary individual I labored intently with as an intern at EL. She was every thing you possibly can need in an editor—clever, , enthusiastic, sort. She knew how a lot your work mattered to you. It mattered to her too. Each phrase selection was mulled over, every image scrutinized. After we weren’t working, we talked about our favourite books and our shared worry of knowledge tooth surgical procedure. Lengthy after my internship ended, she despatched alongside publication alternatives and tickets to literary festivals. We talked about getting drinks collectively sometime, if I ever discovered my approach to New York. Within the meantime, she requested, had I ever tried candy corn pizza? She was sort and actual. I’ll miss her.
– Lisa Zhuang, former intern

Writers are alleged to keep away from cliches, however in unhappy instances everybody reaches for the consolation of familiarity. So my first thought, when making an attempt to speak about Jo, is “nonetheless waters run deep.” She was once I knew her, and I assume remained, very quiet and reserved. However whenever you obtained to know her, as I used to be fortunate sufficient to do throughout her very early tenure at Electrical Lit, she was decided, principled, perceptive, curious, beneficiant, and genuinely humorous. 

Jo began at EL as an intern, and I wasn’t in any respect shocked to listen to that she ascended to deputy editor—the problem was all the time getting her to work much less, to relaxation, to let issues be adequate. She simply held a lot mind, coronary heart, and conscience in that quiet package deal. It is a profound loss to the literary neighborhood and the world at massive. 
– Jess Zimmerman, former Editor-in-Chief