Success Story Interview - Kara Lucas

An Interview with Kara Lucas (karakristin on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary Management.

12/16/2024

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?

Kara Lucas:
My book, Paradise Flat, is a modern gothic, women's fiction with a touch of mystery. A little blurb:
Widowed librarian Gemma risks everything when she returns to the dilapidated Lake Tahoe mansion of her youth to uncover the truth about the disappearance of Daniel, her childhood friend and forbidden love.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Kara Lucas:
I have been writing, on and off, for about fifteen years.

QT: How long have you been working on this book?

Kara Lucas:
The idea for this particular book came to me quite a while ago, and I would occasionally pull it out of my "junk drawer pile" every now and then. I didn't start seriously writing it, however, until 2022, when I rejoined a critique group. It took about a year to finish the first draft.

QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?

Kara Lucas:
Oh, yes, of course! Writing and the road to publication has been a long journey. What helped (and still helps) is joining a committed critique group and writing consistently.

QT: Is this your first book?

Kara Lucas:
No. I have many books half-written and written still in my computer. I was agented before, back in 2012, with an issue-driven YA book that ultimately did not sell to a bigger publishing house and I went on to publish it with a smaller, boutique agency.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Kara Lucas:
No formal training, but I have read many, many books on writing and am an avid reader.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Kara Lucas:
When I am actively writing a new book, I usually give myself a daily word count, rather than a set schedule. A good daily word count for me is 500 words, occasionally 1000 words if I have more time.

QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?

Kara Lucas:
Probably about 6, but I am currently in edits with my agent before submission, so I know we will hit a few more rounds of edits!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Kara Lucas:
Yes. I used about 7 beta readers and am in two critique groups.

QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?

Kara Lucas:
I like to first think about my book for a long time and then start writing notes and character studies. I don't like to actively start to write until I know the beginning, middle, and end, loosely. Things can change but I need to know my climax and the stakes before I feel comfortable writing.

QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?

Kara Lucas:
I started querying this book in May 2024. My current agent requested my book in September, then offered representation in November 2024.

QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?

Kara Lucas:
Before, with my last book, I sent out over 100 to get the agent. This time around, I wanted to be more thoughtful, so I sent out queries in small batches. I think I was at about 40 agents before I started getting some full requests, then got three full requests within the same week.

QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?

Kara Lucas:
I researched agents and made a list of those that took my genre and then made a smaller list of agents who seemed like they would be a good fit for me as a writer. I made notes as I researched and targeted the ones that I thought would work well with me and who might have a particular interest in the sub-genres of my books (books told in dual timelines, books with a touch of modern gothic themes, books with the setting by a lake, etc...)

QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?

Kara Lucas:
Yes. If they repped an author I admired, I mentioned that. If they gave an interview I watched, I mentioned that. If we had the same shared particular interest in something, I mentioned that.

QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?

Kara Lucas:
I would say to take the approach of playing the long game. It took a while for you to write your book, so take that same time and consideration when finding an agent. Remind yourself of why you write and look at rejection as part of the process. Every agent that rejects you is leading you to that one agent that really, really believes in you and your book! Be consistent and keep writing. Join a critique group. Don't be afraid to revise your query (and book) as needed

QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?

Kara Lucas:
My agent is Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary Management:

Query Letter:

Dear Kristen,

Sensitive, bookish Gemma cherishes her summers spent at Paradise Flat, her family's rambling Lake Tahoe estate. However, when Gemma and her childhood sweetheart Daniel catch a senator's son in a chilling act of violence, they unwittingly make enemies with the powerful Spencer family. When Gemma's older sister later falls in love with the chillingly enigmatic Thornton Spencer, their deep rivalry culminates in a stolen ring, a betrayal, and Daniel's disappearance.

Years later, widowed Gemma has spent most of her life trying to forget Paradise Flat and the dark events that transpired there. When her sister's will compels her to return to the now dilapidated mansion of her youth, Gemma finds herself haunted by her memories, and possibly even the house itself. As she navigates through recollections of innocent summers and secret rendezvous, a more sinister reality begins to emerge, and Gemma is forced to risk everything when she finally confronts the past, a murder, and the truth she has hidden all these years.

Told in dual timelines and set in Lake Tahoe's gilded Gold Coast region during the 60's and present day, PARADISE FLAT is a poignant, upmarket women's fiction mixed with elements of mystery and gothic storytelling. Exploring class issues, forbidden love, and fractured families, Paradise Flat might appeal to fans of Kate Morton's Homecoming or Delia Owen's Where the Crawdads Sing.

I published the issue-driven YA, Finding Pony with a small indie publisher almost a decade ago and my previous agent and I have parted ways amicably. Given your affinity for women's fiction with spooky elements, I think you would be a wonderful agent for my book, PARADISE FLAT (complete at 91K words). Should you enjoy these pages, I would love to send you more.

All best,

Kara Lucas