Success Story Interview - Kevin DG Johnson

An Interview with Kevin DG Johnson (kevindgjohnson on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Naomi Eisenbeiss of InkWell Management.

05/21/2024

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
My book is a Christmas horror novel. I'm a horror fanatic and love seasonal horror, like most fans of the genre. I was watching a Christmas horror film one night and thought, "I don't see many Christmas horror novels" and also "what if Santa Claus was the villain of the story?!" And off I went.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Kevin DG Johnson:
I studied writing in high school/college, took a break from it when I entered the corporate world, and then got serious about it again in 2018.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
I started working on this book in December 2022 and the work continues to this very day :)

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
I felt like giving up many, many times. Too many to count. I threw a lot of pity parties for myself. What kept me going was the general love of writing and storytelling. I can't help myself from getting new ideas that excite me, and I just kept telling myself to push forward.

QT: Is this your first book?

Kevin DG Johnson:
This is the fourth manuscript I've written.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Kevin DG Johnson:
I studied Creative Writing at Florida State University. For continuing education, I try to attend 1-2 writing workshops per year, either in-person or virtual.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Kevin DG Johnson:
I do. When I'm drafting, I try to write every day, between 500-1,000 words. Usually in the afternoon with an iced coffee nearby.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
Hard to give an exact number, since I do some light editing while I write. I'd guess 5-6.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Kevin DG Johnson:
Yes, though getting beta readers who will give you honest, specific feedback can be tricky.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
I'm a pantser all the way! An outline would just be an excuse for me to not do the actual writing, though everyone has to follow the best process for themselves.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
I queried this book for around 3 months, but I've been querying manuscripts since 2019.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
Around 50.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
I made sure the agent represented the genre of my manuscript, obviously, and then I would check out their websites/MSWL/PM pages if those were available. Once I narrowed down the genre, I looked for other clues about whether or not we'd be a good fit. Twitter/X is also a great resource.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
Yes, I usually put some specific info in the opening paragraph of my query, borrowing phrases and comps from an agent's MSWL if they pertained to my project. I also tried to sneak in a joke or two and have fun with it.

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

Kevin DG Johnson:
Be stubborn about your dream. Don't give up. I'm convinced that luck and persistence play a major role in landing an agent. I started querying in 2019 and it took me until 2024, pushing through hundreds and hundreds of rejections and multiple manuscripts. Also, read a lot and write a lot, as Stephen King advises in his book On Writing.