Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Laura Brown

Success Story Interview - Laura Brown

An Interview with Laura Brown (AuthorLBrown on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rachel Brooks of BookEnds, LLC.

10/12/2015

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Laura Brown:
SILENT ATTRACTION is a New Adult Contemporary Romance where both main characters have a hearing loss. Carli struggles with her hearing loss, until she meets Reed, who is Deaf. He helps show her a world where hearing loss isn’t a bad thing. They both have ghosts in their closet that threaten their future together.
My inspiration came from my own hearing loss and the journey in growing comfortable with my ears.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Laura Brown:
I’ve been writing on and off most of my life. I turned serious in 2013.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Laura Brown:
About a year.
QT: Is this your first book?: Laura Brown:
No. This is my third completed novel, but the seventh if I include completed drafts.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Laura Brown:
No.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Laura Brown:
I’m a working mother, there is no such thing as routine. I write when I can but tend to find some time daily, especially at night once my son is in bed.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Laura Brown:
I did one major rewrite, after receiving an R&R from an agent (the same agent I am now represented by). Beyond that I tend to read through and edit multiple times, and did many tweaks and some scene overhauls.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Laura Brown:
Yes! I think beta readers, and critique partners, are so important. I was fortunate to have many eyes on this novel in multiple forms, all helping me get the idea clear and cleaned up. In total, I had about eight different eyes at one point or another.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Laura Brown:
Pantser for life! I’ve tried plotting and it doesn’t work for me. I don’t think I could have stopped writing this novel long enough to outline it, it had to be written and pulled me along for the ride.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Laura Brown:
I queried this book for five months (less as I took time off to revise), but have been in the query trenches for a year and seven months.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Laura Brown:
I sent 30 for this book, an insanely small amount of queries!
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Laura Brown:
First and foremost, I searched for agents who represent NA romance. Then I searched for those who want diversity. Beyond that, I researched the agents and felt them out to see who might be a good match for my novel.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Laura Brown:
No, I used generic openings beyond the agent’s name.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Laura Brown:
Keep querying. Keep writing. Keep learning. And remember, it takes just one. One query. One agent. One novel. Keep going until the stars align.
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: Laura Brown:
Sure! This is the original query I sent my agent, prior to revising the story (and changing the title):

Success Story Interview - Laura Brown

Query Letter: