Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews RA Burrell

Success Story Interview - RA Burrell

An Interview with RA Burrell (raburrell on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.

05/25/2014

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: RA Burrell:
The novel is about a human rights attorney and former aid worker whose husband, a conflict photographer, goes missing after the crackdowns last summer in Cairo. That was largely what inspired it, along with other current events in the news the past few years about the NSA scandal and targeting of journalists. I wanted to show the human side of it though, and how it affects people in those professions.
QT: How long have you been writing?: RA Burrell:
About five years.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: RA Burrell:
About a year and a half. I wrote the first draft in eight months or so, let it sit for a while, then when back and starting revising.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: RA Burrell:
Doesn't everyone? It's more that I'm incapable of giving up. This story always calls me back any time I get frustrated with it.
QT: Is this your first book?: RA Burrell:
Nope - fourth, depending on how you count. I had an agent previously, but the books didn't sell, so we mutually agreed a change might be beneficial.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: RA Burrell:
I'm a scientist/engineer by trade, so no.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: RA Burrell:
With a long commute, I tend to plot in the car and write at night after work.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: RA Burrell:
It's a bad habit, but I revise as I go, so that's something of a constant process. I've done two larger sets of revisions on it though.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: RA Burrell:
Yes - I work with a 'critique partner' pretty much daily, a very patient and dear friend who's willing to look at whatever crap I churn out. I've also had two or three other readers who are writers I know, all of whom gave excellent suggestions for improvement.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: RA Burrell:
I outline ahead of where I'm writing, but generally not the whole book at one time. I'll start with a rough plan for plot points and character motivation, but the events sorta shake out as I'm writing.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: RA Burrell:
A few months. The offer I accepted actually came from one of the first agents I queried, but it took a little while to get to that point, as it often does in publishing. My previous agent, I found via referral, so I never really cold-queried a project before.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: RA Burrell:
Read the submission guidelines. Keep in mind that you're looking for someone who's as passionate about your book as you are and that's not an easy thing to find. My new agent was my first choice all along, but I don't believe there's any such thing as a 'dream agent'. (And that said, my book is definitely unusual for her list) It's just not possible to know when characters or an idea are going to click for someone else, and that's part of the magic of writing.
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: RA Burrell:
Sure - this one had a pretty good request rate, something like 11/20.

Success Story Interview - RA Burrell

Query Letter: