Success Story Interview - A. Raven Demory

An Interview with A. Raven Demory (varinesse on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Allegra Martschenko of BookEnds, LLC.

07/21/2025

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

A. Raven Demory:
My book, the Barrowvine Saint, is a Sapphic, Appalachian Gothic fantasy mystery (what a mouthful!). Truthfully, I'm not sure where the idea came from, but when it came I had to write it down. It's about an undead graverobber named Grace who's still trying to get over the woman who killed her, and as she's been tasked with finding a corpse who's gone missing, she finds herself developing a crush on a bitter rival. It's all very Art Nouveau, and more than slightly unhinged, and I'm so excited to see where it'll go!

QT: How long have you been writing?

A. Raven Demory:
I've been writing stories since I could hold a pencil! The Barrowvine Saint is my 6th or 7th novel, depending on how you count it.

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

A. Raven Demory:
This came together fast. I had the idea in November 2024 in a booth at the cowboy-themed dive bar where Edgar Allan Poe disappeared. I outlined until Christmas, and ripped through the draft in about 90 days. I am blessed with fast beta readers, so I was querying by mid-April 2025. The world the story takes place in, though, has been the topic of many a midnight journal entry for the better part of a decade.

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

A. Raven Demory:
This is the third novel I've queried over the past 4 years, and querying truly feels like a long, dark hallway. There were a lot of dark moments and I credit all my friends for encouraging me to stay the course and keep trying.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

A. Raven Demory:
I have had more formal training as a crime scene cleaner than as a writer. Aside from a couple of creative writing classes back in college and a handful of seminars and workshops, I don't have much in the way of bona fides.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

A. Raven Demory:
I follow a writing schedule in the same way a cat follows a laser pointer.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

A. Raven Demory:
I did! All told, The Barrowvine Saint has had 5 beta readers for the full manuscript, a few of just the first act, and I submitted the opening chapters to my local writing association, the Tampa Writers Alliance, for peer critique.

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

A. Raven Demory:
I'm a firm believer in outlining flexibly. The protagonists will always surprise you.

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

A. Raven Demory:
For this book, I sent 53 queries and received 11 positive replies, 27 rejections, and 15 CNRs.

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

A. Raven Demory:
Generally I prioritized newer agents at larger agencies, agents whose MSWLs matched what I like to write, and agents who had responded positively to previous manuscripts. I only personalized my queries if something in the agent's bio or wishlist stuck out as a particularly good fit.

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

A. Raven Demory:
Never give up, and take all the tough critiques you can find! Rejection isn't just about developing tough skin; it's also about finding ways to improve that hadn't occurred to you before.

Query Letter:

A grave robber is hired to find a missing corpse. The corpse has other plans.

THE BARROWVINE SAINT is an adult sapphic fantasy novel that combines the cozy body horror of John Wiswell’s Someone You Can Build a Nest In with the poignant, queer social commentary of August Clarke’s Metal from Heaven.

Grace Elgin didn't expect to return from the dead, or that her new body would come with so much baggage. She's grave robbing to make ends meet, her crush just shot her in the back, and to make matters worse, if she can't pay for her sewn-together body soon, her creator is going to eat her soul.

But when an industrialist's wife offers to absolve Grace's debt in exchange for finding her rebellious daughter Celestine’s missing corpse, Grace sees it as her chance to finally get ahead. While searching for clues in the darkest corners of a town built over the underworld’s entrance, Grace learns that her ex's vengeful ghost has possessed Celestine’s body - and neither body nor spirit want to be found.

With her body slowly coming unraveled - and her secondhand heart falling for a rival grave robber - Grace must race to capture what Celestine has become or be consumed by her own creator.

Complete at 91,000 words, The Barrowvine Saint is a heartfelt exploration of the myriad ways queer people relate to their bodies, and how self-expression can be a radical act against authoritarianism. Grace’s journey toward self love is inspired by my experiences as a queer woman from Appalachia. In 2024, my flash fiction won first in its category in the autumn Twisted Tournament, and I am the secretary and communications officer of the Tampa Writers Alliance.

Thanks for your time and consideration!