Success Story Interview - A.M. Croll

An Interview with A.M. Croll (amcrollwriter on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Jonathan Cobb of HG Literary.

05/13/2024

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

A.M. Croll:
THE MOTHS is a YA eco-fantasy about the charismatic leader of a girl gang teaming up with an environmental activist to steal the source of magic which is polluting their world. It’s inspired by classic heist movies such as the Ocean’s films, as well as fantasy heist stories (Six of Crows, the Dungeons and Dragons movie, etc)—except I intentionally chose to make all my main characters queer women. The environmental themes are inspired by our own world’s climate crisis, and all the amazing work activists are doing to fight back against it.

QT: How long have you been writing?

A.M. Croll:
I’ve been writing since I was a child—especially poetry—but started seriously trying to write novels about a year ago.

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

A.M. Croll:
I started writing this book in July 2023. I finished it in October 2023, and began to query in November.

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

A.M. Croll:
So many times—I was considering shelving this manuscript the week before I got my offer! Talking to friends helped, as did focussing on what I could control (eg, writing my next book) instead of what I couldn’t (agent responses).

QT: Is this your first book?

A.M. Croll:
The Moths is my second book—I shelved my first book pretty quickly because I just felt like Moths would be more successful.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

A.M. Croll:
None at all! I learnt mostly from craft books, youtube videos and reading a Lot of books in my genre.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

A.M. Croll:
No. I have a disability which impacts my energy levels, so my days tend to be unpredictable. I actively try not to force myself to write—the words come when they come, and that’s okay!

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

A.M. Croll:
I did two rounds of edits before querying, using beta reader feedback. I then did a more substantial revision in January 2024, following an R+R (and more beta readers). So the manuscript which got me an agent was my 4th draft.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

A.M. Croll:
Yes! I had 5 total, and they were invaluable. I’m incredibly grateful to them all!

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

A.M. Croll:
I pantsed it, but I wouldn’t do that again—in my big round of revisions I ended up having to reverse outline the book anyway to fix up the structure. In future I’m going to be outlining a lot more.

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

A.M. Croll:
I started querying in September 2023, and queried my first book for 2 months before shelving it. I then began to query The Moths in November 2023, and queried for about 6 months before my offer.

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

A.M. Croll:
86 total!

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

A.M. Croll:
I tried to go for agents who had interests which aligned with my MS (eg, environmental themes, heists) or who liked books similar to mine, but I also sent plenty to agents who just represented fantasy, because you never know who is going to bite.

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

A.M. Croll:
If there were things in my MS which the agent had mentioned on their MSWL, or if they enjoyed books similar to mine, I would mention it—but I didn’t personalise every query. The query letter which got me my offer wasn’t personalised at all!

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

A.M. Croll:
Try to write the next book whilst you’re waiting on replies; have friends you can talk/cry to; don’t give up!

Query Letter:

Dear [Agent]

THE MOTHS is a 95,000-word multi-POV crossover fantasy about a girl gang trying to pull off the ultimate heist—stealing the source of magic which is polluting their world. It will appeal to those who loved the morally grey characters of MJ Kuhn's Among Thieves, the queer found family of Sacha Stronach's The Dawnhounds, and the urgent politics of Andreas Malm's How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
Dylan has two hobbies: stealing from the rich and chasing pretty girls. She's the leader of the Moths, an all-female gang of thieves, and holds a grudge against the wealthy family who abandoned her. Cithrel is an activist who protests against the magic that destroyed her home with its pollution—the same magic which will eventually destroy their entire world.
When the two meet on the run from the cops, Cithrel proposes an impossible heist: to steal the Heart of Panergy, the fuel source of all the polluting magic. Dylan, keen to screw over her family, whose main investments are in the magical economy, agrees.
Along with a ragtag team of a teenage amnesiac, a muscle-woman grieving her dead wife, the token straight mechanical engineer and a pet mouse, the Moths must work out where the Heart is hidden and how to steal it—but their actions draw unwanted attention. Just as Dylan and Cithrel are warming to each other, Dylan's family launch an attack on the Moths, almost killing Dylan. Now, Cithrel and Dylan must decide if they're willing to continue risking the wrath of Dylan's family in a treacherous heist which the fate of their world depends upon.

Thank you for your time.