Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Amanda Havill Adgate

Success Story Interview - Amanda Havill Adgate

An Interview with Amanda Havill Adgate (amanda_adgate on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Claire Harris of Helm Literary.

06/23/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
It's a gothic horror novel, inspired by my processing of loss and grief, and inspired by my four daughters.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
My whole life, but with the intent to publish about 5 years.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
Wrote it in 5 months in 2020, shelved it after querying for three years, and then spent a year reworking it. I couldn't shake this story, and I knew it was special and important to me.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
SO MANY TIMES. So. Many. Times. Writing is hard. Community saved me, my CP saved me. I kept going because the stories wouldn't stop coming to me, but there was a lot of heartache tied up into the process.
QT: Is this your first book?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
yes! It was my first manuscript, written in 2020, and I completely rewrote it in 2024. So it was my first, and also my fourth,
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
No, just trainings I've done over the last five years to improve my craft.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
HA no. I have children, and they are very busy. I write when I am able, and work my day job, so writing sort of fits in the weekends and evenings.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
This book was entirely rewritten. It was my first manuscript, written in 2020, and I completely rewrote it in 2024. Made it more adult. I probably completed three rounds of edits with the first version, and then rewrote it, and did one round of edits.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
I have a CP and a beta reader. I've discovered that too many voices muddles the story for me, so I use two readers, tops.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
A little of both. I use a loose skeleton outline and sort of let the characters lead me.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
4 years, 4 manuscripts.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
I sent out 38 queries for this new version of this manuscript!
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
Reputable agencies, deals in the recent year or two, if there's any drama, and I really wanted a kind person that would work WITH me.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
I did, adding a line that honed in on the part of my query that correlates to an element on their MSWL
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Amanda Havill Adgate:
So much of my experience affirmed that TIMING IS EVERYTHING. Maybe that book you wrote would be super compelling in 6 months instead of today. Don't stop writing!