Success Story Interview - Aminata Jaiteh

An Interview with Aminata Jaiteh (ajaiteh97 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Jim McCarthy of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC.

06/18/2025

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
Speak Up, Darla Jean is a contemporary middle grade novel about an eleven-year-old girl with selective mutism who must find her voice when a beloved teacher is suddenly removed from her classroom. It's a story about courage, friendship, and the power of speaking up even when words feel impossible. I was inspired by students I’ve taught, especially quiet kids who feel everything deeply, and by my own childhood experiences navigating silence and advocacy.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Aminata Jaiteh:
I've been writing since I was a kid, but I started seriously pursuing publication in 2024.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
I drafted Darla Jean in about three months but revised it over the course of a year. It’s been through multiple rounds of edits, and each one brought me closer to the version I’m proud of today.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
Absolutely. Querying is a humbling process. I doubted everything at some point—my story, my prose, whether it was "marketable" enough. What kept me going were writer friends, my students, and the feeling that Darla Jean deserved to exist, even if I didn’t know yet how to get it there.

QT: Is this your first book?

Aminata Jaiteh:
It’s the first book I queried. I’ve written others, but Darla Jean is the first one that felt like me on the page.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Aminata Jaiteh:
No, I don't have any formal writing training.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Aminata Jaiteh:
I try to write in the mornings or late at night, but I’m not rigid. I focus more on consistency than word count, some days are for drafting, others for revision, and some are just for thinking.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
At least five major revisions, with countless small tweaks in between. Each round focused on something different: voice, pacing, emotional arcs, clarity. I actually love revision, it’s where the real story starts to shine.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Aminata Jaiteh:
Yes, and I’m incredibly grateful to them. Their insights made Darla Jean stronger, funnier, and more emotionally honest.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
A little of both. I started with a rough outline, especially since I knew the ending early on, but I allowed myself space to wander and discover new layers along the way.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
I queried Darla Jean for about two months. This was my first time querying.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
Roughly 6.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
I looked for agents who had a strong track record with middle grade, valued underrepresented voices, and expressed genuine passion for character-driven stories with heart. I also paid attention to interviews and client testimonials.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
Yes—when possible, I personalized my queries with specific references to interviews, wishlist items, or books they'd represented that aligned with my work. I wanted each agent to know why I was choosing them, not just sending a form.

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

Aminata Jaiteh:
Don’t chase trends, chase truth. Tell the story only you can tell. And keep going, even through the rejections. It only takes one yes.

QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?

Aminata Jaiteh:
Yes, I’d be happy to!

Query Letter:

Dear Jim McCarthy,

Eleven-year-old Darla Jean Sullivan hasn’t spoken a word in 374 days.

Speak Up, Darla Jean is a middle grade contemporary novel complete at 55,000 words. It will appeal to readers of Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams and From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks. Like those works, this story explores themes of identity, racism, healing, and finding strength in vulnerability. Written in a quiet but emotionally resonant first-person voice, the novel offers an intimate portrayal of one girl’s journey to belonging, empowerment, and self-love.

Adopted into a wealthy white family in a small Southern town, Darla Jean has always felt different. But when her classmates humiliate her by painting her skin white, cutting her hair, and posting the evidence online, Darla retreats into silence. Diagnosed with selective mutism, she finds herself surrounded by people who see her silence as a problem to fix, rather than a pain to understand.

As sixth grade begins at a new school, Darla Jean quietly navigates a world of awkward stares, microaggressions, and old bullies. But everything starts to change when she meets Layla and Jada, her bold and brilliant new friends who see her, not her silence, and help Darla Jean rediscover her voice and take up space. Through new friendships, a journal, and quiet acts of resistance, Darla Jean begins to reclaim the power of her voice, on her own terms.

I’m a Gambian American educator and debut author from the Bronx, inspired by West African storytelling traditions, global folklore, and the legacies of resistance across colonized nations. My work explores what it means to lead, to survive, and to reclaim power on one’s own terms. This manuscript is available upon request. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warmly,

Aminata Jaiteh