Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews A.T. Rainach

Success Story Interview - A.T. Rainach

An Interview with A.T. Rainach (aq777 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

05/30/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: A.T. Rainach:
I’ve been working on THE ART OF LIVING FOREVER off and on since 2008. It’s gone through many versions since I first had the idea. The story came to me in a dream, as cliché as that is, I kept seeing two people who were desperately in love, always being torn apart, with one of them constantly dying. That dream stayed with me. Who were these people? What kind of curse kept them apart across lifetimes? Exploring that dream as a narrative felt like the natural next step.
QT: How long have you been writing?: A.T. Rainach:
Oh gosh, I joke that I’ve been writing since I learned how to form sentences. Once I figured out how to type, I’d come home after school, head straight to my mom’s old IBM, open up the word processor, and start writing. I loved the freedom to tell myself the stories I wanted to read.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: A.T. Rainach:
So many times! Over the life of this book, I’d shelve it, sometimes for years, because even though I studied poetry and creative writing in college, I didn’t fully understand the craft of storytelling. Plot and structure weren’t things I was taught in undergrad, so I’d often get stuck, unsure how to move forward or fix issues. But I was always passionate about the idea, and the characters never left me. They were alive in my mind, always nudging me to come back. Writing stayed on the backburner as I focused on my career, my other love (barrel racing and training horses) and starting a family.

In 2021, everything changed when I lost my son in an accident. He was only three and a half, but he adored books and story time. One of our favorite things to do was make up bedtime stories and I’d spin the biggest, wildest tales I could for him. After he passed, I made a vow to take my writing seriously, in his honor. Writing had always been an outlet, but after his death, I was terrified I’d lost it completely. So I poured everything I had into this book. I trashed the old version, started from scratch, and began devouring craft books and doing everything I could to learn how to tell this story the way it deserved to be told.
QT: Is this your first book?: A.T. Rainach:
Yes. Though I have a handful on old floppy disks I wrote in High School somewhere.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: A.T. Rainach:
I have a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, and I’m also a published poet with work in Cimarron Review, Urban, and Cowboys & Indians.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: A.T. Rainach:
Yes, I am very methodical! I write in the early mornings or late at night, when the kids are in bed.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: A.T. Rainach:
Once I finally had a solid first draft in 2023, it went through about 4 drafts.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: A.T. Rainach:
Yes! I’m a big fan of the podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing and signed up for their Beta Reader Match Up. Through that, I found some of the best beta readers who have become lifelong friends and critique partners—shout out to Chezza Lee and Kyleen Wren! I can’t stress enough how important good critique partners are. I always joke that Chezza helped save this book after my first round of unsuccessful querying. She pointed out strengths I hadn’t leaned into and helped me tighten the story. Kyleen did the same, along with some other fantastic readers.

I also want to emphasize the value of constructive feedback. As writers, our egos can sometimes get in the way. We are sensitive about the words we put into the world for good reason. But without someone who cares about you and your story enough to be honest and offer ways to make it stronger, it is nearly impossible to grow. There is a saying I love from horse training that feels just as true for writing: 'You can learn something from everyone, even if it’s what not to do.' ”
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: A.T. Rainach:
I did a little of both. I followed the rough beat points in Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes, but a lot of it was just getting it out. I’m writing my third book now, and I’ve turned into a very detailed plotter. I’ve learned that plotting, for me, is a way to get the book out much faster and require fewer revisions.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: A.T. Rainach:
My querying journey isn’t too abnormal. I began querying on July 1, 2024—and I shouldn’t have. I think a lot of writers make that mistake with their first book. I had no business sending those first 35 queries. I didn’t think my writing was awful and thought I had a decent story, but I also had a feeling something wasn’t working because I wasn’t getting any full requests.

I applied for SmoochPit and withdrew all my queries while I waited to see if I got in, and started preparing to revise my package in case I didn’t. Around that time, Chezza read my manuscript for the first time as well. Much to my dismay, I wasn’t selected for SmoochPit, but I did get requests from all three mentors I submitted to, along with amazing feedback from two of them. Liana De la Rosa and Grace Demyan both loved my book and gave me invaluable advice. I combined their notes with Chezza’s critique and fully revised my manuscript one last time for a second round of querying.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: A.T. Rainach:
After entirely revising my package, I sent my next batch of queries starting on November 5, 2024, and received my first full request just 33 minutes later from a dream agent. From November 5 to May 5, I sent 60 more queries and ended up with 12 full requests and 3 offers of representation.

A lot of those second-round numbers were requeries. In fact, I had queried one of my agents in the first round, and her team was the only one to give me personalized feedback on my opening pages. Be sure to check each agency’s guidelines, but you can usually requery after a certain number of months if you’ve made significant changes.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: A.T. Rainach:
When I first started I over researched and self-eliminated quite a bit. In that second round, I just went far and wide and selected any agents who had both fantasy and romance in their MSWLs.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: A.T. Rainach:
Not unless they had something very specific they were looking for that fit my manuscript.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: A.T. Rainach:
Query far and wide! Don’t self-eliminate just because what they’re seeking doesn’t exactly fit. I received many full requests and lovely feedback from agents I never expected would be interested in my book.

Success Story Interview - A.T. Rainach

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