Success Story Interview - Danielle Simonelli

An Interview with Danielle Simonelli (frostedcupcake on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Molly Jamieson of United Agents, Ltd.

07/16/2026

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

Danielle Simonelli:
DRIFTFALLEN is an adult romantic fantasy, told through dual POVs and dual timelines. It was originally written as a YA speculative thriller, but after I queried it briefly, I realized its true heart was fantasy. Embracing a different genre elevated the story.
I was inspired by the TV show Lost, specifically the final season when the characters are trying to find the people they loved. The reunion between Sawyer and Juliet haunted me for years! I was fascinated by the premise of forgetting someone who once meant everything to you. DRIFTFALLEN takes that premise a step further: what if you forgot the person you loved... and all the evidence suggests you killed them?

QT: How long have you been writing?

Danielle Simonelli:
Forever? I wrote my first book when I was ten. It was about horses, and I happily and confidently submitted it to Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). They rejected it, but they wrote me a wonderful letter I still remember. I’ve been writing seriously for the past decade, pursuing traditional publication.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
About two years. It was the most ambitious book I’ve ever written. Typically, it takes me ~1 – 1.5 years from inception to being query-ready.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
Yes. Many times. There were so many moments when I wondered if I should stop writing and querying. I kept telling myself, just write one more book. Then I’d write that book, query, and a few weeks would go by… just write one more book. Apparently being NY-stubborn helped.

QT: Is this your first book?

Danielle Simonelli:
Nope! It’s my eighth completed novel.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Danielle Simonelli:
No. I’ve learned by attending conferences, reading craft books, and working with a fantastic group of critique partners. I’ve published several technical papers, but those are different beasts entirely.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Danielle Simonelli:
I wish I could! I work full time, so my writing is limited to nights and weekends and all the cracks in between. When I’m not writing I’m critiquing my CPs latest manuscripts or we’re brainstorming a scene or supporting each other.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
Four times as a YA. Maybe twice as an adult… the story was quite baked at that point. But typically, 3-4 rounds per manuscript.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Danielle Simonelli:
Several betas read my first 50-100 pages. A few trusted CPs read the entire novel.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
I am 100% a Save the Cat plotter. I start with an array of sticky notes to map out the main beats - and they change A LOT. Then I use Scrivener to write themes, detailed plot points, character sketches, worldbuilding summaries, backstories, etc. Then I go crazy with Excel (shades of my day job coming through). Think color-coded spreadsheets with formulas for word count by beat, # pages, # words by POV, days of the week, phases of the moon… all the details. As I write, I fill in my spreadsheet with the chapter word count and let my formulas do the magic. It really helps with pacing, especially when dealing with dual timelines.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
About 5 weeks with this book. For the others I queried, it varied from 3 to 6 months.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
45

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

Danielle Simonelli:
I have a massive spreadsheet (shocking, I know) that alphabetizes agents and their agencies. After querying several novels, however, I had a much clearer picture of the kind of partnership I was looking for: thoughtful communication, an editorial eye, and someone who’s excited about building a long-term career with me.
I queried Molly earlier than I normally would have. Usually I wait until I've gotten enough requests to know my query package is working before reaching out to agents I feel a strong pull toward. But after watching an interview with her, I had a good feeling we'd be a good fit. Thankfully, I was right.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
Yes, but lightly and only when it felt genuine.

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

Danielle Simonelli:
Here’s a not-so-short-list:
1. I know so many writers have said this, so I’ll say it too: Don’t give up! I nearly did so many times. Yes, it took over a decade, but it was worth it.
2. Try writing the query before you start drafting your novel. Doing that helped me expose weak characters and stakes. It also gave me freedom to change anything before I invested too much time writing. Time is super precious to me, so nailing the query potentially saved me months in rewrites.
3. Find dedicated, honest critique partners. They are invaluable. You will also learn the craft by editing other writer’s work. I’ve gotten very good at writing edit letters.
4. Agent personalizations don’t need to be complicated. Keep it super short and professional – a single sentence.
5. Don't underestimate the skills you'll learn from writing just one more book. Every manuscript taught me something new that the next one needed.