Success Story Interview - Elizabeth Richardson

An Interview with Elizabeth Richardson (pittel on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Morgan Strehlow of The Bindery.

07/28/2024

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
My book is a contemporary adult rock star romance about a music journalist who goes on tour with a band she hates. She travels the country with them writing about their tour, and--surprise surprise--falls in love with the lead singer.

I got the idea when Gannett announced they were looking for Taylor Swift/Beyonce-specific journalists. My first thought was "what if the person they hire doesn't even like the band?" and it all clicked into place from there.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Elizabeth Richardson:
In elementary school I would write books for my class and weave in my friends and classmates, so since then! Every job I've had has involved writing in some way, and I always thought I'd write a book. Last year I decided it was time to actually do it.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
This was a NaNoWriMo project, except I had a wedding the last week of November so I actually ended up writing it in three weeks. Looking back, it was a little bonkers, but the story took shape very quickly. I spent more time editing and getting feedback, and began to query it in March.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
No, not really. This is a goal I set for myself and I'm not easily dissuaded. As Taylor Swift says, "everything you lose is a step you take," so I kept that in my head the whole time.

QT: Is this your first book?

Elizabeth Richardson:
No, I started querying another romance book in September 2023. It was my "first pancake" book and it got a little love, but it wasn't ready. I'm rewriting it now, though, and excited about how it's taking shape.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Elizabeth Richardson:
Yes, I have an undergraduate journalism degree and a master's in English. I don't have much "creative writing" experience, but it was pretty easy to figure out once I got serious.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Elizabeth Richardson:
I have 2 young kids and a full-time job, so no! I get my words in when I can, and am always grateful when my husband understands when I get into writing hyperfixation mode.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
I think I did three drafts of this one!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Elizabeth Richardson:
Yes! They were invaluable as both cheerleaders and an outside eye helping me identify what I needed more of (I'm a chronic underwriter).

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
I have a basic outline for beats and plot points, but some of my best ideas come to me out of nowhere when I'm writing.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
I started querying this one mid-March, and got a flurry of requests immediately. Once I started getting them, I sent out more. It was a drastic change from the first book I queried last year, where I only got 1-2 requests.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
150! I had 107 negative responses.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
I'm lucky that there are a lot of agents that rep romance, so I was constantly trolling QT, MSWL, and Twitter to see when agents were opening.

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
Very rarely. I only did if there was a very specific reason to, like we interacted on Twitter and they liked a pitch, or we had something niche in common. But overall, no. It didn't seem to impact my rate of requests (but I did personalize my agent's query!).

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

Elizabeth Richardson:
Don't give up, and don't take the rejection personally. Publishing is a business and isn't a reflection on you as a person. It can be hard to get battered with all that rejection at once, but as long as you're open to receiving and implementing feedback, you have to keep pushing.

My mantra for querying was "I make my own luck." Once I knew my query and pages were solid, I made a point to not self-reject just because my project didn't line up 100% with an agent's MSWL. I formed connections with fellow writers and agents and used any advantage I had to get my package in good shape. I made a point to put myself out there in lots of different ways. It can feel a little cringe to self-promote so much, but it's only the beginning if you want to be traditionally published.

Query Letter:

STRINGS ATTACHED, complete at 76,000 words, is an adult contemporary romance. Told through narration and epistolary supplements like news articles, emails, and celebrity blind items, STRINGS ATTACHED is perfect for fans of fictional rock and roll books like DAISY JONES AND THE SIX. It will also appeal to readers who devour an “enemies to lovers” dynamic like THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU by Sajni Patel.

Music writer Rhiannon Artino is always struggling to get out of her record executive father’s shadow, so it feels like a step back when he offers her a job following the most famous rock band in the world on tour. Plus, she doesn’t even like the band’s music. But without her nepo-baby status, funds are running low.

Toby Parsons is the quintessential self-involved frontman. While his band is at the top of the world, his reckless actions threaten to undermine everything they’ve worked for. Bad press follows him, and hiring a journalist to follow the band on tour is just what they need to keep them in the public’s good graces.

Plagued by daddy issues and the drive to succeed without her father, Rhiannon reluctantly agrees to take the gig. On the road, she butts heads with Toby, and they struggle to exist in an environment where they both need each other. Fighting over interviews, groupies, and sitting room on the tour bus, the two must learn to work together so Rhiannon can make her name as a writer and Toby can clean up his image.

When Toby's past secrets come to light, Rhiannon is faced with a situation where she must decide if she trusts him. Not only does she have to deal with her feelings about Toby, she must learn how to fall in love under the microscope of fame.

Originally from Wisconsin, I'm a writer for Duke University, where my work has been featured in the Washington Post. I earned my Master’s degree in English from East Carolina University. I live in North Carolina with my husband, two kids, and Westie, Nessie.