Success Story Interview - Gina Waggott

An Interview with Gina Waggott (gingermop on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rita Rosenkranz of Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency.

06/17/2025

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

Gina Waggott:
My book, Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World's Unlikeliest Popstar is the authorized biography of John Larkin - a jazz pianist and recovering addict with a prominent stutter who, at 52, unexpectedly topped the charts in Europe and Asia in the 90s by turning his stutter into scat-singing. Many people know his songs, but it's less about the hits and more about a broken man who found a global audience late in life, and then used it to heal himself and others. I knew John before he died in 1999, and had wanted to tell his story for years. After many conversations with his widow, her passing in 2023 pushed me to make it happen before his story was lost.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Gina Waggott:
For as long as I can remember. Like John, I stutter - so the written word has always been my favourite form of self-expression.

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

Gina Waggott:
Almost three years, including all the research and drafts. Before then, I'd dabbled with the story and kept coming back to it.

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

Gina Waggott:
When I really want to do something, I rarely give up. Seeing renewed interest in Scatman John (his music has surpassed half a billion streams) convinced me that there's a new generation of fans who need to hear his full story, which, until now, has never been told.

QT: Is this your first book?

Gina Waggott:
It's my first full-length book. I've contributed to other books by other authors, and have written short-form articles before in the UK press.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Gina Waggott:
No. I think you can learn a lot by constantly writing and refining your craft. You can do that with or without formal training.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Gina Waggott:
These days, I write mostly in the mornings, when the caffeine kicks in! But if ideas pop up, I'll go back to my desk and write at any time of day or night.

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

Gina Waggott:
Several. I'm one of those writers who can't leave things alone and there would never be a final draft, if I didn't have a deadline.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Gina Waggott:
Yes. The book covers stuttering, trauma, and addiction, so I asked Speech and Language Pathologist friends and other professionals in therapeutic fields to review it. More for accuracy and respectful representation than for feedback on the story itself.

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

Gina Waggott:
I had a rough outline for the book proposal, but deviated from it during the process if I felt it made the story stronger.

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

Gina Waggott:
I'm UK-based, so I first approached UK agents, but when a couple of them suggested the book was better suited to the US market, I queried there instead, over the course of about a month.

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

Gina Waggott:
Eighteen.

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

Gina Waggott:
I chose agents who were strong on non-fiction, who were active and responsive on Querytracker (by their stats), and who had done deals in the last year or so. I had already picked out Rita Rosenkranz, who eventually offered me representation, because I'd heard her excellent interviews on writer-focused podcasts and I thought she'd be a great fit. She replied promptly and instinctively knew which editors to pitch, so she sold the book very quickly, which is fantastic.

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

Gina Waggott:
Yes I did. It's a competitive industry and I don't think sending out impersonal mass queries is helpful - you should do everything you can to stand out, including doing a bit of research into the agent and tailoring your query to them. It only takes a few minutes, but it shows respect for their role and their time.

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

Gina Waggott:
Quality over quantity - tailor your pitch to agents you know represent your type of work. Don't be discouraged if you don't get a reply from your first choice(s). It sounds cheesy as hell but don't give up. If you do, your chances of failing are 100%. This is an odds game, and you've already beaten them if you've managed to finish a book in the first place. Finally, lean into the writing community - writers encourage and support one another, and we've all been there during that maddening wait for responses.

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

Gina Waggott:
I'd prefer to keep that private, for now.