Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Joy Jarrett

Success Story Interview - Joy Jarrett

An Interview with Joy Jarrett (JJwriter13 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

09/15/2026

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Joy Jarrett:
THE LOST REVIVALIST is a dual-timeline speculative fiction with one contemporary storyline and one set in Elizabethan England. This book is complex, and it drove me crazy trying to figure it out for years. I kept setting it aside and wrote several other books, but I couldn’t leave this one alone. Years ago I saw a National Geographic article about a two-year-old girl named Rosalia Lombardo who tragically died of the flu in 1920. Her father had her embalmed and displayed in a glass coffin in the Capuchin Catacombs. She’s so well-preserved, they call her Sleeping Beauty. I couldn’t stop thinking about what if she really were only sleeping?
QT: How long have you been writing?: Joy Jarrett:
I’m the writer who started as soon as I got a crayon in my hand. I actually have a vivid memory of being about four when I was trying to make my own Winnie-the-Pooh book. But I’ve been seriously writing for twenty-three years now. So don’t give up!
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Joy Jarrett:
Off and on for probably fifteen years. Like I said, I wrote other books in that time. But when I finally had an epiphany of how to change this book and scrapped most of the old version, I wrote 80,000 words of it in six weeks.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Joy Jarrett:
Absolutely! I’d query a little on a project, get a few rejections, and then give up for long periods and just write a new book. Even though I was getting positive feedback from agents who requested my fulls, I only focused on the rejection. The publishing world is super tough right now. What recently helped me continue was the fear I’d look back in my old age and wish I’d really gone for my dream with everything I had. I made the crazy choice to turn down a job promotion to focus on writing full-time, and it was on a very low day of thinking that was a mistake when I got the email from my agent to set up a call.
QT: Is this your first book?: Joy Jarrett:
This is my eighth book! I have three books already published with a small press as an un-agented author at the time.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Joy Jarrett:
No. I have a science degree, but I took two creative writing classes in college.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Joy Jarrett:
I do now because I consider this my full-time job. (Trust me, I know how incredibly lucky I am to be able to do that with a supportive spouse. Feel free to kinda hate me now!) But in the past, I wrote in monster marathon sessions. I don’t recommend doing this without a good ergonomic set-up because I gave myself tennis elbow.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Joy Jarrett:
I’ve lost count! For this most recent iteration though, I wrote it last year and did two rewrites.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Joy Jarrett:
Yes, I have some great critique partners. I also have some family members who give insightful critical feedback and suggestions.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Joy Jarrett:
I’m a plantser. I have an overview of the three-act structure with plot points and a few major scenes I’m excited to write with some character sketches, but then I write organically from there. This book has taught me the value of more detailed plotting though. I write chapter summaries as I go to keep track of all the moving parts.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Joy Jarrett:
For this book, this agent was my very first query as a result of an author friend referral. If it makes everyone feel better though, across multiple projects and many years, I sent 108 queries and got 6 full requests and 1 partial request.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Joy Jarrett:
This was my first query for this project, and it all moved very quickly! It was under three weeks from the initial query letter to the offer of representation.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Joy Jarrett:
For past projects, I looked on QT at the genres they represent, the authors they represent, and did a lot of searching in Manuscript Wishlist and Publishers Marketplace.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Joy Jarrett:
If I liked one of their author’s books or had a connection, I would mention that.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Joy Jarrett:
Don’t give up! I’ve sometimes equated it to winning the lottery because there’s definitely luck involved, but you can’t win if you don’t play. Having the best manuscript possible is your lottery ticket, and that’s the part you can control. The reality is I got my foot in the door with my agent through an author referral. That means it’s extra important to get active in critique groups, go to writing conferences, and network. Last, think about your book’s marketability. At the end of the day, your book is a product that agents and editors need to sell.

Success Story Interview - Joy Jarrett

Query Letter: