Success Story Interview - Julie Balint

An Interview with Julie Balint (JulieQ on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Jesseca Salky of Salky Literary Management.

05/13/2025

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

Julie Balint:
This book is a different genre for me. I normally write contemporary romance, not upmarket/mystery/thriller type stuff. The inspiration came after watching the Gabby Petito documentary series on Netflix. The idea of a young woman who lives her life online and then goes missing stayed with me. But I didn't want to write a sad book, and came up with a bit of a twisted, yummy, entertaining book, about a young woman who goes missing, the family that tries to cope, and an imposter who fools them all.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Julie Balint:
I've been in the game for a while. I wrote my first book in 2008 and landed an agent and we sold to Harpercollins, all within a few months. Not a typical story at all. Since then, I've worked with another agent and spent a lot of time self publishing in addition to being traditionally published. I felt it was time to do move in a different direction and I wanted a partnership, which is why I started to look for an agent.

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

Julie Balint:
Truthfully, not long. I got the idea in late February. Handed in a finished book to my editor and started this particular project early March. I finished it mid April. It sounds fast, and it was even for me, but I was so passionate and it's all I did for those weeks. Eat, think, write.

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

Julie Balint:
No. That being said, I've been doing this for a while. I have a built in routine. It's a pleasure to write, but it's also my job.

QT: Is this your first book?

Julie Balint:
God no! I've written over thirty books in a few different genres.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Julie Balint:
No. I didn't attend university or take any creative writing courses. I believe that writing, from a technical standpoint, can be taught. But I also think that you're either born a storyteller or not. I've always loved words, and books, and telling stories. It's organic.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Julie Balint:
I do. I write in the morning. I generally start out with editing what I wrote the day before and then settle in to get my word count, which typically, is 2k.

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

Julie Balint:
I never re-write and I only edit once as I go. I write linear so it has to be perfect for me to continue. That being said, I've learned that if I can't seem to move forward in word count, it generally means I need to go back and find where I went off course.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Julie Balint:
No. With all the books I've written I've never used beta readers. I have several author friends who use them and love their input, but it's an individual thing. What works for me, doesn't work for someone else.

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

Julie Balint:
Before I write a book I need the opening scene, the ending, and 3-4 big scenes in my head. I also need the character names. From there I start at the beginning and let the characters tell their story.

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

Julie Balint:
I finished this book in mid April, though I started querying for it late March. By the time it was officially finished I had a bunch of full requests and sent them out mid April. I don't think this is a great way for new authors to go about things, but for me, I wanted to know what the interest would be and I had a very strong opening scene that I included in the body of my query. I knew I would finish the book, so it worked out well.

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

Julie Balint:
I sent out about 21 queries, I believe and ended up with 11 requests for the full. And luckily, multiple offers of representation.

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

Julie Balint:
I took a look at their sales on Publishers Marketplace. Read their profiles on their websites and read up on what they were currently looking for, as that can be fluid and change with market demand.

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

Julie Balint:
Not really. My query was pretty straight forward and I kept to the basics. Listed my writing history, the awards I'd won etc, then a pitch about the book and why I thought it would be a fit. Jesseca Salky, the agent I signed with, had loved my work in the past and I pointed that out in the query.

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

Julie Balint:
The only advice I would give any author is to KEEP WRITING. I'm a great example that, even after being successful and pubbing at large NY houses, a career will change, goals will be adjusted and you can still be rejected. You can't take any of it personally, it's incredibly subjective. If you believe in yourself, keep at it. Write a book that makes you happy. Also BE NICE. The publishing world is a lot smaller than most people think.