Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews June K.

Success Story Interview - June K.

An Interview with June K. (June_K on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Jill Marr of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

01/29/2022

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: June K.:
37 Questions started as a jest. We originally write different genres, and we were each other's critique partner when we saw a six-figure deal for a Romance story. Both being enthusiasts of the genre, on a whim, we decided to try our hand at it. Alessandra mentioned the "36 questions to fall in love" questionnaire and it seemed like the perfect place to start. Add one famous guy, one normal girl, a tornado watch, and thus 37 Questions came to life.
QT: How long have you been writing?: June K.:
As a literary duo, since January 2021.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: June K.:
The first words were put on (digital) paper on January 5th, 2021, and it's been a continuous work ever since.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: June K.:
Never! We had each other to rely on, and that's the best thing about writing as a duo. Every writer should have a support network–family, friends, other writers. It's a tough industry and having someone to cheer you up is essential.
QT: Is this your first book?: June K.:
As a writing duo, yes.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: June K.:
None of us do, but we'd love to change that soon.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: June K.:
Not really. Both of us work full time, so we write in our spare time and when we're inspired–oftentimes, that's everyday; sometimes, it's not. We wrote 37 Questions in a heartbeat, but our second project is going way slower–even though we're super excited about it. Sometimes life gets in the way and it's part of the process to accept and work around it.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: June K.:
We had two major revisions.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: June K.:
Yes. We had few but excellent beta readers, and we are so grateful about how much they helped us improve our manuscript.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: June K.:
Alessandra is a plotter; Ilana is a pantser. We actually got to combine the best of both worlds!
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: June K.:
We started querying in February 2021 and signed in June 2021.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: June K.:
We had sent seventeen queries when we got signs that an agent was going to offer. Although we were elated to possibly have an offer on its way, we hadn't yet queried some agents we thought would be a great fit for us. For fear of missing out, we went nuts and sent out fifty (!) more queries. So, in total, we sent sixty-seven queries, but in a very unconventional way. In hindsight, we would have done the querying process so differently.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: June K.:
We first made a list of agents who represent adult contemporary romance and were open to submissions, and refined the list to agents who seemed solid and legit. Then we searched for their clients, to have an idea if we would be what they were looking for.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: June K.:
Yes. We checked what each agent was looking for and their submission guidelines on Query Tracker, Manuscript Wishlist, and their agency's website. Then, we adapted our query letter accordingly–highlighting elements we thought would catch their attention.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: June K.:
Don't compare your journey to others'. And be resilient: there's an agent out there who'll love your novel and will champion your work!
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: June K.:
Yes, absolutely!

Success Story Interview - June K.

Query Letter: