Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Kaitlin Stark

Success Story Interview - Kaitlin Stark

An Interview with Kaitlin Stark (kaitlinstark on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Christina Miller of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

12/29/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Kaitlin Stark:
It's a contemporary paranormal romance in the vein of Lana Ferguson or Ali Hazelwood. After several shelved manuscripts and writing what I thought would do well in the market, I saw the quote, "write the book you want to read." That inspired me to write a fun, light-hearted vampire romance because I was the tween obsessed with werewolves and vampires.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Kaitlin Stark:
I've only been writing fiction for about four years now. I discovered my love for it in adulthood! Now I can't imagine not doing it forever!
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Kaitlin Stark:
I started drafting in early September '25 in the middle of querying another manuscript. It literally FELL out of me and three weeks later (after writing for 7+ hours a day) I had a finished first draft. Since I edit as I go, my first draft was probably closer to what a third would feel like to a normal, less insane writer. LOL! I had one beta reader and she gave me some valuable feedback, but I knew it was super strong. I started querying a week later after a few edits.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Kaitlin Stark:
I never truly wanted to give up trying to land an agent, but shelving each of those manuscripts killed a little part of me each time. This was my fifth full manuscript I'd written, and I queried each of those books with all rejections before I landed here! It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I ended up with my dream agent, and wouldn't change a thing! I've learned so much about the writing process and the publishing world that I'm grateful for the mountain I had to climb to get here. As for what kept me on course -- I'm a pisces, so, pure delusion. Enough said.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Kaitlin Stark:
Nope! My "training" was an almost completed degree in English and being a ferocious reader most of my life.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Kaitlin Stark:
No. When I'm drafting, I mostly write every day all day because I'm excited and have to get it on paper. But I'm not one of those writers who keeps a tight schedule. If I need a day off, I take a day off. Sometimes I write from 10am-4pm and sometimes it's 7pm-2am.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Kaitlin Stark:
I'm all over the place. I don't outline and I edit as I go. I know you aren't supposed to do that, but who cares! The great thing about writing is that it's such a personal process and can differ so much from person to person. With every one of my books, the first chapter has always come to me before anything else. After that, I bounce around and write scenes I'm excited about first and then fill in the gaps.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Kaitlin Stark:
I've been querying on and off since March of '22. For this book, I started querying in October of '25 and signed with my agent weeks later in December. It was such a whirlwind!
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Kaitlin Stark:
Around 40.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Kaitlin Stark:
I looked specifically for agents wanting to rep paranormal romance with heat. MSWL's were my bestie!
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Kaitlin Stark:
I only changed their name in the greeting.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Kaitlin Stark:
That first novel you write might not be your debut. As a matter of fact, it probably won't be. And that's okay! As Dory once said...just keep swimming :)
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: Kaitlin Stark:
Of course!

Success Story Interview - Kaitlin Stark

Query Letter: