Success Story Interview - Katherine M. Thompson

An Interview with Katherine M. Thompson (ktwrites26 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Zoe Aline Howard of Howland Literary.

03/03/2026

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
Stolen Breath is an investigative work that reveals how a dangerous and poorly understood act, nonfatal strangulation, has become embedded in both violent and ostensibly consensual relationships. Blending testimony from survivors, forensic medicine, criminal justice, and trauma psychology, the book reveals how strangulation operates as a powerful tool of domination in multiple spaces, leaving little visible injury and inspiring intense fear.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Katherine M. Thompson:
I've been writing academically for most of my professional life. I have always been a journaling type of person, but this is my first foray into trade nonfiction.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
This book is the culmination of about twenty years of my career, including five years of doctoral dissertation research and experience. The actual nuts and bolts of writing? Not long, but the concept and the experience to back it up, a lifetime.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
Before I ever started writing, I gave up about ten times. I was sure that I didn't know how to go about writing a book, or would never be able to get the whole thing together. I spent a lot of time sending out writing samples to friends, and at some point, I realized that I was asking them for permission to exist in this creative space...permission that they couldn't give me.

QT: Is this your first book?

Katherine M. Thompson:
Yes!

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Katherine M. Thompson:
I don't have any formal training in non-academic writing, but a lot of experience and training in academic writing. So writing this book has been a fun challenge to adapt some of my language and thought processes to trade non-fiction.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Katherine M. Thompson:
I do. I have a recurring task on my to-do list that is to write. I don't always write a lot, sometimes I use the time to work on structure, organization, outlining, etc., but I always donate at least 30-60 minutes a day to some kind of writing activity. Some days that are really busy, I journal at the end of the day instead, which is an activity that I picked up by reading The Artist's Way.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
I'm currently still writing, since non-fiction books are sold on proposal, I don't have a fully formed manuscript quite yet - I'm about 1/3 of the way there. As far as the proposal and the sections I've written already, I've rewritten and edited each one at least five times. Sometimes I find that the edits reveal themselves in layers, once you make one edit, you realize what the next series of edits is.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Katherine M. Thompson:
I did and do. I was fortunate to join a book proposal class through the Nonfiction Writer's Association, and happened into an amazing group of thoughtful people who have read some sections of my work. I also have a group of friends who are beta reading sections of it.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
Outline. I find that I need structure to stay focused and make sure that the big picture remains consistent.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
I've been querying since December - so not long at all!

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
I sent out about ten letters to start.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
I queried based on their profiles, wish lists, and the overall feel of the agency. I was looking for a hands-on, editorial agent who could see the bigger social commentary in the book I am writing.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
I often did change the query for the specific agent. Sometimes it was based on what they said they wanted to see (query letter only, QT form, query letter and proposal, query letter and sample chapters, etc.) and sometimes based on something that really struck me about their profile and their experience that I felt was particularly well-aligned with what I wanted in an agent.

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

Katherine M. Thompson:
When I first started querying and getting responses, I was really afraid that I wouldn't "know" who the right agent was, but I'm happy to report that it was really clear once I started talking to Zoe that she was the one I wanted to represent me. So, my advice would be to trust those gut instincts. There's an agent out there for you, and I do think you'll know it once you find them.

Query Letter:

I am looking for representation for Stolen Breath: Strangulation, Sex, and Coercive Control, a narrative nonfiction book that examines how one of the most dangerous acts of violence – choking – has become both a predictor of homicide in abusive relationships and a normalized sexual practice across American culture.

In violent relationships, nonfatal strangulation is one of the strongest known predictors of future homicide, yet it remains routinely minimized or ignored by law enforcement, healthcare systems, and courts. Survivors often show no visible injuries, even as they suffer from lifetime neurological, vascular, and psychological harm. Strangulation has also surged in pornography, dating culture, and kink communities, where conversations about consent and education are struggling to keep pace.

Stolen Breath blends forensic psychology, survivor and participant narratives and research to show how strangulation functions not as a spontaneous act of violence, but as a powerful tool of coercive control. Through case studies, interviews and research, the book reveals how this act is misunderstood across medical, legal, and cultural systems – and why that misunderstanding leaves people unprotected.

This book will speak to readers of Evan Stark’s Coercive Control and Rachel Louise Snyder’s No Visible Bruises. It will appeal to audiences interested in true crime, gender-based violence, social justice, and the cultural politics of sex and consent, while also offering practical relevance to clinicians, advocates, attorneys, and policymakers.

I bring more than twenty years of experience in victim services and trauma-informed care, including as a forensic clinician, a program manager for medical forensics, and an educator of medical professionals nationwide. I am a researcher, studying various aspects of interpersonal violence and trauma-informed care. Last year, I completed my PhD in forensic psychology, focused on strangulation perpetrators. My work sits at the intersection of research, frontline practice, population education, and policy – the same space that this book inhabits.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be delighted to discuss the project further.

Most sincerely,

Katherine Thompson