Success Story Interview - Katie Ortiz

An Interview with Katie Ortiz (KatieOrtizAuthor on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Alexandra D'Amico of Transatlantic Literary Agency.

07/25/2025

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

Katie Ortiz:
The book I found representation for is an 87,000-word adult historical fiction with a dash of magic. It's set in 1870, at a university in Alabama, where three women must use witchcraft hidden in old southern superstitions to fight against discrimination and earn the right to higher education for women everywhere.

It was inspired by a podcast episode of “Stuff You Missed in History Class” about Lucy Stone and her being one of only seven women invited to a university to test out co-education. It was also inspired by many real events in the lives and fight for women’s rights by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Victoria Woodhull. The setting was inspired by where I live in Alabama and the deep southern culture it inhabits.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Katie Ortiz:
I’ve written a little bit throughout my whole life. I distinctly remember my school hosting a young authors' conference and writing a book about a little girl who was afraid of thunderstorms and how she overcame those fears. During my college years, I wrote periodically for my university’s blog and a blog required by one of my courses. However, my journey toward publication didn’t begin until I participated in NaNoWriMo in 2022.

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

Katie Ortiz:
I started outlining this book in September 2023 and drafted it during NaNoWriMo in 2023. I revised it (many, many times) at the beginning of 2024 and began querying it a little in March, but I really jumped into the trenches around May and June.

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

Katie Ortiz:
I definitely had moments of doubt. Right before I got my first offer of representation, I was feeling particularly low. If this book hadn’t gotten an offer, it would’ve been the second book I had written that had died in the trenches. But I never thought about giving up. I was determined to get a book traditionally published, no matter how long it took or how many I had to write.

QT: Is this your first book?

Katie Ortiz:
No. I wrote another book before this one during NaNoWriMo in 2022. It was a YA portal fantasy. I queried it at the beginning of 2023 and only ever received one full request that didn’t turn into anything.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Katie Ortiz:
No. My degree is in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, so besides learning how to write lesson plans, I don’t have any formal writing training. Though I have watched manyyyyy YouTube courses (thank you, Brandon Sanderson!), listened to podcasts (thank you, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing!) , and attended writers’ conferences.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Katie Ortiz:
I’ve only ever drafted during the rush of NaNoWriMo (though I don’t plan on participating in the event anymore). During that month, I wrote for at least an hour every day after getting home from work. But if I’m not at work, I prefer to write for a couple of hours right after waking up in the morning with a nice cup of coffee beside me and a candle lit.

When I start a new project, I always create a new outline and mood board, get a new candle, and customize a new Scrivener theme. Lighting the new candle before typing the first words of a new project is my favorite ritual to start the journey.

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

Katie Ortiz:
I did four big revisions:
-The first one I completed about a month after I finished the first draft
-The second revision was based on feedback from BETA readers
-The third revision was based on the feedback I received from agents after they had read my manuscript and passed
-The last revision was based on the edits and suggestions I received from a developmental editor I had hired

And with revisions with my agent and submission ahead of me, I know the re-writing/editing is not yet finished!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Katie Ortiz:
Yes, I had many beta readers and critique partners along the way. A BIG thank you to them and their feedback, who got me where I am today!

Also, thank you to Demi Michelle Schwartz, who I hired to do a developmental edit on my manuscript. It helped the revision process tremendously!

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

Katie Ortiz:
I am super Type A. I love a good list, calendar, and Google sheet. So yes, of course, I outlined! (Save the Cat for the win!)

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

Katie Ortiz:
I queried this book for about seven months. My first book I queried for about four months.

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

Katie Ortiz:
My first book query stats:
Queries sent: 128
Rejections: 127
Fulls: 1
Offers: 0

This book (the book that got my agent) query stats:
Queries sent: 189
Withdrawn: 39
Rejections: 151
Fulls: 38
Offers: 3

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

Katie Ortiz:
Agent Rachel McMillan posted on Twitter (X) about querying broad and wide. I took that advice and ran with it! As long as an agent was open to queries for historical fiction, I queried them!

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

Katie Ortiz:
Sometimes I did if I thought they mentioned something on their MSWL or Twitter that needed to be emphasized. But I would say about 90% of my queries were not tailored to the specific agent.

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

Katie Ortiz:
Query wide. If the same feedback is given more than once, it’s worth considering. Never stop learning. Support other writers. Never ever give up!

Query Letter:

Dear {agent},

I am seeking representation for my 89,000-word adult historical fiction with a dash of magic, THE SOUTHERN SORORITY OF SUPERSTITIOUS WITCHES. It will appeal to readers who enjoyed The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow and Weyward by Emilia Hart and their use of feminism, witchcraft, and multiple POVs. This manuscript has currently received over twenty requests.

In 1870, when Lucille, Catherine, and Victoria are invited to participate in a trial semester for women at Alabama’s most prestigious university, they each have their own reasons for accepting. Lucille wants freedom from her father’s disappointment and reminders of her traitorous first love. Catherine wants to escape an arranged marriage meant to cleanse her of her attraction to women. And Victoria wants to run from her part in the death of someone she cared for.

Upon arrival, they learn their success throughout the semester will determine whether or not women across the state will be allowed acceptance at other universities. This success is made harder by their male cohorts’ determination to make them fail. When their pranks go too far, and Catherine and Lucille end up hiding in their dormitory, covered in rat blood, Victoria reluctantly agrees to help them. The three band together to form a coven under the guise of a sorority and use witchcraft hidden in old southern superstitions to fight against the men’s discrimination.

When evidence of the use of darker witchcraft is found, and a bonfire becomes sentient, threatening them to leave, they realize someone—or something—far more powerful is at play, and it wants them gone. All three women must decide who they can trust, if they can allow themselves to leave their fears in the past and accept who they truly are, or risk losing the right to education for women everywhere and maybe even their lives.

This story, and the letters, speeches, and newspaper articles within it, were inspired by the lives of Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Victoria Woodhull, who were women’s rights activists and abolitionists. Like my main characters, I live in Alabama and continue the fight for education every day as a public school teacher. I’m a member of the Alabama Historical Association. I’ve attended several writers' conferences, and am part of an incredibly helpful critique group.

I can provide a full manuscript upon request. Thank you for your time.