Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Kimberly Lynn Hanson

Success Story Interview - Kimberly Lynn Hanson

An Interview with Kimberly Lynn Hanson (KLBooks on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Bethany Weaver of Weaver Literary Agency.

03/04/2024

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Sure! BLÓT is a Norse-inspired dark fantasy told in lush, atmospheric prose with elements of romance and horror. It was a 2023 #RevPit winner and follows the story of the Skratti, an ancient heart-eating evil born from shadow, who confronts her lost humanity in the name of revenge, while suffering a fate worse than death…falling in love.

I was inspired by the darker elements of Norse culture, as well as the darker elements within humanity. I think writing fantasy is my coping mechanism for processing the horrors of our real world and some of the themes in the book, such as battling the demons within, depression, and buried trauma, reflect that.

Even though this is a dark story, there are moments of hope and light that shine through (and even a little humor too).
QT: How long have you been writing?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I've been writing since I was in middle school, and then I studied English literature and screenwriting in college, but I got serious about pursuing writing books back in 2018.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
About a year from the first draft through multiple revisions, including those for #RevPit.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Plenty. Taking time away helps, but there will always be difficult moments when you aren't sure it's worth it to keep going. But finding pockets of joy and achieving small milestones helps and makes up for the challenging times.
QT: Is this your first book?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Nope. This is my sixth book.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I studied creative writing in college with an emphasis on screenwriting and I've taken several writing courses and workshops over the years to keep my knowledge fresh.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I hold myself accountable by scheduling online and in-person writing groups where we use the pomodoro technique of 25 min sprints, followed by 5 minutes breaks. Other than that, I mostly write in the evenings on weekdays and mornings on weekends.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
My documents tell me I'm currently on my seventh draft. I know that sounds scary, but sometimes a draft to me is as simple as changing the first chapter and labeling it as a new draft. I went through about two revision drafts just for #RevPit.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Yes! I love my beta readers/critique partners. They provide such valuable feedback for things that we become blinded to as authors. Mine are also cheerleaders and give me the motivation to keep going when times are tough.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I always do a basic outline with the major plot beats, along with scenes or lines of dialogue that I know are going to be in the book, but the rest is more or less pantsed in the first draft. During the revision stage, I typically draw up a more detailed reverse outline to make sure everything is hitting in the right place.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I queried this book for six months, but I've queried four books over five years.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
104
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
I did at first, but quickly realized that it didn't make a difference. I would customize for the agent's wishlist by listing something like "for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance and atmospheric writing" if the agent specifically called out those elements that are strong in my book.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Keep writing book after book, work with a solid group of critique partners, and don’t be afraid to talk about your book in various public spaces (especially social media) because you never know who is paying attention.
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: Kimberly Lynn Hanson:
Sure! Here is the version I included on the final round of queries that got me my agent:

Success Story Interview - Kimberly Lynn Hanson

Query Letter: