Success Story Interview - Letty Sharpe

An Interview with Letty Sharpe (LettySharpe on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Kirsten Lang of Zeno Literary Agency.

09/15/2025

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

Letty Sharpe:
I've been interested in dark academia and magical academies for a while, and I wanted to have my own spin on it - complete with gays and gods!

QT: How long have you been writing?

Letty Sharpe:
Like most of us, for as long as I can remember! But I've been working on novels since I was around 15 or 16.

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

Letty Sharpe:
I'm a teacher by day, so I set myself the challenge of completing the first draft in the summer of 2023, which I had done before. This story came so much easier than any other I've written. Since then, I've been working on editing in bits and pieces around work.

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

Letty Sharpe:
I don't think I would ever give up writing, but there have been times when I questioned whether I should bother trying to get published. Most of these thoughts came while in the query trenches - it's tough out there!

QT: Is this your first book?

Letty Sharpe:
I've written first drafts before, but this is the first book that I edited and queried.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Letty Sharpe:
I studied English and Creative Writing at university, but truthfully I learned more of my craft from YouTube videos!

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Letty Sharpe:
No - but it's my goal to have one by the end of the year.

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

Letty Sharpe:
I sent my first query at the end of June and received my first offer at the end of August, so roughly 2 months. I know that all things considered, I've had a short querying experience, but GOD it felt like a century while in the thick of it!

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

Letty Sharpe:
Be ready for the highs and lows to come in quick succession. I received 4 rejections and an offer within days of each other and the emotions were all over the place. Querying is not for the weak!

Query Letter:

Dear AGENT NAME,

[INSERT RELEVANT MSWL / PERSONALISATION] With this in mind, I am seeking representation for my dark academia infused YA fantasy, VEILED ENCHANTMENTS, complete at 80,000 words. A standalone with series potential, VEILED ENCHANTMENTS will appeal to fans of the hidden celestial identities found in Wisteria by Adalyn Grace and the sapphic rivals to lovers of Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven.

Seventeen-year-old Blake has spent her life studying magic at Holtsworth Academy with the hope of joining the ranks of the Royal Corps, an elite infantry comprised of divine witches descended from the gods. There’s only one problem: Blake isn’t a divine witch at all. As niece of the headmistress, she is confined to the role of assistant and silent observer of the extraordinary lessons unfolding around her, her own negligible powers denying her full participation.

A spark of hope arrives during the Corps’ annual visit to the academy, when Blake learns that the Grandwitch has brought along a secret necklace containing a volatile and immeasurable magic. Finally, Blake has a chance of wielding the power she has always longed for. But just as she finds a way to obtain it, the necklace disappears and Blake believes she knows exactly who stole it: Maeve Moram, a powerful student who has always had it in for her.

What begins as a quest to recover the necklace results in Blake unearthing not only the hidden truth of her fellow hedge witches but also a deeper and darker power that she can’t begin to comprehend.

With VEILED ENCHANTMENTS, I won the 2024 Northern Debut Award for Young Adult Fiction and with a previous sapphic Peter Pan retelling I was longlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme in 2018. By day, I am a secondary English teacher living in the North East of England with my yappy little demon dog.

Yours sincerely,
Letty Sharpe