Success Story Interview - Lucas March

An Interview with Lucas March (LucasMarchWrites on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Diego Harrison of SBR Media.

03/11/2025

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

Lucas March:
Sure! My book is set in a future earth where -- due to the effects of back-to-back World Wars -- war and conflict have been replaced with a futuristic gladiatorial game called Harbinger of Choice, a brutal five-vs-five bloodsport where the winning team decides the fate of the losers. Brian Lawrence, captain of the undefeated Warband Elite squad, must navigate this world while balancing the obligations of both family and combat, fighting both crushing debt due to his refusal to kill in the Contact Arena and a powerful father-in-law determined to block a much needed promotion for his own agenda.

My inspiration was taking the question "What would you do if you had to balance life and work?", combining it with a love for action and combat, and turning it up to 13. I'm a work-from-home dad who also homeschools four kids, so it became a great way to wrestle with some of my own struggles. I'm really big on telling stories about fatherhood as well, so this was a fun way to explore a few themes I'm familiar with in an interesting way.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Lucas March:
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I was an active kid, so my mother actually had me write stories as a punishment to get me to slow down a bit and think through some of my decisions. Eventually, I grew to love the creative outlet, and combined with the discipline and work ethic my dad instilled in me, I really started taking it seriously about eight years ago. So, thanks guys lol.

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

Lucas March:
Since 2018

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

Lucas March:
Having people who supported me around me and staying locked in on writing-related content. Starting off, it was just a project I was interested in, but put down frequently. When the switch flipped for me and I started really pushing to get the book done seriously, there were a few times when I got stuck or disillusioned by the process. But getting initial feedback from early BETA readers and finding some great YouTube creators and podcasters really helped me lock into a writing routine and get it done!

QT: Is this your first book?

Lucas March:
It is!

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Lucas March:
Not at all. That was also one of my initial give-up moments lol.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Lucas March:
I do! I'm in front of my laptop every morning and every night for at least an hour, but I've learned to chop writing segments into smaller thirty-minute chunks when needed. I homeschool my four kids, so life (and mental energy) can get unpredictable sometimes.

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

Lucas March:
There were four really big edits with this book, and countless smaller ones. Each massive edit made the book feel completely different. I love where it's landed!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Lucas March:
I did! Overall, I had 7-10 beta readers. A few paid ones, most others friends/family or other writers found in author writing groups.

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

Lucas March:
Both! I'm firmly in the Plot-Pants-Plot repeat writing style. Plot enough to get started, get started, plot more when I get stuck, repeat lol.

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

Lucas March:
I've queried this book for about a year.

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

Lucas March:
I sent out 29 letters for this book.

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

Lucas March:
I kept it simple to start - in my genre, took time to list out what they were looking for, good query response rate.

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

Lucas March:
I did! I tailored my opening to fit the agent I was querying, but the rest of it (comps, book blurb, etc.) remained the same.

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

Lucas March:
Don't stop. Find other authors to bounce your query off of. Don't stop. Do research on the agent to find out what they like. Don't stop. Make every word count.

QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?

Lucas March:
Sure!

Query Letter:

Given your interest in Sci-Fi, Military Action, and engaging stories by new authors, I’m excited to present my 96,000-word novel, HARBINGER OF CHOICE. Blending the politically charged combat of Gladiator with the moral dilemmas of Ender’s Game, it explores leadership, sacrifice, and survival through the deadly world of futuristic arena warfare. Readers of The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport and Light Bringer by Pierce Brown will find much to love.

In the Harbinger of Choice (HOC), gladiatorial combat has evolved into military-sanctioned entertainment—five-on-five battles in high-tech arenas, where only one rule matters: win, or surrender your fate. Victory brings fame, fortune, and The Choice: Spare, Loot, or Kill.

Brian Lawrence believed winning was all that mattered—until he watched his older brother die as the crowd cheered. Now, he fights with a different creed: Every MICRO deserves a rematch. Audience be damned. But popularity is currency in the HOC, and Brian’s morality hasn’t won over bloodthirsty spectators. Even so, his unit, Warband Elite, is undefeated, and on the brink of a life-changing promotion—and the financial lifeline his family needs to escape mounting debt and keep their home in a safer Ward.

No one understands that better than Jasmine, his fiancée. As the daughter of HOC legend turned director Wade Fendall, she’s spent her life trapped between the battlefield and the real-life fallout left behind. So when her father blocks Warband Elite’s promotion and Brian refuses to back down, she’s caught in the crossfire.

Desperate for another shot, Brian raises the stakes against Wade—without realizing he’s stepped into a much bigger game. Forces beyond his control are warring over the future of the HOC, and as tensions rise, both he and Jasmine must navigate impossible choices. One wrong move could cost them everything—their family, their future, and for Brian, his life.

This multi-POV stand-alone debut is the first of a proposed series. I have been published in Emergent Literary and am a member of the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, the AutoCrit Community, and Pitch to Published.