Success Story Interview - Mads Hope

An Interview with Mads Hope (madshopewrites on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Saskia Leach of Kate Nash Literary Agency.

05/12/2025

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

Mads Hope:
Sexual tension meets forced proximity in this brother’s best friend romance, following an actor who’s dealing with the backlash of a negative media story, and a social media whizz whose goal is to help him recover his public image. I was inspired to write this book because I wanted to explore what it means to find something real in a world that often feels staged. So much of our lives, especially online, are filtered and curated. I was interested in what happens behind the scenes, in the quiet spaces where people are hurting, healing, falling in love, and figuring themselves out. At its heart, this story is about truth: how hard it can be to speak it and how easy it is to dismiss it. I wanted to give space to that tension between public perception and private pain, and to show that real love doesn’t exist in the highlight reel. It’s found in the messy, vulnerable, deeply human moments we don’t always see.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Mads Hope:
I wrote my first full-length book when I was 17, and I’ve been writing ever since. I’m 21 now! That first book taught me the discipline of seeing an idea through to the end, Since then, I’ve learnt about story structure, character arcs, pacing, and most importantly, how to write something that feels emotionally true. Every project since has been a stepping stone, and I honestly can’t imagine not writing. It’s how I process the world, and how I make sense of my own.

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

Mads Hope:
I started plotting the book in April 2024, began writing in June, and finished the first draft by August. It came together faster than anything I’ve written before. The words just poured out of me. I think that’s partly because the story felt so personal and timely; I knew exactly what I wanted to say, and the characters arrived fully formed, like they’d been living in my head for a while. It was one of those rare writing experiences where everything clicks into place. I’ve never had a book come to life so easily!

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

Mads Hope:
I went through a total of four rounds of edits before I even started querying. The first draft was all about getting the story down, no matter how messy it was. After that, each round had a different focus: tightening the plot, deepening character arcs and refining the emotional pacing. I took breaks between rounds to come back with fresh perspective, and every time I thought I was “done,” there was always something else to tweak or improve. It was a long process, but so worth it.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Mads Hope:
I did and would highly recommend aspiring authors to do the same. They come to your story with fresh eyes and honest reactions, which is something you can’t replicate once you’ve been buried in your own words for months. Mine helped me understand how the emotional beats were landing. Sometimes what feels powerful in your head doesn’t quite translate to the page, and having thoughtful readers reflect that back to you can completely reshape a scene for the better. It’s also just really motivating to know someone is invested in the story before it’s even finished. That early encouragement matters more than people realise.

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

Mads Hope:
I fully plotted my book before diving into the manuscript. Having a clear outline was really important to me, not just for structure, but to help minimise inconsistencies and keep the pacing tight. Of course, I didn’t follow it to the letter. I think it’s important to leave room for creativity and let the characters surprise you now and then, but having that framework in place gave me the freedom to explore without losing direction. I also wrote my blurb and synopsis before I started writing, which might sound a bit backward, but it really helped me stay focused on the heart of the story. Knowing exactly what I wanted the reader to feel or take away from the book helped me stay true to the emotional core as I went.

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

Mads Hope:
I sent my very first query for this book on September 20th 2024 and received an offer of representation from my agent on March 7th 2025. It was just under six months of querying in total. It felt like both the longest and shortest stretch of time!

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

Mads Hope:
I sent out 59 queries for this book. It wasn’t an easy time, but those 59 queries were steps toward finding the right agent who truly connected with my work, and that made every single one of them worth it!

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

Mads Hope:
I approached the querying process with a lot of care and research. I wasn’t just looking for any agent, I was looking for the right agent for this book. I focused on agents who had a clear interest in both romance and emotionally layered commercial fiction, especially those who champion character-driven stories and contemporary voices. I also paid close attention to their client lists and the kinds of books they’d sold recently. If I saw names or titles that felt like family to my work, I took that as a good sign.

Beyond genre fit, I looked for agents who valued open communication and were vocal about supporting their authors through both the creative and business sides of publishing. I wanted someone who could be both a champion and a career partner.

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

Mads Hope:
Yes, I tailored each query to the specific agent, I researched every agent I queried: what genres they gravitated toward, the themes or tropes they often mentioned loving, even specific books or authors they represented. Then I found a natural way to connect those details to my manuscript. Sometimes it was as simple as, “I saw you’re looking for character-driven romance with emotional depth,” or “You mentioned enjoying stories that explore power dynamics in the industry, and this book tackles that head-on.” I wanted each agent to feel like I’d chosen them for a reason, not just added their name to a mass email. It takes more time, but it shows respect for their work.

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

Mads Hope:
My advice to writers seeking agents is to be patient, persistent, and prepared.

First, research agents thoroughly. Find one who not only represents your genre but whose taste aligns with your style and voice. Read their submission guidelines carefully. Agents can get hundreds of queries a week, and you want to make sure you stand out in the right way. Tailor each query specifically to the agent, showing that you’ve done your homework and understand their preferences.

Be persistent but respectful. Rejection is part of the journey. It’s not a reflection of your worth as a writer, it simply means that the agent wasn’t the right fit at that moment. Keep submitting, but use each rejection as an opportunity to refine your query and manuscript if necessary.

When you’re ready to approach agents, ensure your manuscript is polished and your pitch is strong. Have your query, elevator pitch and synopsis ready, and practice summarising your book in a compelling way. You might only have a few lines to grab their attention, so make them count.

Finding the right agent can take time, but when you do, it will be worth the effort!