Success Story Interview - Mallory Barr McDougall

An Interview with Mallory Barr McDougall (mallorybarr1 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rachel Estep of D4EO Literary Agency.

04/07/2026

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I’ve secured representation for THE BONE CIRCUS, a YA gothic dystopian novel about a celebrated arena fighter who begins to unravel the brutal corruption hidden beneath the city’s dazzling spectacle of performance and pageantry. Inspired by my long-standing fascination with the K-pop industry, the story explores how government weaponizes entertainment, using idols and celebrities to distract from political unrest and maintain control.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. Like so many others, I started my first book when I was in elementary school and never stopped!

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I started this book in September of 2025. I'm also guilty of my first draft reading like a final--I can't messy draft no matter how hard I try (and I've tried).

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
10000000%. This is the second book I've queried, and the first one was in the trenches for almost 11 months with a handful of requests but no offers. It was extremely disheartening, but everyone kept telling me to just keep writing. I ignored that advice for so long--but I'm so glad I got over myself and finally listened. The only authors who get published are the ones who don't give up!

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I have a minor in English and have listened to soooo many hours of podcasts (specifically The Shit No One Tells You About Writing).

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Mallory Barr McDougall:
Not at all! I'm lucky to have a very flexible job and an extremely supportive husband, so I write whenever I get the chance.

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
This book went through 2 rounds of edits, but, as I said, my first draft usually reads like a final!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Mallory Barr McDougall:
Yes! I had 2 critique partners and 2 beta readers who were all unbelievably helpful in the process of writing this book!

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I've never pantsed a book in my life until now. I knew how I wanted it to start, and I had plotted the twist for the end, but everything else came as I wrote. I've officially converted from plotter to pantser!

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
This book was only in the trenches for about 2 weeks, but I've been querying for about 11 months total.

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I only sent 24 queries for this one, as I was being more particular about who I queried this time around.

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
I would mention if they'd liked my pitches on Twitter or if I'd seen their MSWL tweets and felt they applied to my book.

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

Mallory Barr McDougall:
Keep writing, keep creating, and don't give up! As the TSNOTYAW podcast says, "it just takes one yes!"
Also--if you aren't on Twitter, get on Twitter. Nearly all my full requests and agent offers came from agents I had connected with on there.

Query Letter:

I’m seeking representation for THE BONE CIRCUS, my 75,000-word gothic dystopian YA. Perfect for fans of Lauren Roberts’ POWERLESS and Chloe Gong’s COLDWIRE, it blends high-stakes performance, rivals-to-lovers tension, and rebellion beneath constant authoritarian surveillance. It will also appeal to fans of Netflix’s KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, for its private rebellion juxtaposed by on-stage obedience.
Cassia Grave leads the top troupe in The Bone Circus, the Red City’s cathedral of spectacle and violence, where fighters perform lethal acts for the elite. When her closest friend and troupe mate is brutally slaughtered during a routine show, Cassia’s carefully controlled world shatters—and she begins to suspect the faceless rulers known as the Watchers are behind it.
For the first time in her life, Cassia looks beyond the smokescreen and discovers performances aren’t mere entertainment—they’re carefully crafted spectacles to obscure the city’s corruption. Circus directors stage lavish parades and pageantry to bury foundry explosions, troupe infighting, and the growing violence of masked vigilantes in the streets.
With the Watchers’ gaze fixed on her every move, both in and out of the ring, Cassia realizes that one misstep could mean death—not just for her, but for anyone she loves or influences. Yet the deeper she’s pulled into the truth, the harder it becomes to stay neutral—especially as her growing connection with rival fighter and fellow dissenter Sirius Brassa complicates her place in the rising revolution, blurring the lines between truth, performance, and desire.
As the Watchers’ grasp closes around her and the harrowing root of their control is revealed, Cassia must decide whether to keep performing inside the system that grants her wealth, status, and safety—or to risk everything to expose the rot that killed her best friend and threatens what little freedom the city has left.