Success Story Interview - Megan Riann

An Interview with Megan Riann (meganriannwrites on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Paige Wheeler of Creative Media Agency.

11/14/2025

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

Megan Riann:
PRONOUNCING LOVE is a young adult contemporary romance in which a biracial teen linguist fake dates a television star on the condition that he’ll fund her dream research trip to the Philippines, but when feelings spark and secrets find the spotlight, she must decide between success and love before both slip through her fingers. My experiences as a biracial Filipina, my love of linguistics, and the fake dating trope inspired this story.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Megan Riann:
I've been writing novels for about nine years.

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

Megan Riann:
I drafted PRONOUNCING LOVE from May 22, 2024, to August 9, 2024. I spent several months editing it and receiving feedback from beta readers, so I would be ready to query in the new year. I ended up querying from January to April 2025.

QT: Is this your first book?

Megan Riann:
Nope! This is the third book I've queried and the sixth or seventh book I've finished writing. It's the first book to get any attention from literary agents. And looking back, I can see that was for good reason! I had a lot of growth and learning to do before my writing was ready.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Megan Riann:
At university, I majored in creative writing and minored in professional and technical writing. However, most of what I learned about writing novel-length fiction came from free online resources like YouTube and blog posts. I'd credit my best results to diligent practice.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Megan Riann:
My first round of beta readers included my sister and a close friend. Both are avid readers. After implementing their feedback, I had a second round of beta readers with a friend of a friend and a college classmate. Both had experience reading YA romances, and one was interested in the publishing industry, having interned at a literary agency. Beta readers are a critical part of my process, and I added about 9,000 words and a lot of heart to my manuscript based on their feedback.

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

Megan Riann:
Outlining is a necessary part of my process. I utilized Jessica Brody's Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel for plotting, and it helped so much. Rewrites are my least favorite part of the writing process, so I like to do the heavy lifting upfront whenever possible.

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

Megan Riann:
I started querying PRONOUNCING LOVE in January of 2025 and received my first offer of rep in April 2025. The other two books I queried before this received no requests, so I only queried for a few months before stopping.

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

Megan Riann:
I sent a total of 26 queries, but I had 45 agents researched and added to my spreadsheet of possible agents to query.

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

Megan Riann:
Yes! I included at least one line of personalization in each query, usually drawing from their ManuscriptWishlist or website profile. For example: "Since Dungeons and Drama is listed as a recent favorite on your MSWL, I hope you enjoy the fake dating and exploration of friendship in my story."

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

Megan Riann:
Before querying, share your novel and your query letter with several people. You only get one shot with each agent, so you want to show them your most polished work. All the research and querying in the world won't work if you don't have a great book to share. I found QtCritiques.com especially helpful for perfecting my query letter and synopsis, as many writers there are familiar with industry standards.

Query Letter:

Dear [Agent],

I am excited to share my young adult contemporary romance, PRONOUNCING LOVE. At 72,000 words, PRONOUNCING LOVE combines the celebrity romance of Axie Oh’s XOXO with the ambitious protagonist of Ann Liang’s This Time It’s Real. [Personalization.]

Seventeen-year-old Isadora Andrada has failed. The arrival of her final grant rejection shatters her summer plans to study linguistics in the Philippines. She’s stuck waiting tables while her older sister lounges on faraway beaches, ignoring her calls. Until a video of Isadora kissing the newest television heartthrob, Mateo Wilbur, goes viral and suddenly everyone wants her attention. No one knows they kissed weeks before he was cast and that they aren’t even friends.

Isadora prepares to announce the truth when Mateo asks her to play along. If they can convince the gossip columns that they’re in love, he can avoid his clingy co-star and keep media attention where he wants it—whatever that means. In return, he’ll fund her dream research trip. Isadora cautiously agrees.

Between picturesque dates and a red-carpet premiere, Isadora sees the unedited Mateo. The Mateo who quotes The Princess Bride, matches her passionate personality, and teeters between Filipino and American cultures just like her. But when family secrets and incriminating screenshots find the spotlight, Isadora must decide what her relationship with Mateo is worth. After all, given the choice between love and success, there’s only one right answer.

This story draws on my experiences as a biracial Filipina. I studied creative writing, Spanish, and professional & technical writing at [University], and I currently work at [Big 5 Publisher]. I enjoy international travel but am more often found going on long walks.

Thank you for your consideration.

Megan [Last name] (writing as Megan Riann)