Success Story Interview - Meghan Rainey

An Interview with Meghan Rainey (rhursday on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent V Ruiz of D4EO Literary Agency.

02/26/2026

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

Meghan Rainey:
My book is a contemporary romance with a speculative element!

QT: How long have you been writing?

Meghan Rainey:
Since childhood, but I started writing novels in 2020.

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

Meghan Rainey:
Since April 2024.

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

Meghan Rainey:
Yes, and I mostly continued out of spite of those who told me I couldn't do it.

QT: Is this your first book?

Meghan Rainey:
Nope - I have written 3 others.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Meghan Rainey:
I have a BA in journalism.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Meghan Rainey:
Nope - no set schedule! I write when I can, which is usually at night.

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

Meghan Rainey:
I edit as I go - so there were no "official" re-writes or edits. For example, I changed the timeline in the first chapter, but it was before I even finished the second act of the book.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Meghan Rainey:
A few early readers who read the first act - thank you to them!

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

Meghan Rainey:
I have a short timeline where I outline the major beats of the book. I fill everything else in as I go.

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

Meghan Rainey:
I queried for less than 30 days. I queried 2 other books in the past - one for about 8 months before shelving, and another that landed me my previous agent.

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

Meghan Rainey:
101.

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

Meghan Rainey:
They accepted the romance genre.

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

Meghan Rainey:
No. Every agent got the same query.

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

Meghan Rainey:
Querying is really just the first step in the publishing process, so it's important to have someone who is really in your corner throughout the whole thing! Also, be sure you're ready to query. Don't send queries out if your manuscript is not finished or ready for an agent to read. And don't self reject. Shoot your shot!

Query Letter:

I’m a previously agented author seeking new representation for STRANGE WEATHER (70,100 words), a paranormal romance novel that has not been on submission. This book will appeal to fans of the chemistry in Good Spirits by B.K. Borison and the weather powers in Lightning in Her Hands by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. Like Colette in my book, I have first-hand experience with grief after the loss of my fiancé in 2018. I am a published poet and wrote a viral essay on grief for the Huffington Post.

The weather isn’t the strangest thing in Guthrie, Kansas. It's Colette Franklin.

After a lightning strike accident killed her best friend and left her grievously injured, Colette Franklin was granted powers to create severe weather, from rainstorms to tornadoes. Now grown up, and struggling with grief fresh and old, stirring up storms is still what Colette does best. Despite her past, Colette is desperately trying to make peace with her supernatural powers, while she fights for her struggling but beloved farm to the opportunistic town council.

Reid Wyndham, a professor at the University of Guthrie and a seasoned meteorologist, is absolutely fascinated with the storms in Guthrie. The events in town are unheard of and —most importantly— an exciting meteorological opportunity to finish a research paper that would help him win tenure, a boost Reid’s career and reputation desperately needs after a reckless academic scandal involving fabricated evidence.

After Colette reluctantly reveals her powers to Reid, he’s thrilled to help figure out her tricky powers. Reclusive Colette is hesitant to say the least. But Reid is cool, charming and offers knowledge that may be what Colette needs to figure out her powers and to move on from the grief that’s been holding her back from living her life to the fullest—including taking care of her farm.

Through a series of experiments devised by Reid, Colette is forced to confront her need for secrecy and the walls guarding her heart. As their chemistry explodes, Colette realizes that maybe her life isn’t only storm wreckage with Reid in it. And when Reid puts his tenure project on the line to help Colette, it hits him that he has to decide what he wants most: to study lightning or to hold it close. When Reid’s project is due and emotions run high, Colette must decide if true love is worth weathering the storm.

Thanks for your time and consideration,
Meghan