Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Mylee J. Miller

Success Story Interview - Mylee J. Miller

An Interview with Mylee J. Miller (MyleeJMiller on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rachel Estep of D4EO Literary Agency.

10/06/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Mylee J. Miller:
The book that garnered me an offer of representation was UNDERNEATH THE FOREST FORSAKEN, which I pitched as a new adult horror-fantasy with a strong romantic subplot. It was definitely not the story I expected to get me an offer, but I was inspired to write it for twofold reasons. (1) I wanted to write a character with Tourette's Syndrome, having just discovered I had the disorder myself, and (2) I wanted to write a sentient Maze (I might have an addiction to writing various kinds of mazes into my fantasy works). On the note of the former, I really want to write stories where less represented identities and experiences can be found in fiction, and UTFF became one of many of those stories.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Mylee J. Miller:
The long answer? Since I was four years old (I completed my first full novel at age 8). The medium answer? At twelve years old, when I discovered what querying was. The short/serious answer? Since I was eighteen and came out of my 4-year writing hiatus that came and went with High School. So, basically my entire life!
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Mylee J. Miller:
UTFF was a bit of a whirlwind for me. I wrote it this year, edited it this year, sent it to betas this year, and began querying it this year. It was the quickest book I ever wrote and the most well-received book I completed, too. As far as specific numbers go, I think from the start of the first draft to the completion of the final draft, it took around 4-5 months.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Mylee J. Miller:
Oh. Absolutely. Every single day. I counted each time the query trenches had me crying (it was four times, by the way, one of which happened the week before my offer). What helped me stay the course was that I'm obnoxiously persistent. If I had one personality strength, it would be my grit, determination, and inability to give up. I was going to query no matter how long it took, write books and improve no matter how many times I had to, to get agented.
QT: Is this your first book?: Mylee J. Miller:
Nope! UTFF is *technically* the seventh book that entered the trenches in the span of my querying journey and *checks notes* the 20th book I ever wrote. Sometimes, I found myself being exceptionally hard on myself because I saw so many writers getting agented with their first or second books after only a couple years of writing, whereas I've been writing and refining for my entire life - plus, it was my 20th novel that got me agented. It definitely took a change of mindset and perspective before I had the success I had with UTFF!
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Mylee J. Miller:
I don't have any formal writing training, save for a couple of English classes, but I did start my English degree recently!
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Mylee J. Miller:
I wish I did! My fellow writer friends always praise how fast I am at writing itself (I can average 3-4k words per hour when drafting, and I'm even faster editing) but my consistency is absolute garbage. I would accomplish a lot more, I think, if I got myself to write every day. For now, I write when I feel like it, especially since the other things in my life are scheduled and over-scheduling has led me to burnout before!
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Mylee J. Miller:
UTFF (and most of my books) had four drafts, though I think everyone views the term "drafts" differently. For me, there was the first or rough draft, the major developmental edit draft (which required me going through the manuscript 2-3 times), beta readers, then a minor editorial draft, then line edits (which all required me going through the manuscript multiple times.) Essentially, I define drafts as the "focus" of what I'm editing rather than the amount of times I dissect the manuscript with my eyes.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Mylee J. Miller:
I did! I had several wonderful friends read and give me feedback on the book, including the first chapter after Rachel requested a minor R&R to the opening pages.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Mylee J. Miller:
Oh, I am absolutely a plotter. I'm actually trying to plot more than I do, because right now I just go off of a general outline (blurb, arcs, etc.) and a chaptered outline (where each chapter is a paragraph with important things to implement listed as bullet points beneath them; it usually sits between 10 and 20 pages) and let my imagination fill in the rest. With my recent books, though, I've rediscovered the need for magic system, character, and worldbuilding outlines as my narratives become more complex. I'm trying to simplify my process from what I had before, that way I'm not as overwhelmed by it (over-outlining, for me at least, was a thing!)
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Mylee J. Miller:
This book was in the trenches for a total of four days from the first query sent to the time it got an offer. On its own, it's very much a "unicorn" novel. My prior books, however, had been in the trenches (dipping in and out for edits sporadically) from six months to an entire year. Still, it's a shorter time frame than many querying authors experience, and I'm incredibly grateful I came out so quick!
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Mylee J. Miller:
18 total! Out of those 18, I had 12 requests and 6 rejections.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Mylee J. Miller:
I selected agents to query based on who was accepting fantasy (or horror) submissions and who were open, sometimes referring to their MSWLs, but most often not. I was of the opinion for my entire querying journey that being able to vibe and get along with my future agent was more important than anything else. That being said, I didn't want to do myself the disservice of thinking only certain agents would be "good for me" because I didn't know who I'd get along with until I actually spoke with them.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Mylee J. Miller:
I did not. Well, preface: I did not after my first few queries - and for the most part. I stopped personalizing my queries when I realized that, for me, personalizing queries led to faster/more rejections. It took me a couple weeks to realize that when I "personalized" my queries I would just draw something that fits my manuscript from their MSWL. The issue is, when everyone who's personalizing their queries is doing that, it actually makes the query stand in rather than stand out. The only queries I personalized after realizing this were the queries I sent upon request by the agent themselves.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Mylee J. Miller:
I feel like this is stuff that's all been said before, but alas, I'm corny at heart: don't give up, but... go easy on yourself as you do so. The query trenches are difficult for everyone in different ways. As a prior psychology major, I know explicitly just how much our brains ARE NOT wired to handle continuous bouts of rejection - which, in most cases, is what an experience in the query trenches is like. You're allowed to cry, you're allowed to be mad, you're allowed to be disappointed, you're allowed to be frustrated. As long as you keep it professional and put your physical and health needs first: don't give up.

Success Story Interview - Mylee J. Miller

Query Letter: