Success Story Interview - N.B Saltsman

An Interview with N.B Saltsman (nbsaltsman on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Amanda Wooden of SBR Media.

02/04/2026

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

N.B Saltsman:
My book is a legal thriller. I love the genre, but I noticed that very few books have extensive POV chapters for the killer. I was inspired by the idea of diving into the killer's mind.

QT: How long have you been writing?

N.B Saltsman:
I've been writing since high school, but I've been writing professionally for about five years.

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

N.B Saltsman:
It took about a year to get it exactly as I wanted it.

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

N.B Saltsman:
All the time. But I knew I was writing a story that I wanted to read, and I wanted to share it with the world.

QT: Is this your first book?

N.B Saltsman:
No, but it is the first book that I've pitched to an agent.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

N.B Saltsman:
No.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

N.B Saltsman:
I make sure I write a minimum of 250 words every day, whether I want to or not.

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

N.B Saltsman:
Once I had a completed manuscript, I went through six edits.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

N.B Saltsman:
Yes, I had six beta readers.

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

N.B Saltsman:
I write a general outline with goals for each chapter, but sometimes, the characters take over. When that happens, I need to be flexible to keep their voices authentic.

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

N.B Saltsman:
I started querying this book on Halloween.

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

N.B Saltsman:
Over a hundred

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

N.B Saltsman:
Experience, genre, and whether or not their website profiles appealed to me.

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

N.B Saltsman:
Yes. I went to each agent's wish list and read about what kind of books they were looking to represent. Then, in the first paragraph of my query, I included at least one line referencing the wish list.

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

N.B Saltsman:
Do your homework on every single agent! Read their manuscript wish list before you query. Make sure the letter feels tailored to them specifically rather than a generic 'Dear Agent' letter.