Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Rian Lynch

Success Story Interview - Rian Lynch

An Interview with Rian Lynch (rianlynch on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Ben Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.

03/16/2026

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Rian Lynch:
THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE (82,000 words) is a queer adult sci-fi romance about an isolated botanical archivist who must confront old wounds when a handsome stranger shows up on their doorstep, wounded and on the brink of death. It is a character-driven story about human connection and healing from past trauma. It also explores themes of community, environmental sustainability, and the dangers of ideological extremism.

As a PhD candidate who is often torn between the comfort of solitude and the challenge of stepping outside my comfort zone to build meaningful connections with others, I was inspired to write THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE based on my personal experiences. I was also motivated by the growing corporatization of environmentalism at the expense of human welfare.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Rian Lynch:
I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil, but I only started taking my craft seriously in 2019.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Rian Lynch:
THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE was truly a lightning-in-a-bottle moment. I first came up with the idea in March 2025 and finished writing the first draft in late July. I then spent August and September revising it and began querying in September.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Rian Lynch:
Not with THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE. I’ve felt that way with previous projects, but this story flowed so naturally and quickly that doubt didn’t have a chance to creep in.
QT: Is this your first book?: Rian Lynch:
No. I’ve written many novels and short stories over the years; however, this is only the second book I’ve spent time polishing and querying.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Rian Lynch:
Not really? I’m a PhD candidate, so I’ve spent years honing my academic writing skills, but I don’t have any formal training in fiction writing. I learned how to write through reading voraciously, getting feedback from beta readers, and with lots of practice.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Rian Lynch:
As much as my A-type brain might want to, I’m a full-time PhD candidate and post-secondary lecturer, so my schedule is always changing. I write whenever I can steal a moment away from reviewing research articles and grading papers.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Rian Lynch:
I wrote three drafts of THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE before querying it. I made minor developmental edits to the first two drafts, then concentrated on line-level changes with the third.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Rian Lynch:
Yes—I love my beta readers! The first group of readers gave me feedback as I wrote. I’d share chapter-by-chapter with them, and they’d give me feedback in real time. This was the first time I used that method, and it worked really well for this story. I also had a completely different group of beta readers review the second draft before I wrote the third, which is the version I queried.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Rian Lynch:
I’m a strict outliner. I need to know where I’m heading so I don't stray too far from my original vision and the reason I began writing the book in the first place.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Rian Lynch:
I queried THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE for 142 days (about four and a half months) before receiving my first offer of representation. Then, I took three weeks to consider the offer, during which I received two other offers of representation. I made my final decision on day 166. I queried my previous novel on and off for just over two years, which included two revise-and-resubmits.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Rian Lynch:
I sent out 115 query letters before receiving my first offer of representation, and then I received a few more referrals during the three-week decision period.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Rian Lynch:
I queried agents from reputable agencies with a history of selling speculative fiction, whether they were experienced or new. As a trans author who writes queer speculative romance, it was also essential that the agents were not only interested in representing 2SLGBTQIA+ stories but also strong supporters of their marginalized authors.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Rian Lynch:
Yes, I personalized the opening sentence of nearly every query letter to highlight how THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE met one or more items from the agent’s manuscript wishlist. For example, “Based on your interest in grounded speculative fiction with a lush setting and queer characters, I believe my adult sci-fi romance, THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE, would be a great addition to your list.”
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Rian Lynch:
Protect your mental health! Querying can be stressful, and if you're not careful, the constant rejection can really get to you. Having a strong support system of people who understand the querying process, as well as those outside of writing, genuinely helped me get through it.

Also, take it one day at a time. You never know when things can turn for the better. One of my toughest moments querying was just before I received my first offer of representation. I received four form rejections and a less-than-kind personalized rejection all on the same day. Less than a week later, I had an offer and an agent who loved everything that the previous agent disliked about the story. (I suppose the third piece of advice is just how subjective this industry is!)

Success Story Interview - Rian Lynch

Query Letter: