Success Story Interview - Samantha Lebans

An Interview with Samantha Lebans (samanthalebans on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Mara Hollander of Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency.

08/31/2026

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

Samantha Lebans:
Sure! DEFINITELY NOT A BUCKET LIST is a contemporary romance that originated from a scary medical diagnosis I received a few years ago. Once everything settled, I decided to give it to my main character. Write what you know, they say!

QT: How long have you been writing?

Samantha Lebans:
Just over two years.

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

Samantha Lebans:
I fast-drafted for two months last fall and edited from November to February. So about six months total. This method is definitely not for everyone. I spent every free second of my time drafting in those months.

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

Samantha Lebans:
Constantly. Querying is the most unpredictable of rollercoasters, and the lows are extremely low. I'd say a mix of determination, spite, and my critique partners helped me persist. We linked up at the TSNOTYAW Virtual Retreat over a year ago and we continue to email back and forth and meet monthly over Zoom. They are brilliant writers and have become the best support system.

QT: Is this your first book?

Samantha Lebans:
It's my second.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Samantha Lebans:
I don't. I wrote a thesis in university but that was many years ago.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Samantha Lebans:
I get most of my quality writing done in the evenings when my daughter is in bed. Great time for writing, terrible for my sleep habits.

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

Samantha Lebans:
I typically edit as I go, but the draft I sent out to agents was my sixth.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Samantha Lebans:
I did! Shoutout to my lovely critique partners who all took the time to read! And to Alex @brightestbookshelf on Instagram. She is a romance book reviewer extraordinaire and helped shape the manuscript into what it is today.

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

Samantha Lebans:
I spent two months creating a solid outline prior to drafting. I did not do that for my first book, and quickly learned how helpful it is for me.

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

Samantha Lebans:
I queried this book for about six months and I did the same with my first book. The results were vastly different. When I queried my first book, it received 2 full requests that didn't amount to anything. This one received over 20.

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

Samantha Lebans:
88

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

Samantha Lebans:
I searched for agents who worked at reputable agencies and were actively looking for contemporary romance. Publisher's Marketplace is a wonderful tool to find out more about agents and their sales. Pitch events were great for interacting with agents and the writing community as well. Good old social media lurking works too.

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

Samantha Lebans:
A mix. If I had met them at a conference or something specific in their wishlist matched my manuscript, then I personalized.

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

Samantha Lebans:
It's easy to say keep going once you're out of the query trenches, but keep going. Take a breath and step away if you need to, then keep writing. I'll be telling myself the same thing in the months to come. We do it because we love it. Everything else is a bonus.