Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Sera Rivers

Success Story Interview - Sera Rivers

An Interview with Sera Rivers (writeloudly on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Katie Shea Boutillier of Donald Maass Literary Agency.

09/05/2023

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Sera Rivers:
Fifteen-year-old Sarai Brooks must learn how to break free from the cult’s indoctrination, find faith in herself, and become fierce and brave—like Queen Jezebel—if she is to become the loving parent she never had. JEZEBEL (YA) is based on my experience growing up in the 90s in a patriarchal, fundamentalist cult that represses women, shuns those who leave, and instills the fear that everyone outside the cult will be killed by God’s army. This book was originally conceived as a memoir, THE WICKED ONES, which won the 2016 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award for unpublished work.

JEZEBEL touches upon themes of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, drug addiction, teen pregnancy, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Like my main character Sarai, I suffer from panic disorder and PTSD from the spiritual and domestic abuse I endured. I was also a teen mom, and like Sarai’s son, my child almost died in childbirth. My hope is to empower young adults in the knowledge that sexuality is a part of being human, that making mistakes does not make you wicked, and that you can choose your own path in life and be successful, despite odds against you.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Sera Rivers:
I wrote my first story at age 6 about three little old ladies who were best friends their whole lives. So 40 years, and counting!
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Sera Rivers:
This is a tricky answer because I first wrote this book as memoir in 2006 for NANOWRIMO. I then revised it on and off for the next ten years. This fictionalized version took me one year to figure out the plot and then four years to write and revise.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Sera Rivers:
I felt like giving up many, many times. And I did, on occasion. I put the project aside and wrote other novels. But deep down, I knew this was the story I had to tell before I could tell others. What helped me stay on course was knowing that this story is an important one. Sadly, it’s still relevant today. Knowing that this story could help other teens, even just one, kept me moving forward.
QT: Is this your first book?: Sera Rivers:
I’ve written professional development books for educational publishers. I’ve written two other novels as well. But this is the first book that got me both of my agents.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Sera Rivers:
I have an MFA from Simmons University.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Sera Rivers:
I write one to two hours in the morning before I start my workday. I also have a standing writing date on Monday nights with my writing partner. And sometimes, when I’m trying to finish up a project, I’ll write on the weekends, too.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Sera Rivers:
This fictionalized version was revised about four or five times over the course of four years.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Sera Rivers:
Yes, I shared this book with YA writers who I trusted to provide constructive criticism. I also hired a developmental editor who is experienced in trauma to review the novel to make sure I handled my character’s traumas with sensitivity.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Sera Rivers:
The memoir was written without an outline first, then outlined for revision. The fictionalized version was a mixture of a loose outline and freewriting for the first draft. Then I outlined for each revision.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Sera Rivers:
It took me two-and-a-half years to get my first agent. She has since left agenting. But I met her at an SCBWI conference for a first pages workshop. She asked to read the full manuscript then, but I had just started revising it at that time (this was the memoir version). I had been querying agents with a different novel back then. I finally queried her with the memoir two and a half years later, and she offered right away.

I started querying this version of the book at the beginning of March. I signed with my agent at the end of August.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Sera Rivers:
I do not remember the amount of queries I sent out for this book when it was memoir—it was a lot! But for this version, I sent out about 30 queries.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Sera Rivers:
Since my novel deals with issues of domestic abuse, spiritual abuse, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy, I chose agents that represent edgier YA that tackle similar topics and who work at reputable literary agencies.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Sera Rivers:
Yes! In every query, I listed the reasons why I queried that specific agent.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Sera Rivers:
Do your research! You really want the best match for you! Don’t give up. There are so many agents out there. It just takes ONE yes.

Success Story Interview - Sera Rivers

Query Letter: