When it comes to finding a literary agent, they say it just takes one yes…but that you may have to wait years for it.
My journey took 12 years. In that time, I wrote 11 novels, sent out 150 queries, had 40 full or partial manuscript requests, two revise-and-resubmits, and one *almost* offer from a small press.
I’m the first to admit that some of those manuscripts written in my early twenties were not ready for publication. (Hey, you learn along the way!) I’ll also admit that about three years ago, I burned out completely on writing and querying. I felt so wrung out by the whole process. I always got positive feedback from the agents who wrote back, but no one was ever quite excited enough about a book to take a chance on me.
Having been an acquisitions editor, I get it. I think I actually said yes to about one percent of the submissions I received. But the constant feeling of “almost, but not quite right” caught up to me. In the last two years, I did not write a single new book. I only sent out a few halfhearted queries, already bracing myself for another no.
And then, in November, the world shifted. And I found myself full of anger and energy with nowhere to put it. So I returned to a manuscript about a witchy, vengeful version of Anne Boleyn that I had shoved in the metaphorical drawer in 2022.
I revised what I had, added an entirely new narrative structure, and poured in all the rage and fear and shreds of hope I had left into my characters.
Maybe the universe knew I needed a win. Maybe it was the right book at the right time. But finally, when I sent out six queries (in honor of the six queens), I got my yes.
I am beyond thrilled to be represented by Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein of McIntosh & Otis. The vision she has for this book is more than I ever dared dream on my own, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Jillian Laine 