Kate Rothwell recently signed with agent Ellen Pepus of The Ellen Pepus Literary Agency. Congratulations Kate, and thank you for agreeing to our little interview.
QueryTracker: How long have you been writing?
Kate Rothwell: Fiction--about seven years nearly full time. (I have kids at home.)
QT: Is this your first book?
KR: Nope. In 2004 I had two books published by Kensington, one's out of print but both are still listed at Amazon. I published those as Kate Rothwell. Since then I've had a few books and novellas published at Samhain and Ellora's Cave and two novellas at Simon and Schuster (through EC) under the name of Summer Devon.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?
KR: The one Ellen liked--about two months. (Also after I signed with Ellen another agent expressed interest) I tend to write three chapters/fifty pages and a synopsis and see how that flies. I sold my first book on a partial so I know it works for me. I know I can work under deadline, too. Actually, after years of working for magazines and papers, that's how I work best. I also have about five finished manuscripts. In fact, I just sold one a couple of days ago to Samhain. Ellen liked it but didn't think it would be an fast sell to NYC.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?
KR: I have a degree in communications from Hood College. I wrote non-fiction (articles, brochures etc) for years. Most of my on-the-job fiction writing training comes from reading, going to writer's meetings and being part of crit groups. I used to be a literary fiction sort of a writer and had a couple of short stories out in serious fiction magazines (like the Monocacy Valley Review). Now I write romance.
QT: Do you follow a writing "routine" or schedule?
KR: I was extremely disciplined for years but not in the last year or so. It's been a downer, not selling to New York after the high of my first two books. I do try to get at least five pages a day written.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your novel?
KR: I tend to write fast and then go back and fill in the gaps. I let it sit for a while if I can and then do some more layering and editing.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your novel?
KR: I used to belong to crit groups, but these days I just have a couple of people. My favorite beta reader is now an editor and she doesn't have time for people who aren't her Official Writers (and because we're friends I can't be one of hers), the biddy. I often bug Teresa Bodwell and Bonnie Dee to look at my work.
QT: Did you outline your novel, or do you write from the hip?
KR: I'm a combo seat of the pants and planner. Not too much planning or I get bored but I do write a synopsis before I write the book--I hadn't always done that.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?
KR: I was with an agent for a couple of years and though I'd recommend her to anyone, it was time for us to part ways. No, it really was a mutual decision. (For once I wasn't fired!) That was in October and I started the serious hunt in December. I think I got about 40 rejections. A lot of those were from agents asked to see more than one story. I got versions of the note about "like your voice, but not that story". So I'd trot out another partial. And another. And another. I think I showed Kristin Nelson about seven before one of us said "Jeez, enough all ready." Probably she did.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?
KR: I wanted someone who wasn't brand new and I wanted someone who knows about my genre. Other than that? Ummmmmmmmmmm....errrrrr. I wanted someone who wanted me. It's a small world and the gossip is pretty easy to find. Ellen is new, but she has worked for another agency so she does know what to expect.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?
KR: A few agents rep friends of mine and I'd mention the friend. Other than that, no, not really. I did pay attention to what the agent actually liked! Your site is great for that.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?
KR: Do multiple submissions but don't try to hide the fact that you're querying other agents. If you have to wait for a single answer at a time . . . drip. . . drip. . .oy, it's horrible! And if you finish one manuscript, start thenext. Don't pin all your hopes on one book or one agent.
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?
KR: It's fairly worthless because it's very specific to what I've done as a writer. But here's the basic idea:
Dear Agent Who Will Probably Not Even Bother to Write a Form Rejection, (Not using real names here.)
I hope you'll consider taking me on as a client.
I write and publish under two names, Kate Rothwell and Summer Devon. As Kate, I wrote Somebody Wonderful and Somebody to Love, two award-winning historicals with Kensington. Somebody Wonderful was a Romantic Times reviewer's choice and finalist for best first historical.
As Summer Devon, I write paranormal erotic romance for Ellora's Cave and Samhain publishing, with two of my Ellora's Cave novellas going into print with Pocket Books. I just found out one of my novellas is a finalist in this year's EPPIEs. [I doubt agents know the EPPIEs but I was pretty excited and threw it in anyway.]
The Mad Baron is a combination of both Kate and Summer's writing styles, an erotic historical romance.
Set in Victorian England, the story is a twist on the madwoman in the attic--this time it's a madman locked away. [with two short paragraphs that read like the back of the book inserted here. I've heard you shouldn't write more than two paragraphs. I believe it, too.]
I also have several other completed novels including one historical (the requested full is at Harlequin) and another paranormal.
Until a couple of months ago, I was with another agent, whom I love and with whom I amicably parted because I write several books a year and she didn't have time to deal with my output. [basically true, and I did give out her name if they asked. It's hard to lie in the small world of romance writers.] |
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QT: Here is your chance to plug your book. Tell us a little about it.
KR: The one Ellen initially liked isn't the one she decided to start sending out. One of the books I was trying to sell to agents is the one Samhain just bought. So, okay...I'll cheat and plug that one. It's a book I think of as "Space Aliens Invade--Again." It's a Summer Devon title and I think it'll be out this year. The actual title is Taken Unaware. It's not as cheesy as it sounds. (Maybe I need to work on the plugging part of the job? Seriously--no matter where you end up selling, small press or huge, promo is absolutely vital and the minute you do sell a book it's important to get a [gack] plan.) You can find out about my books at my outdated website http://www.katerothwell.com and my not-as-outdated blog http://katerothwell.blogspot.com
QT: Thank you Kate, and we all wish you luck with this and your many other books.
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