Donna Cummings recently signed with agent Christine Witthohn at Book Cents Literary Agency. Thank you Donna for agreeing to this interview, and good luck with your book.

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

Donna Cummings: This book is a humorous contemporary romance—a romantic mystery (it starts with gunfire at a wedding, so there's definitely a mystery to solve!) I don't know what inspired me to write it--I wish I could remember! I do remember writing a little snippet about a woman dismayed at being a bridesmaid again, and then somehow gunfire erupts. I saved those few pages, and then came back to it a year or so later and thinking, "This sounds fun". So I started writing to see what would happen next.



QT: How long have you been writing?

DC: I've been writing a long time, but I've only been seriously, stubbornly dedicated the past three years.



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

DC: I started this book a couple years ago, and then set it aside. I picked it back up about a year ago, and finished it this past fall.



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

DC: A few years ago I set aside writing, so I could concentrate on some other creative endeavors. The urge to write was always there, and it felt like I was missing something huge by not writing. During the past two years of querying, I gave up plenty of times! It would only last for a day, though, because I just felt like I was close, and didn't want to miss out by giving in to frustration.



QT: Is this your first book?

DC: I have written several books, a few that might end up being "training wheels" rather than publishable, but I still love them. And I love the feeling I had when I created them, so they have done their job.



QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

DC: I took the basic composition classes in college that everyone is required to take, and the Legal Writing classes I took in law school probably helped in some way that I can't think of at the moment! I've actually learned more about writing by going to conferences and taking classes from other authors, and reading books about the writing craft. I also learn a lot from reading books ("Ahhh, that's an intriguing way to delivery backstory!"), and blogs from authors and agents. Still, on-the-job training is the best, so jumping into the middle of a story that feels a little beyond my current skill set – that works every time!



QT: Do you follow a writing "routine" or schedule?

DC: I definitely understand the benefit of a regular routine/schedule, but I chafe under the strictures of it! My writing involves a lot of staring out the window. I'm always THINKING about my book, and try to have a notebook with me so I can jot down the seemingly random thoughts that pop up when I'm "doing nothing". With this book I tried to do 1500-2000 words/day, and since that worked, I aim for a similar output. Some days those words get done with the morning coffee, and others they get done during the night-owl hours. I feel like routines and schedules are meant to ASSIST in the production, not bog it down with guilt, so if it doesn't get done, it doesn't get done. My brain seems to be working on things in the background anyway, making it easier to get the word count done when I do open up the manuscript.



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

DC: I finished writing this book in the fall, and then I let it sit for a month, so it would be fresh in my mind when I revised it. I took a month to revise it before sending out queries.



QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

DC: I have one beta reader whose instincts and opinions I trust completely. She reads every type and genre of book, and if she says she doesn't understand something, or there's information that isn't clear, I trust her comments and suggestions. She's also very eager and enthusiastic to read my work, which I think is just as important as having someone point out boo-boos.



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

DC: I am primarily a pantser. After about fifty pages or so, I stop and try to pick up clues the characters have left for me, and then I semi-plot from there. Generally I feel like I'm the one holding the reins, but the characters are pulling the carriage. They have the momentum, and it's my job to keep them on the path, with a few detours to see the local sights!



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

DC: I started querying a couple years ago, with a different book. After about four months, I started querying a second book, and that process was about 18 months, with some close calls which ultimately didn't work out. I didn't query very long with this book—possibly a month. I just realized -- this book was the first one that I used QueryTracker on! With the others I used QT as an informational resource, but I didn't use the tracking features. Maybe that's what made the difference!



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

DC: I sent about thirty queries. The "no response" rate was a lot higher than with the previous books, and I'm not sure if it was the query itself, or the current state of the publishing industry.



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

DC: Don't spend your time WAITING. DO something. Every request happened "out of the blue", NOT when I was hitting the refresh button on my email inbox! I know it's hard to follow this advice—because I didn't follow it very often. It's still good advice though! So make the time go faster by writing a blog post, hanging with other writers, plotting a new scene, revising a WIP. Distract your brain into being productive.



QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?

I am hoping you will be interested in I DO . . .OR DIE, a romantic comedy of approximately 80,000 words. It won third place in the Chick Lit Writers 2009 "Get Your Stiletto in the Door" contest. It is also a finalist in the OKRWA 2009 "Finally A Bride" contest.

"Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" is Shelby Atwood's personal commandment. She's managed to avoid commitment all her life – no pets, no plants, not even a long-term lease. Heck, she's had colds last longer than her romantic relationships. How could she be any other way when she has a gigolo for a father?

But then gunfire erupts at the latest wedding she's been roped into, and it ends up being the best thing to happen to Shelby's love life. Detective Ryan Nichols is assigned to the case, and when the shootings don't stop, he becomes Shelby's 24-hour bodyguard. She wouldn't mind except Ryan is too appealing, too sexy, and way too happy to remind her of the raucous bachelorette party when she mistook him for a stripper.

Shelby's plan is simple: find the shooter, have a fling with Ryan, and return to her normal non-committal life. Unfortunately, the shooter is very elusive. Shelby's feelings for Ryan are more than adrenaline-fueled lust. And returning to her normal life is next to impossible, since, despite her lifelong caution, she's managed to put her heart in the line of fire.

I have enclosed the first chapter for your review. The manuscript is complete and I would be happy to send it to you.