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An Interview with SariAnne Miller
(A QueryTracker Success Story)
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SariAnne Miller, who recently signed with agent James Schiavone, has very graciously agreed to share some of her writing and query experiences with us. Thank you SariAnne, and good luck with your book. SariAnne Miller: I’ve been writing since the day I could pick up a pencil. However, it wasn’t until two years ago that I decided I wanted to write for publication. Once I set that goal, I began actively working toward it by sending short pieces out to publications to build a clip file, while working on novels. QT: Is this your first book? SM: Gold Rush Girl is my first completed novel. Since then, I’ve written two more, which are currently in the revision stage.
SM: I began this book during NanoWrimo of 2006. It took me fourteen months to complete the final draft and have it critiqued. QT: Do you have any formal writing training? SM: In my previous job, I did plenty of business writing, which helped me develop conciseness and clarity. I’ve taken two fiction writing courses at the college level, and I’ve taken the Long Ridge course, Breaking Into Print. I’m currently enrolled in the Long Ridge course Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel. In addition, I’m a member of the Romance Writers of America, which offers plenty of professional workshops, both online and through local chapters.
SM: I get up at an unholy hour every morning, and write until 6:00 a.m. That’s the time of day that my house is quiet and there aren’t any distractions. I also make the most of my weekends, usually writing four to five hours on Saturday and Sunday. I’m a bit more flexible with my weekend hours, so I can have plenty of time with friends and family as well. I average fifteen to twenty writing hours a week.
SM: I wrote a rough draft, revised it three times, then revised again during the critiquing process.
SM: Yes, I did, and they gave me wonderful tips. QT: Did you outline your novel, or do you write from the hip? SM: I’m definitely an outline kind of person. I have to know the direction my story will take before I write. However, I was quite surprised by one of the characters in Gold Rush Girl, who would continually demand attention. Although he was a minor character in the outline, he threatened to take over the story as I was writing. Perhaps I should have let that happen, because my readers have all commented on how much they like him. QT: How long have you been querying for this book? SM: I began querying for this book in January 2008. QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried? QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how? SM: Yes, I did. For the agents that I queried, I looked at their book lists, I read their blogs, and I did an extensive search for postings by and about them online. I tried to tailor the query to meet their needs. As a result, I’m satisfied that I’ve made a good match with my agent. QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents? SM: Find out as much information as you possibly can about an agent before sending a query. Show the agent that you care enough about their business to put some time and effort into the process. Remember that when they represent you; they’re putting their reputation on the line as your agent. So treat them with respect.
SM: I’ll be happy to share it.
Dear Mr. Agent, (of course I used his real name.)
Enclosed for your consideration, you’ll find the first page of my historical fiction novel for middle grade readers. This novel is the story of a young girl living alone during the California gold rush who dreams of becoming a doctor. Title: Gold Rush Girl (approx. 48,000 words). Setting: Coloma, California, near John Sutter’s mill, 1849. Main character: Lucinda Martin York, a 14 year old pioneer girl. Synopsis: Lucinda Martin York is an orphaned young girl determined to make her own way in the world of the 1849 gold rush. Her highest goal is to become a doctor, something almost unheard of in that time period. She finds it necessary to hide her identity as a young girl in order to succeed. Her closest friend, George Arnold, has secrets of his own as well. Struggling to survive in the remarkable age of the gold rush, she makes a new life for herself. At the same time, she learns to be honest about who she is, which in the end, enables her to achieve her dreams. As a teacher in California, I have extensive knowledge of the gold rush in this state. I am a member of RWA and I am a graduate of the Long Ridge Writing Course. My short stories and articles have appeared online in the Chick Lit Review, Common Ties, Mysterical-E, The Deepening, Fandangle, and I received two honorable mentions in the WOW! Women on Writing contests. I have a nonfiction article appearing in Cat Fancy Magazine in October 2008. You can see some of my published Young Adult and Romance clips at http://www.suzannelilly.com. My Children’s writing clips are at http://www.sariannemiller.com. Please let me know if you would be interested in seeing the entire manuscript or the first three chapters of Gold Rush Girl. I am submitting this query to multiple agents. Thank you for taking the time to consider my query, SariAnne Miller QT: Here is your chance to plug your book. Tell us a little about it. SM:
Title: Gold Rush Girl
Author: SariAnne Miller Lucinda Martin York is a 14-year-old pioneer girl traveling west to California in 1849, just after the discovery of gold. Her mother was a midwife, and taught her herbal cures and medical knowledge. Her greatest dream is to become a doctor, like Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from medical school. Yet that dream is shattered when both her parents succumb to cholera. Lucinda is left alone out west, struggling to find a way to survive as a young girl in a man’s world.
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