Stephanie Alexander has recently signed with agent Rebecca Friedman of Hill Nadell Literary Agency. Stephanie, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Congratulations and good luck.



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

Stephanie Alexander: THE CRACKED SLIPPER is a book club friendly fairy tale retelling featuring a love triangle between a scholarly Cinderella, an alcoholic prince, and his Mister Darcy-ish best friend. It's cross genre (women's fiction/fantasy). I was inspired by my love of historical fiction, my academic background in Women's Studies, and my experiences as the mother of two daughters. I wanted to write a fairy tale in the vein of historical women's fiction: place Cinderella in the context of a patriarchal society.



QT: How long have you been writing?

SA: I've been writing all my life. For a year and a half with the intent to publish.



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

SA: I started THE CRACKED SLIPPER in September of 2009.



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

SA: Not during the writing process, but querying can get anyone down. I stayed positive by rereading my manuscript to remember why I love the story.



QT: Is this your first book?

SA: Yes.



QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

SA: No. I have an MA in Sociology, so I've done a lot of academic writing, but I've only taken one writing class (a class on revising).



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

SA: Yes. I'm very routine. I plan out my writing time the night before so I know when I'll be working.



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

SA: I probably went through 10-12 drafts before finishing the one that landed representation.



QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

SA: I basically said yes to anyone who wanted to read it. Feedback is invaluable. At least thirty people read it.



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

SA: I do outline, and then I tend to wander off course. I always need to know the next five or so scenes ahead of me.



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

SA: I've been seriously querying this book for about six months.



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

SA: Maybe 50? I stopped keeping count. A distraction.



QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?

SA: Genre, personal interests...it got kind of hard b/c of the cross genre nature of the book.



QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?

SA: Yes! I made sure to include something about clients, interests, a quote from an interview.



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

SA: Make sure your book is really polished before you query. Have lots of people read it. Keep writing while querying, and be prepared for rejection. It hurts, but it gets easier with each one.



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

SA:

THE CRACKED SLIPPER is a fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dose of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, THE CRACKED SLIPPER brings a magical twist to women's fiction.

Eleanor Brice, princess of the kingdom of Cartheigh, just can't put her grim childhood behind her. To make matters worse, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.

Eleanor's long struggle begins at age ten, when her father's unexpected demise leaves her alone in the cruel hands of her stepmother. Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare her for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor's eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. Her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes his best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley, may be her true soul mate.

Eleanor can't resist Dorian's honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people's love can't protect her from her past. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must reveal a plot between her stepmother and the king's chief magician. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and a seemingly impossible love.

My educational background (MA in Sociology with a focus in Women's Studies) influenced multiple themes throughout Eleanor's journey from traumatized child to independent woman. THE CRACKED SLIPPER presents a smart, outspoken fairytale heroine battling against her dubious upbringing and the confines of patriarchy. Think book club read, with a fantasy flavor.