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Friday, April 6, 2012

Query Trackers Making Tracks, #18





Today is installment number eighteen of my "First Friday of the Month" series on successful authors from QueryTracker. Some of my guests have agents, others have found success in less conventional ways. But one thing they all have in common is the utilization of the QueryTracker website to help make their tracks in the publishing world.

My guest today, 
Rachel Harris, signed with her agent Lauren Hammond in August of last year, and by January she had signed a two-book contract with Entangled Publishing. And now her fabulous book has an equally FAB cover:

Available for pre-order now at Amazon
And deeply discounted at B&N for $5.70

 Wow, things are moving fast for Rachel! Let's get the inside scoop on her journey.


AGH: Rachel, could you give us a quick summary of the book which snagged your agent?


RH: Quick, huh? Why is that always so hard to do? J Here’s a one-liner: When a teen walks into a gypsy’s tent and steps out into Renaissance Italy, she learns the only thing worse than an unwanted Sweet Sixteen is an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

But that does leave out gorgeous, aspiring artist Lorenzo….and sweet and innocent Alessandra…. And protective Cipriano…and the host of hilarity that follows Cat during her time travel adventure.  This book was so much fun to write!

AGH: Before you signed with your agent, how many books had you tried to query? 

RH: I queried one book before this, which is now actually being considered by my editor (*fingers, toes, and eyes crossed*)

AGH: What were the responses to those queries (stat-wise: fulls, partials, etc.)?

RH: For my first book, I sent 24 queries. Of those twenty-four, four asked for partials, ten asked for fulls, five passed with very personalized letters explaining why and giving feedback (which as a newbie, I so appreciated!), and five closed with no response.

For MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY, I sent my query out in batches of ten, and ended up querying thirty-five agents. Of those thirty-five, four asked for partials, ten asked for fulls, twelve passed with personalized letters back, and nine closed with no response. Four months to the day that I sent my first query, my agent, Lauren Hammond, emailed saying she received my signed contract and we were diving into revisions.

AGH: What genre(s) do you write?

RH: Right now, I write YA, though I just plotted out a fun adult contemporary romance. Within YA, my first manuscript is a contemporary romance, Super Sweet is a magical realism/historical/romance, and I also have a partial out with my editor that is a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist. I kinda like to experiment J

AGH: What inspired your very first book idea?

RH: I was first inspired to write after being completely sucked into the Twilight series—I just have to say that to begin with. I think the influence Stephanie Meyer has had on young people reading again has been amazing, and it also helped me remember how much fun it can be. But when I decided I wanted to try writing myself, it wasn’t paranormal that I was drawn to. I wanted to write about real life, a situation that any teen reading could relate to. I did pull some plot points from my own life as a springboard but it completely took off and morphed from there.

AGH: How do you come up with titles?

RH: Ha, my husband helps A LOT! I came up with the title for my first manuscript, 2nd Type of Girl, on my own and it just came from writing…. It was a term that the characters used a lot. But My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century was a complete collaboration with my husband, and the companion novel, A Tale of Two Centuries was all him. He likes to remind me of that often J

AGH: What books / authors have most influenced your own style and concepts?

RH: I read so much—I’m kinda/a little bit/okay a lot obsessed with it—that it’s kind of a huge eclectic mix, but I would say if I had to pick the authors that most shaped the kind of author I wanted to be, I would have to say: Stephanie Perkins, Holly Schindler, Sarah McLean, Sarah Dessen, Simone Elkeles, Susane Colasanti, Mandy Hubbard, and Gayle Forman. J See, even that list is huge!

AGH: How did you find QueryTracker, and how did it help you in your effort to get inside the publishing doors?

RH: I learned about Query Tracker from Mary Lindsay (Shattered Souls) who is in my local RWA and YA writers group. They were having a contest with her agent and she encouraged me to submit. Though I didn’t win, I did get an email from her agent asking for the first ten pages, and then a partial. Being my first attempt to send my work out, it was an amazing start to my writing career. Then using QT going forward, I learned of so many agents I would’ve have otherwise, and the most special part was the relationships built with the other writers in the trenches. Cheering each other on, lifting each other up. It helped me to see just how supportive and welcoming the writing community is, and was a complete blessing.

AGH: Do you have any current news to announce?  

RH: My editor just sent me the digital ARC, which has had me petting my screen for a few days, and we hope to have a handful of ARCS for the RT Convention in Chicago. I’ll be there and looking forward to meeting everyone! Then it is all about getting ready for the release in September and completing the companion novel, A Tale of Two Centuries, which will be released June 2013!


**Five for fun**


1)      Which would you rather do: carry an umbrella or sing in the rain?

Sing in the rain. Definitely. Not only do umbrellas bother me—half the time I can’t figure the darn things out, and I get wet trying to open and close them anyway—but there is just something fun and childlike about dashing between the drops and splashing in the puddles J

2)      What’s your favorite breakfast?

I’ll eat anything—cereal, left over pizza, yogurt, cheeseburgers lol—but I HAVE to have caffeine! Sadly, I don’t do coffee much, but I can drink my weight in Dt. Mt. Dew.

3)      If I were at your house right now, what would I find in your refrigerator?

Lots and lots of Dt. Mt. Dew, water, lettuce, spinach, yogurt, left over salmon, strawberries, salsa, and jalapenos. Makes me sound a lot healthier than I am, trust me.

4)      When would you go to if you had a time machine, and why?

He he, I feel like I’m cheating since I kinda wrote about this, but yes, definitely Renaissance Italy. I’ve always loved that time, one of discovery, and art, and beauty. The clothes, the art, wonder. And come on, it’s Italy! But I would also love to go to Regency London (again with the clothes, the balls, the hot dukes and rakes), or 1950s America. Not totally sure why the last one but the music is so fun and innocent, the clothes interesting, and I’ve kinda got a crush on young Elvis. I blame my mother.  

5)   Drinking tea … pinky up, or heavy on the Long Island?

Ha! Heavy on the Long Island, but still pinky up….even with a cold long neck beer, my pinky remains up while I drink. Hey, I’m all about the classy.

***


Thank you for the interview, Rachel. Your book premise sounds amazing and FUN. I'm already crushing on Lorenzo (I have a thing for artists). I may not be a gypsy palm reader, but I see great things ahead in your future, lady!

To our readers, please feel free to offer support and kudos to Rachel in the comments. Also, you can follow her publishing star on the internet:
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook author page
Facebook friend page:
Blog
Amazon author page

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!

38 comments:

  1. Rachel, congrats on the pub deal!! Your book sounds like such a fun read! Super cute cover, too! Best of luck to you!

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    1. Thanks Angela!! I hope you will enjoy it. It was a lot of fun to write, imagining that world :)

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  2. *slurp* Rachael, Super Sweet sounds Super FUN and booyah for snagging Entangled. They're definitely making a mark on the publishing world.

    Congratulation's to you! Look forward to the fall when we get to read!

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    1. Ha, thanks Bethany! I love Entangled, couldn't be happier. I'm honored to be with so many amazing authors :)

      I can't wait for the fall, either!! Knowing others will be reading my book is so exciting..and completely terrifying (*grin*) Thanks for coming by!

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  3. Congrats, Rachel! Good to hear all that work paid off! :)

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    1. Thank you Jack!!! It's been a fun and crazy ride :)

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  4. Congrats on your deal, Rachel! Super Sweet 16th Century sounds like a FABULOUS read!!!

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    1. Thank you Kerri! I hope you'll find it fabulous... I think it rocks, but I kinda have to. It's my baby :)

      Have an awesome weekend and thanks for coming by!

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  5. Rachel! Congrats! Your book seriously sounds awesome and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Love Renaissance Italy!

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    1. Thanks, Clarissa! :)

      I can't wait for you to have a copy, either (ha!) And I'm excited to find other Renaissance Italy lovers out there!

      Have a fantabulous weekend, and thank you so much for stopping by <3

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  6. As someone who is reading a digital ARC as we speak, you really must, must get this one. You won't be disappointed, I swear! I'm hooked!

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    1. aw, thank you Diane!!! I'm so glad you like it! (Happy dance) You are an amazing author and your opinion means so much to me. Hugs!

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  7. Loved the interview! Great questions and fun answers. And Rachel, you should hire out your hubs to help other authors with titles. I hate to feed his ego, but he did a great job. They really stick in my mind and tell the reader that your books are bound to be fun reads!

    Congrats :)

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    1. ha, thanks Christine! He does have a healthy ego, but seriously, he rocks and I'm not afraid to admit it lol. He's also great at hammering out plot points with me--If he ever decides to try the whole writing thing himself, he'll be a force I tell ya :)

      Really, though, thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind words. You are a rock star!

      Have an awesome weekend!!

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  8. Great interview, I love pizza for breakfast as well, and jumping in puddles. The books sounds fabulous, Rachel, what a wonderful title!

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    1. Thanks Nina!! Yes, I adore pizza for breakfast...it's quick, easy, and brings me back to college days. SO does jumping in puddles :)

      And thanks for the kind words about my book :) You rock <3

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  9. I am waiting patiently for your book, Rachel. See? *vibrating* Patience over here. But it's running out!

    I loved the interview. I don't know if I'd go to the Renaissance but I might go to ancient Egypt.

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    1. ha ha ha. As I tell my girls, "Patience means waiting with a smile." That is also what I tell myself when I think about YOUR book (Greta and The Goblin King) coming out and how long we have until it's book birthday!!!

      And ancient Egypt? Oh that would be very cool. hmmm Could make for a fun time travel story, too :)

      Hugs!

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  10. Great interview!!!! So fun to see your journey!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa!! So fun to follow yours, too. Pretty Amy will be here very soon...woot!!! <3 <3

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  11. Awesome interview. Congrats on your pub deal, Rachel :)

    And I am so with you on Twilight. It got me back into leisure reading which was something I wasn't doing as much in College. After that series I fell in love with YA all over again (HP was first :D)

    Can't wait to read your book. It looks like so much fun and I totally geek out for Renaissance Italy, so *high five* there, lol.

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  12. Thanks Jennifer!!! Yes, Twilight, Harry Potter, Hunger Games...so many series out there really made a huge difference, helping kids to maybe fall in love with reading for the very first time, and helping us, er, slightly older peeps fall back in love with it. Mad respect those authors :)

    I can't wait for you to read it either lol! And Double High Five on the Renaissance Italy love, woot!

    Have a great weekend!

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  13. Love this interview. Rachel is pure awesome & as someone who's currently reading My Super Sweet 16th Century, I can tell you it's soooo good! Funny & swoony & just awesome. I can't get down with the Diet part of the Mountain Dew, so you drink the diet & I'll drink the hard stuff :)

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    1. LOL You got it Cindi :) And thank you so much! EEP, so excited you are liking it!! You rock so hard. Can't wait for ALL THE BROKEN PIECES in December! <3

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  14. Hi, Rachel. I enjoyed your interview! Your enthusiam for your work really shines through, and your book sounds like a fun, quirky read. Congratulations on your well-deserved success! :)

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    1. Thank you Tracy!! Yeah, I tend to be a tad enthusiastic LOL. The good thing is I am just as enthusiastic about the books I read by other people, so it all evens out :) Thanks so much for stopping by and your kind words. Have a fantabulous weekend :)

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  15. Hi Rachel! Loved your interview. I'm really looking forward to reading My Super Sweet 16th Century! I'm a Mt. Dew lover, too, but I must have the sugar. :)

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    1. Thanks Robin!! I'm really looking forward to having it out in the wild, too...well, that and scared snotless :)

      And Mt. Dew lovers of the world unite!!! Have an awesome weekend!

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  16. Great interview!!! I can't wait to read this great book!!!

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    1. Thanks Lea! :)

      Lea and I will actually be interviewing each other next week at the RT Conference in Chicago about our mutual upcoming debuts, and y'all, CONJURE is going to be epic <3

      Thanks for coming by Lea!

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  17. I absolutely LOVE this interview - so much fun! Can't wait till this book comes out and I can't wait to party with you at RT!!!

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    1. Jennifer!!! As the queen of interviews, I am humbled by your compliment :) I can't wait to finally meet you in peson next week at RT and say I know a bestselling author <3

      Thanks for stopping by and hanging with me. You rock!

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  18. Great interview. Rachel is amazing. I'm so happy to call her my agency sister, YA Bound sister, and friend. :D

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    1. Hey Kelly!!! Yes, we have a lot of slashes, don't we? Agent sister/blog sister/friend :) You are such an encouragement to writers everywhere, and I'm blessed to know you. Thanks for coming by!!

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  19. Congratulations Rachel, the book sounds amazing. And who wouldn't want to sing in the rain :-)

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    1. Thanks Sarah!! And yes, who indeed? :) Have an awesome weekend!!

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  20. Hi Rachel, this book sounds like so much fun! Can't wait till it's released, and fingers crossed for your editor to love the one she's looking at now!

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    1. Thanks Robyn!! I hope everyone finds it fun... it certainly was a blast to write :) Thanks so much for stopping by!! Hugs <3

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