Success Story Interview - orangeaya

An Interview with orangeaya (orangeaya on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Amelia Appel of Triada US Literary Agency.

04/07/2025

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

orangeaya:
Sure! The elevator pitch of my book is: Raised by a strict tiger mom, Maggie Wang fake-dates the hockey team grump to make her crush jealous, only to fall for the wrong guy and risk losing her mom’s approval. It was inspired by my upbringing as well as my love for YA romance and the fake-relationship trope.

QT: How long have you been writing?

orangeaya:
This particular book took me about a little over a year, but I've always enjoyed writing ever since I was in high school.

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

orangeaya:
Yes. Many times. I worked with a book coach during my first draft, so she helped me a lot by boosting my confidence. I rewrote the whole book again on my own because I wasn't happy with it, and in that process, I had great support from accountability partners. The writing community I was, and still am involved in have been very helpful in keeping me afloat in the sea of writer stress.

QT: Is this your first book?

orangeaya:
First completed book, yes.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

orangeaya:
I do not.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

orangeaya:
I don't have a routine. I write whenever I want, whether it's at the crack of dawn or while waiting for my kids at the bus stop. If I'm not writing, then I'm thinking about it.

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

orangeaya:
I completely rewrote my book once, then edited it about a few thousand times...

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

orangeaya:
Yes. I had a few writer friends who read it, and I also hired a paid beta-reader on Fiverr.

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

orangeaya:
I outlined my book with very simple sentences since I'm a plantser.

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

orangeaya:
I queried this book for two and a half months. This was the only book I've queried.

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

orangeaya:
I sent out about 40+ letters before my offer.

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

orangeaya:
Yes, I tried to be as specific as I could, stating how my book relates to their MSWL.

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

orangeaya:
Only query when you're ready. If there's something you feel that isn't quite right with your manuscript, don't pitch too early. Fix whatever it is, and the right person will come along. It's worth the work and the wait!