I queried this book for 23 days before getting an offer. QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books? Gabi Burton: I admire pantsers, but that could never be me. If I don't have an outline, I get absolutely nowhere. QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip? Gabi Burton: They gave amazing encouragement and feedback and helped me shape this book into what it is. QT: Did you have beta readers for your book? Gabi Burton: I just keep editing and revising and rewriting until I can't see straight, my words blur together, and I'm basically just moving around commas for no reason. I don't count drafts because there are so many. QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book? Gabi Burton: QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule? Gabi Burton: I'm an English major, but aside from that, no. QT: Do you have any formal writing training? Gabi Burton: I fell head over heels for this project and wrote basically non-stop until it was finished. I was querying a YA Mystery when I got the idea for this YA (crossover) Fantasy and started writing this one. QT: Is this your first book? Gabi Burton: It wasn't that I wanted to give up, but that I accepted getting an agent might not happen for me. I started to think that I could get agents to request fulls, but none of them wanted to represent me and they never would. I got 18 full rejections on the last book I queried. QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course? Gabi Burton:ĭefinitely.

I started querying at the beginning of February 2021, so altogether it took about 3 months.

I started outlining at the end of October and writing in November 2020 for NanoWriMo. QT: How long have you been writing? Gabi Burton:įor as long as I can remember! QT: How long have you been working on this book? Gabi Burton:

I was in the middle of a different project at the time, but I was so excited, I jumped in and started writing it. I was inspired to write about Sirens on a zoom call with author friends. This book is YA Fantasy about a Black Siren in a world where the other Sirens have been wiped out. QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it? Gabi Burton: An Interview with Gabi Burton ( gburton339 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Naomi Davis of BookEnds, LLC.

Sing me to sleep gabi burton