Today’s guest for the SAT is Lorelei Savaryn whose stories usually focus on the atmospheric and creepy, but always with a pulse of hope. Her debut novel is middle grade contemporary fantasy THE CIRCUS OF STOLEN DREAMS. Twelve-year-old Andrea must rescue her brother from the nightmarish Sandman, who has trapped him in a circus built out of children’s dreams—and nightmares.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I am so very much a planner! I work very hard to think through my plot and my theme and character arcs before drafting, although despite my best efforts there are always layers to uncover and many revisions to be done. It helps me, though, to be in a mental space where I at least have the overall scope of where I’m headed sorted out, along with the logic of the world I’m operating inside.

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

If we’re talking first draft to final edits, for my debut, it was about 15 months. For my second book, it will be just under a year. I write middle grade, which means shorter word counts over all, and I usually draft pretty intensely over a month or two and then give it a bit of time to breathe before seeking feedback and working to take the lump of clay I’ve created and carve it into the story I hope to tell.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

I used to be a one project at a time person, but now I’m working to grow more comfortable with working on multiple things at once. Between drafting and revision rounds with my second book, I’ve been working on pitches for future stories, and keeping marketing in mind for my debut. Some days it is a bit overwhelming, but most days I just smile at the fact that I get to do this beautiful work of bringing stories into the world for my job.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

Yes. There was a little voice in my head that wondered if I would keep trying to write books for decades and decades and have nothing to show for it other than piles of trunked, unpublished works. That was probably my worst fear, and I let it slow me down from completing a manuscript for almost 10 years! 

But thankfully, another voice was there, too. That voice that said if I worked hard enough and kept going even when I faced rejection, that eventually I would get something published. And I wanted it enough that I chose to listen to that second voice starting in January 2017.

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

I have one manuscript that I wrote and revised over the course of about a year and a half that I ended up trunking on the day I decided to write what became my debut. That year and a half was time very well spent, as I learned a lot about writing, even though that wasn’t the one for me.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

I shelved my first manuscript when I was much more excited about my new story idea being my debut. I knew it was more marketable, and that I was probably a better fit for middle grade overall (my first ms was YA.) I also have a decent-sized folder on my computer of “Old Story Ideas” that will never see the light of day, from as far back as the early 2000’s. For some of them, I didn’t know what I was doing, or how to really even go about making a novel-shaped thing. For some, the idea just didn’t capture me enough to stick with it for as long as it would take. Others were during the years where I let the fear keep me from finishing or just weren’t that unique or fresh.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them? 

My agent is Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency in London! I was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2018, but I connected with Chloe via traditional querying after the agent showcase ended. I had two agent offers on the table, and had nudged all agents who still had my manuscript or query. Chloe got back to me quickly after the nudge and we had a lovely phone call. I ended up with five amazing offers by my deadline, which put me in the position of making a very difficult decision. I loved my conversation with Chloe, as well as her editorial and submission style, and I also felt great about the reputation of the agency she worked for. It’s been a beautiful journey ever since!

How long did you query before landing your agent? 

For my debut, I began querying after the agent showcase in February 2019. I had my first agent offer 6 weeks after that. For that manuscript I sent 60-some queries in a very short period of time, partly because I knew that my experience in Pitch Wars had left me with a very polished manuscript that was ready to go.

Any advice to aspiring writers out there on conquering query hell?

I feel like this gets said so often, but it’s really, really true. Having a bad agent is worse than having no agent at all. It’s important to look at agent wish lists, sales records, the agency reputation, how an agent presents themself to the world on various platforms. But, sales aren’t everything either. Choosing to sign with a new agent can be amazing, as Chloe had just moved to MM when I signed with her. But I felt confident in that decision because she was joining an agency that has a stellar reputation and where she would be in an incredibly supportive environment. She was also very eager to make my book her first submission with the agency, and I knew she was going to give it everything she had. It also helped me to have a separate email for queries. That way I could check that email only when I felt ready, and I wasn’t jumping at every notification on my general account. 

How did that feel, the first time you saw your book for sale?

At the time I’m writing these answers, my book isn’t out yet, but I do remember exactly where I was standing when I saw my pre-order links up online! I just stared at it and thought “Oh my gosh that’s my name right there as the author. That’s my book.” But I honestly can’t wait for the day when I can see it on a shelf in person too.

How much input do you have on cover art?

My editor sent over a rough sketch of the cover that had already been through some development within the house. I loved it from the start, and sent over only a very small set of requests that they used to make a few tweaks that really made it just perfect. My team has been wonderful the entire time, and it helped that I trust them to find the best way to catch a reader’s eye.

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

I spent a lot of time dreaming about the day I’d be able to say I was a published author, and I am just so excited that it’s actually happening for me. But I was caught off guard at how much vulnerability is mixed in with the excitement! In writing this book, I took a piece of my heart out and wrote it into a story, and it’s time now for me to give that part of my heart away and share it with the world. It’s both exciting and vulnerable, and even though I didn’t expect the vulnerable part, I’m also learning how it is a really beautiful part of the process too.

How much of your own marketing do you? 

We’re still in the process of adjusting PR plans due to the unexpected nature of the events of this year, but I’m focusing on doing what I can marketing-wise, in ways that feel exciting for me. I won’t be able to move the needle of sales the same way my publisher can, but at the same time one of the things I’m most excited about is connecting with readers. I’m going to be running a pre-order giveaway, will be offering author visits, and am working on making my website a fun place to visit and learn!

Website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

When do you build your platform? After an agent? Or should you be working before?

I’ve worked on building my platform organically as I went along. I really started connecting with people in the writing community via #PitchWars, and have always wanted to make sure my social media interactions are professional and authentic. I think that’s how I’ll continue forward, even now as I’m going to be focusing more on balancing the relationship and marketing sides of things, too. 

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

That’s a great question! I hope so. I hope that my social media gives a good sense of my personality, and will be a spot where teachers and librarians especially can find ways to connect with me and my book. My goal is to be friendly, approachable, and professional, and to always have in mind ways to help readers connect with my story. If I can use social media for that, then I hope it will help people to find me and my books.