Success Story Interview - Sarah Levine

An Interview with Sarah Levine (sarrose on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rachel Estep of D4EO Literary Agency.

08/02/2025

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

Sarah Levine:
Sure! SUMMER PLANS is a contemporary romance novel centered on a burnt-out middle school teacher who flees to the Jersey Shore for the summer and ends up working at a restaurant owned by her first love (also a teacher) and his family. My husband is a teacher, and I was shocked to learn that nearly half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years. I wanted to explore that idea, as I haven’t seen it represented much in fiction and feel that teachers are superheroes and deserve more of a spotlight. I’m also a Jersey girl and spend a lot of my summer at the beach, so I knew I wanted to set the book in a fictionalized version of the shore towns so many Jerseyans know and love!

QT: How long have you been writing?

Sarah Levine:
Honestly, I don’t know how to answer that. My sixth grade language arts teacher was the first person to point out to me that I had a talent for writing, and I always enjoyed school projects that involved writing. I guess I started taking it seriously during my freshman year of college (13 years ago).

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

Sarah Levine:
I began brainstorming for this book about a year ago but didn’t actually sit down to write it until the fall.

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

Sarah Levine:
All the time! Rejections are super discouraging, and there have definitely been times where I’ve wallowed in self-pity. But I kept reminding myself that it only takes one “yes,” and that my “yes” might be just around the corner.

QT: Is this your first book?

Sarah Levine:
It is not. I wrote three mystery novels between 2012 and 2019, before deciding that mystery was a genre I’d rather read than write. This is my first rom-com. I’ve also done some freelance work, including ghostwriting several novels and memoirs.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Sarah Levine:
I earned my MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College in 2019. I’m also always trying to better myself and my writing, so I try to take writing courses whenever I can (and whenever my wallet can afford it!). Most recently, I took courses this spring and summer with GrubStreet and San Diego Writers Ink, and I already have my eye on a few for the fall.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Sarah Levine:
Not really. I have a toddler and work full-time, so I mostly write in the evenings and on weekends (either during my son’s naptime or after he’s asleep).

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

Sarah Levine:
I wrote the draft straight through then did one round of edits before sending it to beta readers. I then did another round of small edits based on beta feedback.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Sarah Levine:
Yes. I had five beta readers (plus my sister!) take a look at my book, and a few more who read and critiqued just the first few chapters to make sure my query package was solid.

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

Sarah Levine:
I’m an outliner! I write pretty basic outlines, just a sentence or two per chapter, but it helps keep me on track.

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

Sarah Levine:
I’ve been querying since January, so about six months. I sent out maybe three query letters a decade ago for a book I wrote in college, but the book wasn’t ready (nor was the query letter) and they were all rejections.

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

Sarah Levine:
I looked through top agency websites, MSWL, QueryTracker, and Publishers Marketplace to find agents who represent contemporary romance. In particular, I focused on agents who had some sort of criteria/wishlist item that aligned with my book (EX: second-chance romance, plus-size protagonist, Jewish representation, beach setting).

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

Sarah Levine:
I tailored the vast majority of them. I know people have mixed thoughts on this, but I felt like there was no harm in telling an agent why I thought they’d like my book and showing that I’d done my research. It was usually just one line, like: This book aligns with your desire for swoony romance, witty banter, and found family. If the agent reps an author or book that I love, I mentioned that too!

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

Sarah Levine:
If you can, try to focus your attention on your next project– whether that’s another novel, a short story, poetry, etc.— while querying so you don’t obsess over your queries. This is definitely easier said than done, but I found that working on something else made me feel better. It kept me distracted, and it also served as a reminder that, if the book I was querying didn’t garner interest, I had another book on the horizon.

Also, as cheesy as it sounds, don’t give up. Your “yes” might come when you least expect it. Mine did!