8. The Best of Times
Query, query, query, query, query... and query again. WORTH IT.
AUTHORSHIP JOURNEY
Sophie McBriar
6/29/2026
In December 2025, I told my husband I decided to practice rejection therapy. I explained the concept and that this was the perspective I needed to take if I was going to try and query again. Rejections are okay. They’re good! I was going to try to get 100 query rejections for my debut rom-com, YOU AND ME AGAIN.
This mentality obviously failed immediately, because I’m sensitive and cry easily. But….my husband always stopped to remind me that with each “no”, I was that much closer to my goal of 100 rejections. Some were a lot easier to accept than others, and it became less painful over time. I am proud of the thick(er) skin that I have developed, and hey. Wait. Maybe rejection therapy works? Who knew?
But in all seriousness, I sent my 100th query, and the next day, received an email from an agent asking to have a “call”.
Querying: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.
The querying journey was a roller coaster. Any querying author knows this and is nodding along right now. It is unpredictable and filled with incredible and heartbreaking moments, because putting your book out into the void is vulnerable. Scary. Unpredictable.
But, I was not prepared for just how amazing it would be to find an agent who loves YOU AND ME AGAIN as much as I do. It is completely worth it to query, and query, and keep querying until you find the dream agent who wants to champion your book!
Beyond the joy of getting an agent, this process has shown me that I am far braver and tougher than I have ever given myself credit for. Because bravery doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you care enough to try anyways. Do it scared, babes*. I learned to trust myself in ways I haven’t before. I was the only person who could decide to keep querying or quit. And every time I considered quitting, I knew that this book was worth pursuing.
I started depending on my support system more. I began sharing my fears and worries with friends, when before, I would have just kept them deep inside (hello, eldest daughter complex). It turns out, your friends want to hear how you’re doing and support you in the hard and amazing moments!! Color me shocked. I’m eternally grateful for the people who have read my books, let me cry, workshopped ideas, told me to get it together and keep going, and thrown me a surprise “congrats” party. You’re the real ones.
So what happens next?
I have completed my first round of line edits, and Georgia, Kylie, and I are preparing to take YOU AND ME AGAIN on submission with editors at publishing houses! They have been incredible to work with, and the collaboration is exactly what I hoped it would be. Georgia and Kylie understand this book so well, and I know Jamie and Elle are safe in their hands. Much like querying, the submission process is unique to every author and agent, and you have no idea how long it can take to get a book deal! But what a fun new ride to take! I am buckling in for another crazy adventure and am beyond thankful for a community of writers who can provide encouragement and words of wisdom about the submission process.
Thank you for being here and listening to my ramblings! I am grateful for the opportunity to get to share my words and excitement with you, and I hope this means YOU AND ME AGAIN is one step closer to getting into your hands!
*Easter egg for my next book, oops
I am agented by Kylie Koews at Georgia McBride Media Group and am still pinching myself a month later!
Things I’m obsessed with recently:
- homemade salted vanilla syrup
- The book, Yesteryear (holy crap)
- Making bandana charm keychains
- My kids’ summer haircuts
- Voicemails for Isabelle
- Alcohol markers & coloring pages
- Season 5 of The Bear
- Sunday F1 races