From Overwhelmed Beginner to 3 Agent Offers in 3 Months — Followed by a 3-Book Deal with Penguin Random House UK
With no publishing connections and no writing community, Alyssa Pickering joined Query Bootcamp in Spring 2025. Less than three months after sending her first query, she had three offers of representation—including one from superstar agent Juliet Mushens. Shortly after that, she landed a 3-book deal with Wayward TxF (a division of Penguin Random House UK). Her debut novel, PRINCESS OF LIES, releases on 12/31/26.
The Numbers:
📝 55 Queries Sent
📬 6 Full Requests + 1 R&R
🎉 3 Agent Offers
⏱️ 3 Months (April-July 2025)
📚 3-book deal with Wayward TxF (a division of Penguin Random House UK)
The Backstory
A Lifetime of Stories, Finally Told
Alyssa had been writing fiction since childhood but often let herself get too overwhelmed to finish.
In January 2024, after several months of in-depth craft research and plotting, she finally took the plunge to write and complete her novel. After five drafts, her manuscript was ready for querying by May 2025, shortly after completing Query Bootcamp.
"I was familiar with writing but brand new to the publishing industry, and I had nobody I could talk to."
— Alyssa Pickering
Lost in Information Overload
"I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information out there and didn't know what would be best, and I wanted a consolidated, streamlined way to figure out what to do."
Without a writing community or industry knowledge, Alyssa faced the daunting querying process alone—until she found Query Bootcamp.
The Turning Point
Spring 2025: Joining Query Bootcamp
Alyssa first discovered Lauren’s content in Fall 2023, as she was first starting to write her novel.
Then, she decided to enroll in Query Bootcamp.
The course provided exactly what she needed:
A consolidated, streamlined approach to querying
Introduction to essential tools she didn't know existed
Most importantly: community
Finding Her Critique Partner
"I really enjoyed listening to the different offered panels, and I also appreciated the list of resources/craft books!"
— Alyssa Pickering
"Finding a committed, wonderful critique partner was game changing for me right before I finally queried. Her encouragement and sharp eye on my MS really helped get it to the very best place it could be before querying, and I will be forever grateful for that!"
This partnership, formed through Query Bootcamp, continues to this day: "We continue to collaborate and work together all these months later."
The Querying Journey
April - July 2025: A Whirlwind Success
Armed with Query Bootcamp strategies and a polished manuscript, Alyssa began querying in April 2025.
April 22: First queries sent out
May 13: First full request (from her now-agent Juliet Mushens!)
July 6: Email about setting up "the call"
July 16: Received offer of representation from Juliet Mushens
July 27: Accepted Juliet's offer
The Timeline:
55 queries sent
2 partial requests
6 full requests
1 R&R offer
3 offers of representation
In just over three months, Alyssa achieved:
The Power of Resources
"Before the course, I had no idea that places like Query Tracker, MSWL, and Publisher's Marketplace ever existed."
Query Bootcamp's introduction to these essential tools saved her "dozens of hours" and helped her query strategically from day one
What’s Next?
The Next Chapter
Alyssa is now represented by Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment, one of the UK's most successful literary agents. Alyssa then landed a 3-book deal with Wayward TxF (a division of Penguin Random House UK).
About Her Book
To survive a dangerous betrothal to the Crown Prince, Valerie Gracey must master the forbidden magic she once swore to bury and resist her growing desire for his brother–or risk death for herself and her family. Alyssa’s debut novel, PRINCESS OF LIES, releases on 12/31/26.
Alyssa’s Reflection
"I am really grateful for the experience I had in my Query Bootcamp Cohort. Not only was the concise, consolidated information enormously helpful for me as I dreaded the entire querying process, but I immensely appreciated the community I found there. The chance to talk to and collaborate with other querying writers made a large difference for me on a journey that can often feel so isolating!"
Follow Alyssa's journey on Instagram: @alyssapickeringwrites and through her website https://www.alyssapickering.com/ .