Q&A
How do I pitch my book and find an agent? Once you find literary agencies in your country, check which ones could be interested in your story. They usually focus on specific genres and have information as to how many chapters/pages you should submit.
When is your debut novel going to be published? Traditional publishing is not fast. Every book you see on the shelves took 1.5-2 years minimum from the day the manuscript was finished to the day it's published. I absolutely love the opportunity to be traditionally published, but of course, that means long waiting times. In the meantime, check out my Instagram. I'll keep you updated there. @lili.mannin
Where can I find your podcast? "Fictional Affairs" can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. On Audible you'll find "6 in einer Nacht", in addition to the other apps.
Which tools do you use? I use Pages and Word for writing. For plotting I use Canva to create a storyboard. I know most authors use post-its, that didn't work so well for me. I need something more visual and interactive.
What are your favorite books? I've had lots of favorites over the years. One of my most recent favorite reads was "Teddy" by Emily Dunlay and "Julie Chan is dead" by Liann Zhang. And of course I absolutely adore the books by Sarah Sprinz and Mona Kasten.
The characters aren't "flawed". They're not doing something wrong or evil. What happens in chapter 42 is not meant to be dramatic. They're trying their best. And whether we like it or not, often our best doesn't lead to a perfect outcome. But then we try again. That's why chapter 42 isn't the last chapter in the book.