How a Books With Hooks Query Became a Buzzy Debut

May 22, 2025

Jessica Guerrieri, an award-winning author and special education teacher, shares her inspiring journey from addiction recovery to writing her debut novel, 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.' She explores the challenges of crafting a multi-POV narrative while navigating the publishing world. Jessica emphasizes the importance of feedback from beta readers and the intricacies of using flashbacks to enhance storytelling. Her experiences offer valuable insights for aspiring writers, making the complexities of writing and publishing relatable and engaging.

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ANECDOTE

Transforming Multi-POV to Single

Jessica Guerrieri shared how her initial multi-POV novel was solid but needed focusing.
Feedback from Carly advised her to concentrate on Leah's perspective for a stronger pitch and story.

ADVICE

Keep Hope Alive as Writer

Writers must maintain hopeful optimism despite setbacks and rejections.
Persistence is key since quitting is the only true failure in publishing.

INSIGHT

Power of Single POV Tension

Having a single unreliable narrator creates tension and claustrophobia for the reader.
Unknown motives of other characters enhance mystery and reader engagement.

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In this eye-opening episode, Bianca Marais interviews Jessica Guerrieri, author of 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.' They discuss Jessica's journey from teaching special education to becoming a published author, her experiences with addiction recovery, and the evolution of her debut novel. They discuss the intricacies of writing, the importance of feedback, and the challenges of navigating the publishing world. Jessica shares her insights on the writing process, the significance of point of view, and the role of beta readers in shaping her work. The episode concludes with Jessica's journey to landing an agent and securing a two-book deal, offering valuable advice for aspiring writers.

Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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