You hit send on your query letter and wait. But what's really happening on the other side? What do agents see in those first 30 seconds? Why do editors who love your book sometimes still say no?

In this episode, Luigi Pascal Rondanini pulls back the curtain on the entire acquisition chain—from the moment an agent opens your email to the 12-person approval process that determines which books get published.

What you'll learn:

• What agents actually look for in the first 30 seconds of reading your query
• Why "agents sign authors, not manuscripts"—and what that means for you
• The real acquisition process: editorial meetings, sales, marketing, finance, and publisher sign-off
• The invisible "yes factors" that make you easier to champion
• Myths that hurt writers (and why rejection isn't about your worth)
• How to position yourself as someone agents want to work with for the next decade

This isn't about perfection. It's about clarity. It's about understanding the business well enough to navigate it strategically—without losing your voice or your integrity.

Perfect for: Writers querying agents, authors on submission, anyone who wants to understand how publishing really works

Related episodes:

• Episode 1: Why Rejection Isn't Personal
• Episode 2: The Business Side of Publishing
• Episode 3: Building Your Platform Without Burning Out