Agent: Laura Bennett
Agency: The Liverpool Literary Agency
Check out our #Agent121 page to book your own appointment.
Sophia Vahdati writes stories for those still searching for the magic hidden inside them. She holds a First-Class degree in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge and a Master’s in International Journalism from Cardiff University.
After travelling the world to escape the sleepy Somerset town where she grew up, she somehow ended up right back where she started—only to realise it had been home all along. When she’s not writing, she’s wrangling one of her mischievous cats, pestering her husband to help her solve plot holes, or crying at Disney movies.
Her debut novel, The Girl with the Fierce Eyes, is out with One More Chapter, HarperCollins in July 2025.
IAIP: What was the inspiration behind The Girl with the Fierce Eyes?
SV: The idea for my main character came to me in a single moment. In my mind I saw her walking towards with eyes that looked like they’d never seen another person before. From then on, I wove together my experience of growing up mixed race in a predominantly White British town. The Girl with the Fierce Eyes is about the grey areas of identity and the strange feeling of not belonging anywhere when your identity is a bit complicated, both in terms of race as well as class.
IAIP: Was this the first book you attempted?
SV: I did start writing a book before this one, but I only finished a few chapters. This was the first book I ever finished!
IAIP: How long did it take to write?
SV: I was working on the story and the world for several years, but when I took a sabbatical from work, I finished the first draft in one month. However, I then went on to do many, many, many rewrites.
IAIP: You met you agent, Laura Bennett during an #Agent121. Could you give us an idea of what happened after your session? Did you send off the full manuscript or have another meeting, for example?
SV: Laura gave me some really good tips, like ensuring that the first book could standalone without relying on a sequel. So, I rewrote it and took more feedback from beta-readers before sending the first three chapters to Laura. Then she asked for the full!
IAIP: How long did it take before you signed on the dotted line?
SV: Laura offered on my manuscript less than a month after asking to see the full story. From then on I used the standard two weeks to inform other agents, and then signed with Laura straight after the time had lapsed. After chatting to her, I knew she would be a great champion and a wonderful person to work with so those two weeks felt like forever.
IAIP: You took part in a few #Agent121 sessions to help strengthen your pitch whilst querying. Do you believe that these helped you secure your agent deal? If so, in what ways did they help?
I took part in several Agent 121s, mainly with I Am In Print, but also with a different company. By far, the I Am In Print ones were the most helpful and highly organised. I really felt like every agent took their time to understand what I was trying to do. Without a doubt, these 121s were crucial in the success I’ve had so far.
IAIP: Roughly how many rejections did you receive before becoming represented?
SV: Around 50!
IAIP: What have you learned about the publishing industry since you started your writing journey?
SV: The phrase ‘hurry-up-and-wait’ couldn’t be more apt for publishing. There are highs and lows that continue long after querying, so it’s so important for writers to have a support network and work on their self-esteem. This industry can be magical – but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
IAIP: Do you have any tips on making the most of an #Agent121?
SV: Have you key concerns and questions about your materials ready and be prepared. It’s a short amount of time but it can be incredibly valuable if you focus all your questions.
Agent: Laura Bennett
Agency: The Liverpool Literary Agency
Check out our #Agent121 page to book your own appointment.