Critique My Query

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The Kissy Monster, a children's book

An evaluation of a query letter for a book

By Marla Miller
Published: June 18, 2012
Marla Miller
Marla Miller
The query letter

Dear ________:

I am seeking representation for my picture book The Kissy Monster. It is 251 words in length and is aimed at children 3 to 7 years of age.

It follows the story of a little girl running through different parts of her home from a kissy monster, who ultimately turns out to be a loving mother.

The story is whimsical in nature, and the illustrations play a vital role in telling the story. There is a list of illustration recommendations at the end of the text that help visually explain the story.

With a major in children’s literature, I am a teacher with over 20 years’ experience specializing in 4- to 8-year-old children. I’ve always been interested in writing for children, and this is the first book I’ve attempted to have published.

Yours sincerely,

[Name withheld]

The critique


Marla Miller, a writer herself, teaches Marketing the Muse Workshops at the Southern California Writers' Conference and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Her Quick Query Critique video segments are available at marlamiller.com.
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5 stars
COURTNEY STUART from CANADA said:
Marla, thank you so much for your advice.

I had a feeling that I wasn’t being clear enough in explaining what I meant about the illustrations. Now I know that I will have to explain explicitly that I have things that must be included in any of the artwork an illustrator does to link more clearly with the sentences I’ve written and tell the story.

Also its great advice to go and 'talk' to other children’s picture book authors via their blogs and ask for advice (eventually). I read lots writers blogs but for some reason hadn’t made a search for picture book writers... will get onto Lee’s website pronto.

The self-publishing possibility has crossed my mind, but my artistic skills require even stick people to be labelled as such.... I will have to try and find an illustrator to work with if I decide to follow this path.
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