|
|
Hooked! Query letters that piqued an agent's interest - Part 2 of 5
Published: January 14, 2009 | When New York literary agent Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency read this query by Jennifer Haymore in June of 2007, she knew Haymore was on the right path. Following the letter, Barbara discusses what specifically caught her eye. |
 Jennifer Haymore
Dear Ms. Poelle,
I am seeking representation for Revenge, a 90,000-word Regency-set historical with a strong erotic component.
When Jonathan Dane, the Earl of Stratford, took Isabelle Barrett's innocence, the resulting scandal drove Isabelle into humiliating exile. Ten years later, she returns to London, where she befriends two other women similarly debauched and abandoned by Lord Stratford. The three women join together to seek vengeance on the man who ruined them. But when Isabelle is chosen as the object of their revenge, will she stand by her friends? Or will she betray them by surrendering to her reawakening feelings for the wicked earl?
After reading the partial of Revenge, Hilary Sares of Kensington, Leis Pederson of Berkley, and Alicia Condon of Dorchester have requested the full manuscript. I have not sent the manuscript to the latter two or to any other editors because I believe having an agent would be in my best interest at this juncture. Revenge has also done well in RWA writing contests—it won first place in its category in the 2006 Golden Rose and Ticket to Write contests as well as second place in the 2007 Emily. The manuscript is newly completed and revised, and I am currently plotting sequels for Isabelle's co-conspirators.
I sold my first two stories in January, one to Ellora's Cave (also a Regency) and one (a contemporary) to Samhain Publishing. Both are erotic romances written under my pen name Dawn Halliday and scheduled for release later this year. I also have a requested partial of a contemporary romance with Brenda Chin at Harlequin Blaze. I am active in my local RWA chapter and belong to a number of writers' and historical associations, including the Passionate Ink and Beau Monde chapters of RWA.
You have always been in the top tier of my agent wish list. I share your interest in historical fiction and love the concept of the power summit. My goal is to make a career of writing marketable historical romances that touch readers' hearts. If you are interested in reading the complete manuscript of Revenge, I would be thrilled to send it to you.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Haymore
Valencia, CA
www.jenniferhaymore.com
www.dawnhalliday.com |
 Barbara Poelle
Jennifer writes: I am seeking representation for Revenge, a 90,000-word Regency-set historical with a strong erotic component.
Hook: From an industry standpoint, it opens extremely strong: She understands the correct confines for the genre, and she did her research to show not only the vernacular but what the industry is currently seeking. Plus, I only represented historicals at that time.
Jennifer writes: The three women join together to seek vengeance on the man who ruined them.
Hook: I know that these are going to be strong heroines, which are difficult to find. Nobody's stumbling in a field … or being carried over a puddle of mud. Considering the time period, these three women are going to use their wits, and anything else they can within the confines of the society, to exact their revenge. I know this from that line. I also sense there's going to be some wicked fun in that process. Also, with three women, I already understand that this author is thinking 'trilogy'; Isabelle is going to get her hero and the other two will play strong enough roles that an audience will read more about them.
Jennifer writes: After reading the partial of Revenge, Hilary Sares of Kensington, Leis Pederson of Berkley, and Alicia Condon of Dorchester have requested the full manuscript. I have not sent the manuscript to the latter two or to any other editors because I believe having an agent would be in my best interest at this juncture. Revenge has also done well in RWA writing contests--it won first place in its category in the 2006 Golden Rose and Ticket to Write contests as well as second place in the 2007 Emily.
Hook: She lists the names and houses of editors who have requested partials/fulls, she lists viable contest wins and placements, and she shows me that she has already had success with her narratives. At this point I am going to request the manuscript.
Jennifer writes: I sold my first two stories in January, one to Ellora's Cave (also a Regency) and one (a contemporary) to Samhain Publishing. Both are erotic romances written under my pen name Dawn Halliday (www.dawnhalliday.com) and scheduled for release later this year. I also have a requested partial of a contemporary romance with Brenda Chin at Harlequin Blaze. I am active in my local RWA chapter and belong to a number of writers' and historical associations, including the Passionate Ink and Beau Monde chapters of RWA.
Hook: This letter is one of my favorite examples of someone who was ready for a career. Clearly, she showed me with this letter alone that she has a grasp of the industry, not only with the success she had at Samhain and Ellora's Cave, but by naming legitimate editors from houses where I have relationships, which gives me a smoother transition in pitching her. This letter reflects not only her understanding of the industry but of her understanding of her place within this genre. She already had a career-minded mentality. She recognized that she may be at the point to pursue representation, which says to me she is eager to push her writing to the next level and let me do the heavy lifting of getting her out in a larger field. She has done her research in just the query letter, so I can bet my biscuits that she has done it for her novel. That says longevity to me.
--Posted Jan. 14, 2009 |
 Marla Miller
Marla Miller shepherds writers through the publishing process with her Marketing the Muse workshops, which she teaches at several writers conferences throughout the country, and her Web site, www.marketingthemuse.com www.marketingthemuse.com. She is a published author and editor-in-chief of a lifestyle magazine for Newport Beach, Calif. A yenta of sorts, she's introduced many unpublished authors to their literary agents. To submit a query letter that resulted in agent representation, e-mail her at marketingthemuse@gmail.com. |
|
Free Newsletter
Get our free newsletter
|