The query letter
Dear ________:
Most of us dream of being thinner, richer, prettier. For Leann Cane, that wish came true, but it became Carin Fletcher’s worst nightmare.
I’m Not Her is the story of what happens when a freak accident causes sexy, successful Carin to swap bodies with Leann, a struggling, obese check-out girl.
Unrecognizable to family and friends, both women are forced in to lives opposite all they’ve ever known. Leann, at first thrilled to look and live like her favorite soap opera stars, discovers that the insecurities and desperation you’ve grown up with don’t disappear if you look like a model. Fighting off the affections of a boyfriend she never chose and a controlling, plastic mother is hard enough, but she must fight off her own demons and figure out how to survive when your dreams come true. Money and beauty can gather a lot of things, but not what matters most—family, happiness and self-worth.
On the other side of town, Carin is suddenly fat, meagerly employed, saddled with a kid, and married to a loser. She spends her days avoiding the threats of Leann’s abusive husband, working two jobs to save money for her escape, and wrestling with her role as a mom to a precocious 6-year-old. She is surprised to learn that life can be rich even when you’re destitute. She is even more surprised when she falls for a stock boy who drives a hearse and aspires to work at the Home Depot.
Leann and Carin agree on very little except that Leann’s husband, Leroy is a danger to his wife in any form and to his son who seems to be the only one who knows Mama isn’t all she appears to be. Using her newfound confidence and computer skills, Leann rats out Leroy to his former partners in crime and his demise reunites the women. Thrown back in to their former lives, both women find it doesn’t fit them the way it used to.
I’m Not Her is a complete work of women’s fiction at 100,000 words. A compelling book club selection, it examines issues critical to women—Why do we judge each other by appearances and circumstances? What does it mean to be a mother? And at our core, who are we really?
Chapter 1 of
I’m Not Her won honorable mention in the [Blank] 2011 International Writing contest in the category of unpublished novel chapter. I work as a community columnist for the [Blank] and as an e-columnist and freelance journalist for a regional parenting magazine. I also write a popular blog [Blank]. I’m currently at work on two nonfiction projects, another work of fiction, and lead workshops on organic living. I appreciate your time and welcome the chance to partner with you on this book.
Sincerely,
[Name withheld]