Query query

Share your blood sweat tears query for feedback and lend your hard-won expertise to others
Post Reply
User avatar
cheekychook
Posts: 685
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:35 pm
Contact:

Query query

Post by cheekychook » June 16th, 2011, 3:52 pm

I have a quick question. Although I'm way more familiar with the query process than I'd like to be, I've run across a situation I'm not sure how to handle. I've recently completed a romance novella with my critique partner (fellow Bransforumer Karenbb) and we're ready to go out on submission. We've both sent more than our fair share of queries on other projects, but we're not sure what to do now that we're co-authors.

I'm going to be the one emailing the queries, mainly because I had contact with some of these publishers when I was submitting my currently contracted novella, and they asked me to consider them for future submissions. Our questions are:

1) How do you handle the signature line for a co-authored work?
2) How do you handle the bio paragraph (for those who request one as part of the query)?
3) What's the best way to remind someone that they asked you to consider them for future submissions?

I don't know that there is a single correct answer for either question, but I'd like to hear input. Thanks all!
Image
http://www.karenstivali.com

Passionate Plume 1st Place Winner 2012 - ALWAYS YOU
Published with Ellora's Cave, Turquoise Morning Press & Samhain Publishing

Collectonian
Posts: 159
Joined: February 17th, 2011, 4:42 pm

Re: Query query

Post by Collectonian » June 16th, 2011, 4:18 pm

Though the query itself wasn't so good, I thought the way these authors handled it here was nicely done (as did the Query Shark) :-) For the final signature, if you're writing as X & Y, sign it that way. If you're using a pen name, either the pen name or X & Y writing as Z would likely work fine.

For the bio, I'd say split it between your and allow yourselves slightly more room each. For if the bio is 50 words, you each get 30 or something like that.

User avatar
Watcher55
Posts: 741
Joined: November 27th, 2010, 8:25 am
Location: Plantser-ville
Contact:

Re: Query query

Post by Watcher55 » June 16th, 2011, 4:25 pm

Taking the last one first, couldn't you just work that into the "I know something about you and I'd like you to consider...", line?

Knowing that space is limited, it might be wise to split the paragraph and perhaps give Karenbb an extra sentence or two, since the agent is already somewhat familiar with you.

IMO - Agents are smart, and you can bet they won't forget the book is co-authored - so - since you are handling the correspondence, it seems reasonable that only your name goes on the signature line.
EDIT: My thinking is that it removes any doubt as to whom the agent is going to send the offer of representation.

User avatar
cheekychook
Posts: 685
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:35 pm
Contact:

Re: Query query

Post by cheekychook » June 16th, 2011, 6:03 pm

Watcher55 wrote:Taking the last one first, couldn't you just work that into the "I know something about you and I'd like you to consider...", line?

Knowing that space is limited, it might be wise to split the paragraph and perhaps give Karenbb an extra sentence or two, since the agent is already somewhat familiar with you.

IMO - Agents are smart, and you can bet they won't forget the book is co-authored - so - since you are handling the correspondence, it seems reasonable that only your name goes on the signature line.
EDIT: My thinking is that it removes any doubt as to whom the agent is going to send the offer of representation.
I probably should have clarified that we are submitting directly to publishers (since this is romance and novella length) not to agents. Publishers want to know your real name, pen name, etc. as part of the query because it goes straight to contract if they say yes. That's part of the reason I want to make sure to get it right with this two-authored submission.
Image
http://www.karenstivali.com

Passionate Plume 1st Place Winner 2012 - ALWAYS YOU
Published with Ellora's Cave, Turquoise Morning Press & Samhain Publishing

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 24 guests