Query Letter Sample #4: GlowWrite & submit your query!

by MarcyKate (penname)

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Synopsis:

This author chose to jump right into the plot summary. This structure lives and dies in the first sentence, and Marcy pulls it off wonderfully

Synopsis Continued:

A longer paragraph that expands the plot. The reader is given a sense of setting and told what the main conflict of the story will be.

Background Info:

MarcyKate chose to combine her bio and basic book information into a single paragraph. The synopsis is doing the leg work in this query.

Conclusion:

Shows knowledge of the agent’s clients and makes a full or partial manuscript available.

Dear [Agent Name],

Lily Emerson never imagined buying a child a hot chocolate would result in a death sentence. But one night on the way to the subway, Lily is warned by a fortune-telling waif she will die within three months and soon magic encroaches on her world.

Lily rides the train every day, not believing her life is in danger as an unseen enemy stalks her every move. She doesn’t suspect she’s a siren with a powerful voice, nor that Ben Sullivan, the captivating stranger she meets on the train, is a cursed faerie. But after the worst ice storm New England has seen in twenty years, everything changes. Ben rescues Lily from a broken-down trolley and takes her on a journey through a glowing realm hidden in Boston’s subway tunnels. Pursued by enemies, Lily discovers Ben and the world she knows are not what they seem. When Unseelie fae abduct Lily, she must comply with their demand to perform a ritual that will kill her—or test the limits of her newfound magic and outsmart them.

I'm seeking representation for GLOW, a contemporary fantasy novel complete at 85,000 words. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and Music from Hampshire College. As the former marketing director of a professional theatre, I have the skill set to actively promote my work.

I understand you represent several fantasy authors who write in a similar vein. I would be happy to supply additional sample chapters or a full manuscript of GLOW upon request.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards,

MarcyKate Connolly

Introduction