This query is part of the Be an Agent for a Day contest. Rules and Regulations here
Please post your rejection or manuscript request in the comment section!
Dear Agent for a Day,
She’s not your ordinary Australian country girl, even though she might look like one. She messes with the minds of animals, and sometimes people. She reads their feelings and tells them what to do. Nobody knows what causes it, least of all her. Her name is Jessica, but most people call her ‘freak’.
She’s about to find out who she is, or what she is, and why two men from opposing forces in the universe want her, desperately. Why one of them kidnaps her and transports her to another world, and why the other one invades her mind. Be warned: the truth will change your view of humanity. It ain’t ordinary. Or pretty.
Watcher’s Web is Science Fantasy, completed at 90,000 words.
I live in Australia. I am a member of the NSW Writers’ Centre and the SF-OWW online workshop for SF and fantasy. I have published short stories, most recently in the Fantastic Wonder Stories anthology (ed. Russell Farr, Ticonderoga Publications), Byzarium (November 2008), Ticonderoga Online (December 2008) and The Fat Man at The End of The World anthology (December 2008).
Thank you for looking at my material.
Regards,
Author
STATS: 3.5% request rate
Anonymous says
Dear author
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to the A.F. D. agency. Unfortunately I do not believe your novel is a good fit at this time, but please remember that this is a very subjective industry, so keep trying.
Good luck with your career.
Yours truly,
Annie Reynolds.
hzilionis says
Dear Author,
Thank you so much for sending me your query and offering me the chance to consider your work. Unfortunately, I am not the right agent for your project.
Good luck and keep writing!
Holly Z – Agent for a Day
Annie Reynolds says
Dear author
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to the A.F.A.D. agency. Unfortunately I do not believe your novel is a good fit at this time, please remember that this is a very subjective industry, so keep trying.
Good luck with your career.
Yours truly,
Annie Reynolds.
Annie Reynolds says
Dear author
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to the A.F. D. agency. Unfortunately I do not believe your novel is a good fit at this time, but please remember that this is a very subjective industry, so keep trying.
Good luck with your career.
Yours truly,
Annie Reynolds.
Sharon aka Sapphire says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I do not feel it is right for me. Remember that my opinion is just one. I urge you to continue to seek out representation with your manuscript.
Best wishes,
Sharon
Aimless Writer says
Please send 50 pages and synopsis.
RMW says
Dear Author,
Please send me the first 5 pages of your manuscript. Thanks for your interest in this agency.
Sincerely,
RMW
Maria A says
Thank you for thinking of our agency, but not for us at this moment.
Best of luck,
Agent
Davien says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but this is not for me. I wish you luck in finding a home for your manuscript.
All the best,
Janine says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I am not the right agent for this. Best of luck.
Didn’t appeal to me and I thought the query was generic and confusing…
Rebecca Knight says
Dear Ms. Aussie,
Thank you for your query, and for thinking of my agency. Unfortunately, I feel that I’m not the best fit for your project. This industry is highly subjective, so I’m sure others will feel differently. Best of luck to you in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Knight
Rachel says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I am going to pass. I wish you luck in your search for representation.
Nora Coon says
Not right for us at this time. Best of luck.
***
Not enough specifics.
Alisa says
No, thank you.
Alisa.
Shannon says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting Watcher’s Web. Unfortunately, I am not the right person to represent this story. This is a subjective business so another agent may feel differently. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Shannon
(reason: would like more specifics on story plot/main conflict/stakes)
lilianamama says
Dear Author:
I think the strongest line in this query is, “her name is Jessica, but most people call her ‘freak'”. I’d consider leading with that.
Also, while you do show us some of your flash point in that she’s psychic, we don’t know why now. What happened before they came for her? Then tell us what she does to get away. Does she succeed or fail? Will she find out who and what she is (note the different conjunction and single verb), and at what cost? If at all possible, tell us how your she changes throughout the book.
All that said, this was a hard decision for me. It was one of my last four books to choose from.
I wish you all the best.
drat says
Dear Author,
Thank you for sending me your query. Your premise is intriguing, but ultimately I concluded I’m not the right agent for the book. Good luck with your manuscript, and query widely!
I think if your query had more specifics about the plot, wherein you explain the personal stakes combined with ACTION, that would tighten things up a bit.
Also, ‘messing with animals’ is a bit off putting. Some more explanation here (short explanation) would help. Also if you could briefly detail what actions the protag takes to help her situation, I’d get more of a feel for character.
Thanks,
SDC
Asherose says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. I was intrigued by your story and would like to see the first three chapters.
Agent
Reasoning: Good query. The blurb could probably have been condensed into one para and been made more interesting, but it still held my attention.
Aisling Richards says
Dear Author,
I am sorry to inform you that I am not interested in your book. It does not fit with what I am looking for right now so I regret to tell you that, although I appreciated you sending me your query, I would not like to publish your work. Feel free to send me a query for other books you complete. I wish you the best of luck with your writing!
Aisling
Arkham says
Dear Author,
I regret to inform you that I am not interested in representing your story. I hope you have better luck in the future.
Best of luck,
Arkham
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Not my cup of tea.
Agent Edgar Leroy 3rd
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I would very much like to thank you for submitting your query, unfortunately it’s not right for me.
Sincerely,
Agent Sunshine
Anonymous says
Dear writer,
I appreciate the query but your book is not what I am looking for at the moment. However, I wish you luck in getting this book published.
Nathaniel Orange
Anonymous says
Dear writer,
I enjoyed your query, but I’m afraid I’m not the right agent to represent this work. I’d love to see more of your writing.
Gloria Valentine
Katalina Marie says
Dear Author,
I’m sorry but I don’t think that this book is the one for me.
Regards,
Katalina Marie
LateInTheGame says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I am not the best representative for your work.
Good luck in your search for representation.
All the best,
Agent LateInTheGame
Anonymous says
Thank you for your query, though I don’t think I’m interested in taking your story idea. Keep on writing.
-Thanks,
Suzuki Volkeswagon
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the submission, but I regret to inform you that I will not be picking up your story.
Keep Writing,
Agent Jackie Moon
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I have decided not to take up your offer on publishing this book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to view your material.
Thank You,
Happy Gilmore
Anonymous says
Dear author,
I appreciate your query and found your concept interesting; however, it is just not what I am looking for. I look forward to future queries from you!
Thank you, Scarlett Cyrus
Dorothy says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission of Watcher’s Web. I am unable to take this project on.
I enjoy science fantasy and the title intrigues me with implied connections to concepts circulating in the occult world. On the other hand, I am looking for psychic characters who neither regret their abilities nor misuse them. There must be fresh ways for empaths to face conflict and tell a gripping tale.
Although the reader may need to remain in suspense about the identity of the watchers, the prospective agent does not. Who are these two men and what are they doing in your story?
If you re-work Jessica’s approach to her talent and clean up the query you can re-submit because I do like the ideas. Alternatively, another agent may like the book as it is. Keep working on it.
Sincerely,
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Reba says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, it is not the right fit for me.
Best,
Reba
(reason: too vague)
Kate H says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. I’m afraid I’m not the right agent to represent you, but I wish you the best of luck.
Kate H
s.koncilja says
Dear Author,
I received and read your query. Unfortunately it is not something that I’m looking for at the moment.
Keep me informed about your future work and good luck!
Agent S.K.
superwench83 says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, your manuscript isn’t right for me. Best wishes in your search for an agent.
Sincerely,
Agent for a Day
Michelle says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your story, but it is not what I’m looking for at time.
Best of luck,
Michelle
publishingcareer says
Dear Author
Thank you for expressing your interest in our agency and submitting your query for Watcher’s Web.
I read it with interest but unfortunately it is not what I am looking for.
Best of luck and kind regards.
Yours faithfully
Robert Sullivan AFAD
Melissa says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately it doesn’t meet my needs at this time.
Thank you and best of luck,
Ximera
Just_Me says
Dear Author,
After serious consideration I am afraid I am forced to pass on Watcher’s Web. While the concept intrigues me I don’t feel I am the best advocate for your work.
Thank you for considering me,
Agent
Nikki Hensley says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I don’t think I am the right agent for this novel. Best of luck in your search!
Agent Nikki
vicariousrising says
Thank you for your query. I regret I have to pass on your project. I wish you the best in your writing endeavors.
Kendra says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your work. Unfortunately, this is not a project I feel I can sucessfully represent. Good luck in your writing.
Kendra
Just this girl says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to Be an Agent for a day. Unfortunately this just doesn’t grab me. I’m afraid I also found the style of the synopsis quite irritating.
Best of luck,
Just this girl
Hildegarde512 says
Thank you for submitting however [If I were a real agent, a GENTLE FORM REJECTION would exist here].
Heather says
Dear Author,
Thank you very much for taking the time to query our agency. I have given your project thoughtful consideration; unfortunately, it is not a good fit for us at this time because, although the project seems to be well conceived, I had some difficulty with your word choice in the query letter, and feel the manuscript may need extensive editing prior to being ready for shopping at publishing houses; however, after a revision of your query letter and/or partial manuscript, please feel free to resubmit to my attention.
Sincerely,
Heather
genkischuldich says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to us. However, we regret to inform you that we are unable to accept you as a client at this point in time.
You have a strong voice, but I would like to know more about the personality and specific details about your protagonist.
Thank you for thinking of us.
“Genki”
Rik says
Thank you for submitting your book – Watcher’s Web – for my consideration. Regrettably, I do not feel that I am able to represent this work for you. Best wishes for your future endeavours. Agent Rik.
Martin Willoughby says
(form rejection)
abouttothunder says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to represent your work. Unfortunately, it isn’t a good fit for me. Since you deserve an agent who will fully support you project, I will have to pass.
I wish you the best of luck in finding representation.
Sincerely,
Agent-for-a-day Sara
P.S. The query needs more plot specifics. I also need to know why I should invest in this character. However, the plot might have potential.
GuyStewart/DISCOVERCHURCH says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your query, but I’m going to have to pass. I do not feel strongly enough about your story to represent it well.
Sincerely, Guy Stewart