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:
My young adult novel, “Quartz Sky,” has a word count of approximately 41,587.
I am a new author seeking representation, though I have been agented before. My relationship with my first agent has ended amicably: he is Gerald Abel, formerly a director of the trade division of Disney/Hyperion Books before he opened his own agency, and he has also been a consultant for Alloy Productions. He helped me greatly in developing “Quartz Sky,” but was not able to go forward with plans to submit the manuscript to several imprints, including Feiwel & Friends, this past spring, due to the increased demands of his consulting work. He felt that he would not be able to give “Quartz Sky” the attention it deserves and has released me from our representation agreement with his best wishes.
“Quartz Sky” has an interesting backstory: I originally set out to write and illustrate a picture book about a young boy who makes friends with a baby dinosaur. (My four-year-old son adores dinosaurs.) Once I began the writing portion of the project, though, it took on a life of its own—it turned into a novel about a teenaged boy who develops a unique time-traveling ability. No matter where his time-jumping adventures take him, he must deal with the problems of kids his age: insecurity, love, bullying, and finding the courage to defend the family and friends he loves. He learns very quickly that his abilities come with a price, and a sense of responsibility, too. The baby dinosaur is still part of the story, in addition to a fiesty, strong, female love interest.
The novel would particularly appeal to middle-age readers and young adults, but I believe adults may find interest in it, too.
May I send you a partial manuscript and synopsis of “Quartz Sky?” I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Author
STATS: 1% request rate
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,
Nifaerie Noven says
Hi,
Thanks for submitting, but I don’t think we are a good match. Best of luck.
donnas says
Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately I also can not give your work the time it deserves at this point.
Best of Luck.
Dana says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately I am not interested in representing your novel.
Regards,
Dana
Reasons: didn’t have a good sense of what the query was actually about. Put all the agent stuff at the end and leave out the part about your child and the dinosaurs and how you came to write the book.
Jenn S. says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. It’s not right for me, but please keep me in mind for future submissions.
Regards,
Jenn S.
(Reason: The query needs some work; it seems to be structured backward. The word count needs to go at the end, and the part about the former agent, while good to know, could be cut in half and needs to be at the end of the query. I also do not need to know the word the story behind the story. I want you to begin telling me about your story right away.
As far as the actual story goes–not enough detail. Why does he travel through time? What’s the main conflict? Where does the dinosaur come from? Plus–the audience age range doesn’t seem realistic. This is a middle-grade YA, and that is a very different audience than adults.)
Rebecca Knight says
Dear Quartz,
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
Nora Coon says
Not right for us at this time. Best of luck.
***
The little I got about the actual novel sounded like it could have potential to be very fun, but it was drowned out by the rest of your query. There’s no need for the backstory of how this novel came to be; nor, I suspect, do you need more than one or two sentences about your previous representation. More book pitch, please.
Janine says
Thank you for your query, but I am not the right agent for this. Best of luck.
Hallie says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to My Imaginary Yet Successful Literary Agency. I receive many queries each day, and I request only a small percentage of manuscripts that I’m interested in representing. I have decided not to request one for your book because I don’t feel that I’m intrigued enough to be its best representative.
Should you need resources for querying, finding writing resources and groups, or if you’d like to know more about how I choose manuscripts, please visit (this section of my agency’s website) for more information. I wish you the best of luck in finding a home for your writing. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to consider your work.
Warm regards,
Hallie
__________________________________
And if I were fortunate enough to be able to give some feedback for each and every author I declined, I’d note the following:
I’d have to decline this one. First, I think that you’ve wasted space here telling me about your past representation, and it just raised questions for me. Next, I can think of dozens of books that appeal to kids, teens, and adults, but that, also, probably needs to wait until it happens organically. Lots of people are picking up The Graveyard Book, but it was published for kids. Sometimes we get lucky and publishers release a book under multiple covers, but that’s pretty rare.
For a young adult book, particularly one that is likely to be episodic, it seems like your word count is pretty short. This makes me wary that you haven’t had the space to develop the various themes of time-traveling, dealing with problems that somehow find the main character, and young love. And then there’s a baby dinosaur–okay, I confess. I’m scared out of my mind by dinosaurs, so I disapprove of bringing one through time and treating it as a pet! (But that wasn’t the main reason I chose to decline this book.) Best of luck, though; one creative inspiration often inspires another.
Getabo Publishing says
I like the idea. This made my Top 20. Sounds like an older version of “Harry and his Bucket full of Dinosaurs” which both I and my kids love.
I just found it on multiple reviews a bit too loose and I don’t get enough focus on the plot and action, so it didn’t really hook me enough to make my top 5.
But I did really like it.
***
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately we do not think that your book would be a likely prospect for our list.
We regret that the large number of submissions we receive makes it impossible to offer individual comment. We believe it is more important to read and evaluate every query / submission we receive with due consideration.
We appreciate you thinking of Getabo Creative Publishing, and wish you the best of luck with your manuscript and future writing endeavors.
Sincerely.
The Editors
Getabo Creative Publishing
Alisa says
No, thank you.
Alisa.
Shannon says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query for QUARTZ SKY for review. 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
Annie Reynolds says
Dear author
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to the A.F.A.D. agency.
Let me start by telling you I did enjoy your query, your novel concept caught my interest. I did however find your query letter could benefit from additional polishing, and would be happy for you to resubmit your query at a later date.
Yours truly,
Annie Reynolds.
Dorothy says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission. Quartz Sky appears to be a soundly developed project. I am sorely tempted, but children’s fiction (middle age) is not my strength. You would be better served by an agent with that specialty. In seeking that representation, be sure to share more of your character’s story (including his name) and less of yours,interesting though it is.
Sincerely,
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Mega says
I thank you for sending me your query but it isn’t right for me at this time.
-MV
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,
I didn’t like it. Try again later.
Backdoor Trojan
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I’m sorry, but this story is not right for me. Thanks for sending me your request, I really appreciate it. Please continue writing.
Veronica Lovette
Aisling 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 represent your work. I wish you the best of luck with your future writing!
Aisling
Anonymous says
Dear Pursuing Author,
After reviewing your query, I feel that what you have presented to us is just not going to fly in our market right now. Sorry but keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Pepe Habanera
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Your book is interesting and I feel it has some potential, but it’s not for me, thanks for the attempt though.
Sincerely,
Mitsubishi
Asherose says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but it isn’t for me at this time. Best of luck with it elsewhere!
Agent
Reasoning: Very hard to find the actual story in this query letter. Backstory about how you came to write it will not interest an agent. Neither will relationship to previous agent, I believe. Story itself looks intriguing and sweet, but needs to be the main focus of your query.
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.
Best regards,
Nathaniel Orange
drat says
Dear Author,
Thank you for sending me your query. I gave it careful consideration, but ultimately I concluded I’m not the right agent for the book.
I really agonized over this — you made the short list for sure. I do feel theere could be more specifics about the conflict in the book. This would make me connect with your protag much more.
Good luck with your manuscript, and query widely!
Thanks,
SDC
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I appreciate your time and efforts, but I am sorry to say that I do not wish to represent your story. If you have another story idea, please send it to me in the future, and I would be happy to look at it.
Best Wishes,
Quintus Blackburn
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
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Not my cup of tea.
Agent Edgar Leroy 3rd
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I am not interested in your novel. Keep writing, your story had potential but was not for me. Feel free to Query me later with another piece of your work.
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 found your story intriguing and I’d like to represent you. Please send me the first fifty pages and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Thank you, Scarlett Cyrus
Katalina Marie says
Dear Author,
I’m sorry but I don’t think that this book is the one for me.
Regards,
Katalina Marie
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
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
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
Gryph says
Dear Author,
Thank you very much for your query. While I appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into your work, I don’t believe this is a good fit for me.
Please remember that what doesn’t fit one agent may well fit another! I encourage you to not give up. In the future, if you have other manuscripts to query, I hope that you’ll think of me again.
Sincerely,
Agent Gryph
Reba says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, it is not the right fit for me.
Best,
Reba
(Note: There is more in this query about the history of the book than there is about the story you’re attempting to sell. You may want to strengthen the hook and move the biographical information to the bottom.)
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
AgentforDay says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission of QUARTZ SKY.
Please rework the query and focus on the story.
Consider only mentioning your former representation near the end of the letter. And leave out the details, maybe only mention: “I was represented by Gerald Able of Disney/Hyperion before he left the agency to begin his own consulting company.”
I’m more interested in you and your work.
Hook me with the story about the boy with the unique time-traveling ability. Then reel me in by telling me a little bit about where the ‘boy’ goes, and what he sees and does.
I need to hear your ‘narrative’ voice in the query and learn to like this kid quickly.
In concept, I see real potential here. Kids love the consistency of one character dealing with childhood conflicts in entirely different and exciting settings!
By the way, what is your targeted age group and the age of the teenage hero? There is a big difference between thirteen and nineteen.
I also recommend that you take out the back story and the sentence — “The baby dinosaur is still….” — stuck on the end.
Please rework the query letter and resubmit.
Sincerely,
Agent for the Day
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
(What a pretty title, though!)
publishingcareer says
Dear Author
Thank you for your interest in our agency and submitting your query for your novel Quartz Sky.
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
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
L.C. Gant says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but I’m afraid your story isn’t right for me at this time.
Please refer to our website for submissions requirements and feel free to requery with a more complete summary of your story. Good luck with your continued search for literary representation.
Best wishes,
L.C. Gant (Agent for a Day)
Melissa says
Form rejection:
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately it doesn’t meet my needs at this time.
Thank you and best of luck,
Melissa (Ximera)
PCB says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. We are not in a position to represent you at this time, but wish you all the very best in your writing endeavors.
Sincerely,
PCB
Dave says
Sorry, but I’m going to have to pass. Don’t give up though!del
vicariousrising says
Thank you for your submission. I regret that I don’t feel this project isn’t right for me.
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
Hildegarde512 says
Thank you for submitting however [If I were a real agent, a GENTLE FORM REJECTION would exist here].