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:
The pampas of western Peru are beautiful in their desolation. Averaging twenty minutes of rain per year, even the tiniest changes to the desert can last thousands of years. The plains of Nazca illustrate this perfectly; lines carved in the rocky soil have survived nearly two millennia. The glyphs of Nazca are one of the great archaeological mysteries of our time, though recently, a discovery has sparked controversy. When an American television crew picks up the story, they find a deep scientific mystery – and political intrigue that turns very deadly.
At 61,000 words, Glyphs is a tight speculative thriller. We look over the shoulder of an unusual cosmologist working at JPL as his story weaves into the plans of a successful television producer – and how both cross paths with a shadowy former Air Force operative. The characters give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of television production even as threats swirl just off-camera to crank the tension.
The plot has a foundation of real science, shared through dialogue that make the concepts approachably visual. The crew’s discoveries in the desert pampas draw skeptical characters deeper and deeper into speculation – though the consequences are anything but abstract. A sprinkling of dark comic relief keeps it bearable until the action breaks through, bringing the story full-circle to a commercial, mainstream market.
Glyphs is my debut novel and the first story in a planned series. The style is visceral and immersive, lending itself to a fast first-read – but with enough depth that it could hook genre fans. The light word count is admittedly risky, but the strategy is to entice skittish publishers with a lower cost project, then push the envelope with the sequels. The second installment is in rough draft and the third has a deeply developed outline, with further possibilities depending on market reception.
Think of Glyphs as a bit of modern mythology told through a very realistic voice. I’m excited to share this story and perhaps, with your guidance, we could bring that excitement to a wide audience. If the concept sparks your interest, I’d be delighted to send a synopsis, sample or full manuscript.
Author
STATS: 4% request rate
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.
Jada says
Form rejection.
Reason: The premise really intrigued me, but I think the query needs a bit of work. I would take out all of the landscape description at the start and go straight to the story.
I also think you need more information: why are the glyphs mysterious? What is the scientific mystery, and the political intrigue? I would also have liked some details about the characters.
I think 61k is too short, and I’m not sure your strategy will work. It will be cheaper to produce, but people aren’t usually willing to pay as much for short books.
Finally, I would leave out mention of a series at this point. This is based on advice from Nathan and other agent blogs. It’s a risk for the publishers to promise that they’ll buy four or five or whatever books than one.
Having said all that, your premise really grabbed me and I would love to read it in a book one day.
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
I appreciate you sending me this, but I’m going to pass.
S. Pancake
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
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
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: While novel may be tightly written, blurb is not; I could not hold interest after rambling first para. Marketing information interested me. Blurb was too much ‘about the story’ rather than showing the story itself.
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
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.
While the idea of the Glyphs is interesting, I would have liked to see less info about the glyphs themselves and more about the conflict at the heart of your novel.
Good luck with your manuscript, and query widely!
Thanks,
SDC
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,
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 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
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
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
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
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: You’ve got a good business plan in there. I’d like the query to focus more on the story hook.)
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.
Dorothy says
Dear Author:
This is a quirky pairing of setting, technology and character. I am interested in reading the first 50 pages and your chapter outline. I have no idea if this will merit a series, but convince me.
superwench83 says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. While your query did initially capture my interest, I’m afraid I’m just not able to request more material at this time. Best wishes in your search for an agent.
Sincerely,
Agent for a Day
(If this query were tighter and more focused, my answer might have been different. The beautiful imagery in that first paragraph certainly made me sit up and take notice.)
publishingcareer says
Dear Author
Thank you for your interest in our agency and submitting your query for your novel Glyphs.
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
SuzieQ Agent4U says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that your story is right for me.
Best,
S
Note: I think there’s a publishable premise here, but the query is filled more with a business-y telling than a reader-grabbing hook. I suggest the author take a look at the query shark site to get a feel for how a query letter can come alive. Good luck!
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)
Dave says
Sorry, but I’m going to have to pass. Don’t give up though!ae
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. Concidering my current workload, I can only take on projects I feel truly passionate about. While the premise shows promise, I didn’t find myself truly drawn to the idea. I have to pass. 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].
The Spidermonkey says
Thank you for your query, which I have considered carefully. I’m sorry to say I can’t represent you at this time.
I think you know yourself this is too short, and probably not finished.
This is a subjective opinion of course, and others may see it differently. Good luck!
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for considering me. I can see this being picked up elsewhere, but unfortunately I have to pass. Reason for rejection – personal taste.
Best of Luck!
Agent X-9
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
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
Rik says
Thank you for submitting your book – Glyphs – 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.
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
EJN says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Although your subject matter is intriguing, I am unable to request further materials at this time. You had me with the first paragraph, but the second and third really confused me as to who the characters were. Please keep working on this query and keep submitting.
Best of luck,
Agent EJN
AgentforDay says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting GLYPHS for my consideration.
Though I catch glimpses of the novel’s world and plot, a clear view kept eluding me. I get the feeling you are trying to write around revealing what this big scientific discovery is in the query because you don’t trust me. That’s fine, but I need –a clear hook and conflict – to know if GLYPHS is compelling story telling.
Please feel free to rework the query, providing more insight into the characters and plot, and resubmit.
Sincerely,
Agent for a Day
Also, I would take out (1) the ‘dark comic relief keeps it bearable until the action breaks through’. This makes it sound as though the reader might be considering a nap (2) the entire defense of the word count; (3) and telling me that the style is visceral and immersive. I’ll see that when I read it.
Leis says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. While I think your story has potential, it is not something I feel confident taking on at this time.
Please feel free to query me with future projects.
Good luck with your project.
Best regards,
Agent for a Day
**I would have requested this! Love the idea and have the feeling it would clinch… but I’ve already used up my allotment… Sorry!**
Madhat says
Dear Author:
I’m going to have to pass.
-Agent
Why: I’m not sure what this book is about exactly, or what genre it falls under. I don’t like “we” in a query, either.
AndrewDugas says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I do not believe I would be the best advocate for your novel. I wish you luck in finding representation elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Andy
================
Where is the story???
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. Good luck with your continued search for literary representation.
Best wishes,
L.C. Gant (Agent for a Day)
(Reasoning: The premise is interesting, but it took the author a bit too long to get to the point. There are not enough details about the story itself and too many about what type of story it is.)
donnas says
Thank you for your submission. While your story line sounds intriguing I am afraid it is not right for me at this time.
Best of luck.
Dawn says
Dear Author,
Thank you for contacting Dawn Ink. Unfortunately, Glyphs is not what we’re looking for right now.
Best of luck in finding representation.
Sincerely,
Dawn
—–
I liked the writing, but the premise didn’t grab me.
Christine H says
Dear Author,
Please stop by my blog and leave a comment on how I can get on your mailing list. I’d like to read this when it’s published!
Sincerely,
Christine H.
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to me.
At this moment in time, however, I choose to pass on your project. This does not automatically mean your query is not good enough. It simply means that I am not the right agent for this project. This can be for a number of reasons.
If you would like to know why, you can send a reply to this mail. Please change the subject line to: FEEDBACK / GLYPHS / YOUR NAME. I will respond to your request within two weeks.
Good luck with finding representation and keep on writing!
Kind regards,
Nicole34