While we're waiting for the rest of the bio info from our winners, I thought you might want to do a little writing, and at the same time, hone your query letter skills. This should be fun.
I want you to write a query. Not for one of your own works, though. This will be the query you would write if you had written an already published, well-known book. Here's an example to give you an idea of what we're talking about:
When she doesn't make it into the cellar in time, Dorothy runs to the safety of her bedroom. But before she realizes what's happening, the funnel cloud is lifting her home from its foundation and dropping it into a strange new environment filled with singing and dancing little people.
Unfortunately, the tornado has dropped her house on top of a wicked witch. If things weren't already bad enough, now she's got the dead witch's sister ticked off at her, and her problems are about to get much worse.
When the sister of the dead witch, equally wicked, learns that Dorothy has stolen her sister's ruby slippers, she's bound determined to get them back. No matter what the cost. Dorothy's only hope in getting away from the witch and finding her way back home lies with the Wonderful Wizard. With the help of her three new friends, they make the journey to the Emerald City to seek the wisdom of the great Wizard.
But the Wizard turns out to be no help at all. Dorothy has to solve the problem on her own, and she discovers that she's had the power to do that the whole time.
In case you haven't guessed by now, I suck at queries, and this one is no exception. But I think you get the idea. So think of a well-known novel and create a query for it. Try to imagine what the author would have written, in the style they would have written it, and pen me a masterpiece. Don't give us the title, and we'll see if we can figure out what it is. Are you game? Then get busy. Just post your query as a comment and give it some kind of title so others can comment on it using the title you've chosen.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Jamie Weiss Chilton
I'd like to personally express my appreciation to our Mystery Agent, Jamie Weiss Chilton, for her generosity in sharing her time and her expertise in judging our query contest. She's very busy over at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and this project required time above and beyond her normal schedule. I confident I speak for all of us when I say, thank you so much for taking the time to do this!
I asked Ms. Chilton to provide some biographical information, which I've added below. Take a moment and get to know her, find out what she's done, and what she's looking for. And be sure to read the masthead copy above before you leave.
Jamie Weiss Chilton represents children's books exclusively: teen novels, middle grade fiction, graphic novels, picture books, and narrative nonfiction. Her specific interests include contemporary literary fiction with intense emotional content (character-driven, not issue-driven plots); smart thrillers and mysteries; science fiction; surreal stories and magical realism; and sweet, funny, quirky picture books.
Jamie's career in children's books began in 1998, with an editorial internship at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, followed by positions as an Editorial Assistant and Assistant Editor at Bantam Delacorte Dell and Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers, divisions of Random House Children's Books. After returning to her hometown of Los Angeles, Jamie pursued her love of children's books in a new arena, as Conference Manager and Golden Kite Award Director at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) before joining the Andrea Brown Agency in 2008.
Her recent sales include ORCHARDS, a YA novel in verse by Holly Thompson (Delacorte); FALL INTO ME, a debut YA by Jennifer Castle (Harper Collins)BAD FOR YOU, a graphic novel by co-creators Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham (Holt; JAMMY DANCE, a picture book by Rebecca Janni, to be illustrated by Tracy Dockray (FSG); and Tracey E. Fern's nonfiction picture book BARNUM'S BONES to be illustrated by Boris Kulikov (FSG)
Thanks again to Jamie Weiss Chilton for judging our contest.
Here are the winning entries!
FIRST PLACE: #25: KNIGHTS OF AVALON
SECOND PLACE: # 4: LURE
THIRD PLACE: # 37: PERSONIFIED
A huge round of applause and sincere congratulations to our winners!
If you're not certain what you've won, or what you need to do next, email me at michaelvette@gmail.com.
I asked Ms. Chilton to provide some biographical information, which I've added below. Take a moment and get to know her, find out what she's done, and what she's looking for. And be sure to read the masthead copy above before you leave.
Jamie Weiss Chilton represents children's books exclusively: teen novels, middle grade fiction, graphic novels, picture books, and narrative nonfiction. Her specific interests include contemporary literary fiction with intense emotional content (character-driven, not issue-driven plots); smart thrillers and mysteries; science fiction; surreal stories and magical realism; and sweet, funny, quirky picture books.
Jamie's career in children's books began in 1998, with an editorial internship at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, followed by positions as an Editorial Assistant and Assistant Editor at Bantam Delacorte Dell and Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers, divisions of Random House Children's Books. After returning to her hometown of Los Angeles, Jamie pursued her love of children's books in a new arena, as Conference Manager and Golden Kite Award Director at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) before joining the Andrea Brown Agency in 2008.
Her recent sales include ORCHARDS, a YA novel in verse by Holly Thompson (Delacorte); FALL INTO ME, a debut YA by Jennifer Castle (Harper Collins)BAD FOR YOU, a graphic novel by co-creators Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham (Holt; JAMMY DANCE, a picture book by Rebecca Janni, to be illustrated by Tracy Dockray (FSG); and Tracey E. Fern's nonfiction picture book BARNUM'S BONES to be illustrated by Boris Kulikov (FSG)
Thanks again to Jamie Weiss Chilton for judging our contest.
Here are the winning entries!
FIRST PLACE: #25: KNIGHTS OF AVALON
SECOND PLACE: # 4: LURE
THIRD PLACE: # 37: PERSONIFIED
A huge round of applause and sincere congratulations to our winners!
If you're not certain what you've won, or what you need to do next, email me at michaelvette@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Entry 50
Title: enTWINed
Genre: Young Adult
I am never alone. My brother, my twin is always with me. Whether I’m playing guitar, doing homework or kissing my girl, Bobby is always there. It’s a blessing and a curse, but mostly, it’s a blessing. I’d be half a man without him.
Peter and Bobby Chang are fifteen-year-old conjoined twins; two halves joined to make one whole. Sweet, funny Peter controls the right side and tough, sarcastic Bobby controls the left side, but together they walk, run and even snowboard. Peter falls in love with their best friend Kellie, but Bobby worries a romantic relationship will take away the focus from their garage band, RockIt.
I don’t know what’s up with my dumb ass brother. But he better get his priorities straight. Peter’s totally lost focus on what’s really important – RockIt. How can we get our band out of the garage and up on the stage if he’s love-sick over a girl? Chicks just complicate things. Yoko Ono broke up The Beatles, didn’t she?
At first Peter is influenced by Bobby’s objections but realizes he’s more concerned about losing Kellie than losing Bobby. As Peter says, where’s he going to go? The brothers’ bond is further tested when an unexpected medical crisis forces the question of separation surgery.
Entwined, a 50,000 word contemporary YA novel, is told in alternating chapters from each brother’s unique point of view and distinctive voice. I’d be happy to send the complete manuscript upon request.
As a published author/illustrator, I’ve written and illustrated two historical chapter books for Hachai Publishing, The Great Potato Plan and The Secret Tunnel, and co-illustrated Let’s Talk About the Sabbath. I’ve also written over twenty-five books for the educational market for publishers such as Harcourt Achieve and McGraw Hill.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Genre: Young Adult
I am never alone. My brother, my twin is always with me. Whether I’m playing guitar, doing homework or kissing my girl, Bobby is always there. It’s a blessing and a curse, but mostly, it’s a blessing. I’d be half a man without him.
Peter and Bobby Chang are fifteen-year-old conjoined twins; two halves joined to make one whole. Sweet, funny Peter controls the right side and tough, sarcastic Bobby controls the left side, but together they walk, run and even snowboard. Peter falls in love with their best friend Kellie, but Bobby worries a romantic relationship will take away the focus from their garage band, RockIt.
I don’t know what’s up with my dumb ass brother. But he better get his priorities straight. Peter’s totally lost focus on what’s really important – RockIt. How can we get our band out of the garage and up on the stage if he’s love-sick over a girl? Chicks just complicate things. Yoko Ono broke up The Beatles, didn’t she?
At first Peter is influenced by Bobby’s objections but realizes he’s more concerned about losing Kellie than losing Bobby. As Peter says, where’s he going to go? The brothers’ bond is further tested when an unexpected medical crisis forces the question of separation surgery.
Entwined, a 50,000 word contemporary YA novel, is told in alternating chapters from each brother’s unique point of view and distinctive voice. I’d be happy to send the complete manuscript upon request.
As a published author/illustrator, I’ve written and illustrated two historical chapter books for Hachai Publishing, The Great Potato Plan and The Secret Tunnel, and co-illustrated Let’s Talk About the Sabbath. I’ve also written over twenty-five books for the educational market for publishers such as Harcourt Achieve and McGraw Hill.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Entry 49
Title: THE WAKING GROVE
Genre: YA Fantasy
I am seeking representation for my YA fantasy THE WAKING GROVE, complete at 50,000 words.
Melina believes that she’s the last of her kind until a blossom appears at the base of her tree. Much to her surprise and delight, she discovers that the mysterious flower is a young dryad and her soon-to-be-daughter. But as the world changes around her, the humans beyond her borders believe there’s something worth fighting for within her Grove.
As the blossom grows, her powers weaken and the protective veil around her forest falls. Humans are poised to strike and Melina’s time has almost run out. Now she must choose between her life and the one of her unborn daughter. She can regain her strength and bring peace back to the Waking Grove by destroying the blossom, but this is also her last chance of becoming a mother.
If she chooses to allow the tender flower to unwrap and bloom, she risks the Grove's destruction at the hands of man.
Genre: YA Fantasy
I am seeking representation for my YA fantasy THE WAKING GROVE, complete at 50,000 words.
Melina believes that she’s the last of her kind until a blossom appears at the base of her tree. Much to her surprise and delight, she discovers that the mysterious flower is a young dryad and her soon-to-be-daughter. But as the world changes around her, the humans beyond her borders believe there’s something worth fighting for within her Grove.
As the blossom grows, her powers weaken and the protective veil around her forest falls. Humans are poised to strike and Melina’s time has almost run out. Now she must choose between her life and the one of her unborn daughter. She can regain her strength and bring peace back to the Waking Grove by destroying the blossom, but this is also her last chance of becoming a mother.
If she chooses to allow the tender flower to unwrap and bloom, she risks the Grove's destruction at the hands of man.
Entry 48
Title: DON’T FEAR THE REAPER
Genre: YA Paranormal
All seventeen-year-old Keely Morrison wanted in death was for peace and tranquility to call her home. What she found was that she couldn’t have fallen further from heaven’s grace.
Death was never supposed to be like this. It was never supposed to be the stygian afterlife designed to keep her from reuniting with her murdered sister. It wasn’t supposed to be a dangerous, cruel world where she finds herself caught in a deal between a bounty-hunting reaper and the devil.
The deal isn’t one Keely ever agreed to. She never asked the reaper, a mysterious man in black, to keep her from the iron gates of hell. But, if Keely breaks the rules and avenges her sister’s murder, the devil gets not just her soul, but the reaper’s as well.
Never one to play fair, the devil has sent a rebellious but charming demon to keep Keely from the straight and narrow. In purgatory, everyone has secrets, including the young demon. Has he truly become her friend, or is he the trickster he tells her he is? She must trust her instincts when he delivers her greatest temptation – her sister’s killer. With time for salvation running out, the reaper has a plan – one that could beat the devil at his own game. But, it will change Keely’s fate forever.
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER is a young adult paranormal that deals with love that transcends death, the things we leave behind, and the courage to accept new beginnings. The manuscript is complete at 79,000 words.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Genre: YA Paranormal
All seventeen-year-old Keely Morrison wanted in death was for peace and tranquility to call her home. What she found was that she couldn’t have fallen further from heaven’s grace.
Death was never supposed to be like this. It was never supposed to be the stygian afterlife designed to keep her from reuniting with her murdered sister. It wasn’t supposed to be a dangerous, cruel world where she finds herself caught in a deal between a bounty-hunting reaper and the devil.
The deal isn’t one Keely ever agreed to. She never asked the reaper, a mysterious man in black, to keep her from the iron gates of hell. But, if Keely breaks the rules and avenges her sister’s murder, the devil gets not just her soul, but the reaper’s as well.
Never one to play fair, the devil has sent a rebellious but charming demon to keep Keely from the straight and narrow. In purgatory, everyone has secrets, including the young demon. Has he truly become her friend, or is he the trickster he tells her he is? She must trust her instincts when he delivers her greatest temptation – her sister’s killer. With time for salvation running out, the reaper has a plan – one that could beat the devil at his own game. But, it will change Keely’s fate forever.
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER is a young adult paranormal that deals with love that transcends death, the things we leave behind, and the courage to accept new beginnings. The manuscript is complete at 79,000 words.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Entry 47
Title: THE VISITOR
Genre: YA fantasy
Elizabeth is a sixteen year old above-grounder living in a world surrounded by water. She doesn’t have a last name; in the new world, it’s not good form. What she does have is a sharp instinct for survival, something that’s constantly put to the test. Lack of food and clean water along with a hell of a lot of disease make Elizabeth’s day to day life no picnic. And it doesn’t help that her people have to compete with the underwater peoples, known as the Hybrids, for just about everything. Especially since the Hybrids are starting to infiltrate the above-ground economy with their own currency.
When Elizabeth tries to rob a Hybrid of his money, she’s seized and brought underwater for punishment. But there are Hybrids who seek to protect her; there’s a peculiar disease targeting the underwater young and a component of Elizabeth’s DNA provides a cure. But not everyone’s happy with her being there. The corrupt politician Dacre, the fanatical Father Grey and the young Hybrid male Tyler all want to destroy Elizabeth for their own ends.
For Elizabeth to return to her own people, she’ll have to confront the prejudices of some and the political aspirations of others. It will be up to the friends she’s made down below to save her from certain death.
THE VISITOR is a young adult fantasy novel of 54,000 words. I would be happy to furnish additional materials upon request.
Genre: YA fantasy
Elizabeth is a sixteen year old above-grounder living in a world surrounded by water. She doesn’t have a last name; in the new world, it’s not good form. What she does have is a sharp instinct for survival, something that’s constantly put to the test. Lack of food and clean water along with a hell of a lot of disease make Elizabeth’s day to day life no picnic. And it doesn’t help that her people have to compete with the underwater peoples, known as the Hybrids, for just about everything. Especially since the Hybrids are starting to infiltrate the above-ground economy with their own currency.
When Elizabeth tries to rob a Hybrid of his money, she’s seized and brought underwater for punishment. But there are Hybrids who seek to protect her; there’s a peculiar disease targeting the underwater young and a component of Elizabeth’s DNA provides a cure. But not everyone’s happy with her being there. The corrupt politician Dacre, the fanatical Father Grey and the young Hybrid male Tyler all want to destroy Elizabeth for their own ends.
For Elizabeth to return to her own people, she’ll have to confront the prejudices of some and the political aspirations of others. It will be up to the friends she’s made down below to save her from certain death.
THE VISITOR is a young adult fantasy novel of 54,000 words. I would be happy to furnish additional materials upon request.
Entry 46
Title: SILVER MEDAL
Genre: YA Contemporary
SILVER MEDAL is a contemporary young adult novel complete at 62,000 words.
Seventeen-year-old Maggie’s job selling hot dogs at the beach is the epitome of unsexy, but it’s not like she wants to hook up with a guy wearing something a few inches shy of a Speedo anyway. Then she realizes Andy, the head lifeguard, isn’t visiting her three times a day because he forgot ketchup. Maggie finds out there’s more to him than his gorgeous abs, and their summer fling turns into a real relationship.
Then Casey, Andy's ex, calls to tell him her birth control failed.
It doesn’t help that Casey has graduated from pushing Maggie on the playground and making fun of her absent father to leaving Andy’s old love notes in her locker. But Maggie is sick of the bombshell’s bitchcraft. She won’t let her ruin Andy’s pre-med plans or the only relationship that’s felt real to Maggie since her family dissolved.
The only way to coax Casey into choosing adoption is to earn her trust, even if it means opening up to the girl who knows how to hit Maggie where it hurts. But her plan backfires when she starts to empathize with an unborn baby more than the idiots who made it. Even worse, finding out the real reason Casey is willing to trade her ballet slippers for stretch marks reveals something within Maggie that terrifies her: sympathy for her worst enemy, and the realization she might not be so different from her after all.
Genre: YA Contemporary
SILVER MEDAL is a contemporary young adult novel complete at 62,000 words.
Seventeen-year-old Maggie’s job selling hot dogs at the beach is the epitome of unsexy, but it’s not like she wants to hook up with a guy wearing something a few inches shy of a Speedo anyway. Then she realizes Andy, the head lifeguard, isn’t visiting her three times a day because he forgot ketchup. Maggie finds out there’s more to him than his gorgeous abs, and their summer fling turns into a real relationship.
Then Casey, Andy's ex, calls to tell him her birth control failed.
It doesn’t help that Casey has graduated from pushing Maggie on the playground and making fun of her absent father to leaving Andy’s old love notes in her locker. But Maggie is sick of the bombshell’s bitchcraft. She won’t let her ruin Andy’s pre-med plans or the only relationship that’s felt real to Maggie since her family dissolved.
The only way to coax Casey into choosing adoption is to earn her trust, even if it means opening up to the girl who knows how to hit Maggie where it hurts. But her plan backfires when she starts to empathize with an unborn baby more than the idiots who made it. Even worse, finding out the real reason Casey is willing to trade her ballet slippers for stretch marks reveals something within Maggie that terrifies her: sympathy for her worst enemy, and the realization she might not be so different from her after all.
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