QueryTo Society Papers, Volume 17

Dearest Querying Community,

Without further ado, pull up a chair and pour yourself a cup of tea. It is time for The QueryTo Society Papers, Volume 17.

Dispatches from the Query Trenches

We are pleased to report that, at long last, the trenches have both a geographical location and a poet laureate. @rebekahiswriting places them at “the intersection of hope and doom” in the latest of her query haikus. Debutantes who wish to discover just how elegantly their suffering can be arranged into seventeen syllables are encouraged to visit Rebekah’s profile.

Every debutante knows this one: finding a patroness’s MSWL that seems written expressly for our MS. Convinced we’ve found our literary soulmate, we slide into their inbox only to…well, yeah. @jennifermajorwriter lived the tale this week. After waiting months to query a patroness whose MSWL appeared to fit her manuscript like “2 peas in a pod,” she finally submitted. The patroness disagreed. There is now one pea in the pod.

@andi.vdb likens querying to assembling “a jigsaw puzzle” without a reference photo. The reference photo exists, dear debutantes. Please consult the agency website, the agent’s website, MSWL, Publishers Marketplace, three interviews, two podcasts, and whatever the patroness happened to mention on Threads last Tuesday.

A useful tidbit from @akosswrites for any debutante tempted to rewrite a manuscript after every rejection. One patroness could not “relate to or get behind” Lucifer. Another found the very same gentleman “charismatic, unsettling, darkly funny, and unpredictable.” It appears even the devil must endure the indignity of finding the right patroness.

After receiving a rejection exactly twelve minutes after submission, @thatadamcagley took it as a personal challenge. He cleared his throat, flexed his fingers, cracked his knuckles, and got to work. He tightened his query, made some cuts, and sent it to…wait for it…the patroness’s boss. This is what those in less literary circles mean when they ask to “speak to the manager.”

@find.me.in.fairytales entered the public square “screaming, crying, throwing up” before announcing that she is ✨vague✨. Naturally, we know neither what has happened nor what will happen next.

@m.anton.author reports that a patroness currently holding her full manuscript has suddenly appeared as her number one suggested friend on Facebook, despite never having met her and living on the opposite side of the globe. “Is it a sign?” she asks. It seems debutantes have promoted Facebook’s algorithm from technological nuisance to oracle.

It is widely known, and generally agreed upon, in the trenches that form rejections are not where it’s at. But @meadowreads begs our finest pardons. She declares that form rejections are nothing to typed rejections that “get the heart rate up first thing in the morning.”

@katehware has noticed a very peculiar phenomenon. In the trenches, the distance between “it’s only been 12 days, these things take time 🧘” and googling “literary agent hasn’t responded in 12 days what is going on?!” is approximately five minutes.

After participating in her first pitch me event with her first novel, @jaemeweaver submitted her first query. The receiving patroness read the full and has requested a call for next week.

She is “in a bit of shock.” So are the debutantes currently on query number 5,000.

@paulinemariemorris has reached the stage in querying where checking one’s email on one’s phone is no longer sufficient. Pauline now opens the laptop, “just in case the replies aren’t making it” to the smaller device. Soon the refrigerator will be asked whether it has seen any full requests.

@authorjess has issued some author advice she wishes someone had given her fifteen years ago: maintain a running list of all your publishing contacts. Authors, editors, agents, publicists, podcasters, bloggers, and, naturally, “party clowns.” We cannot thank her enough for her service. Several debutantes have just reviewed their contact lists and discovered an alarming shortage of party clowns.

Requests, Fulls & Other Reasons to Rejoice

Let’s all raise a glass to @harmalarmo, whose latest project has secured two full requests and two partials. May this be the beginning of many more fulls.

A double celebration for @lizzzienelson, who received not one but two full manuscript requests “literally within the same minute.” The trenches may be muddy and emotionally exhausting, but occasionally, the querying gods remember they are capable of generosity.

A toast to @christirsuzanne, who has received her first partial request! She generally keeps “quiet about this stuff.” We can thus expect that when she enters her vague era, she will tell us absolutely nothing.

@a.m.simond and @author_danilee are celebrating their first full manuscript requests. A fine week in the trenches.

For @authorkleigh: what began as a partial request has now become a full. She has responded to this escalation in the traditional manner of the trenches: tears.

@sanakhatriauthor has received another full manuscript request. Her official instructions to society are unequivocal: “EVERYONE REJOICE!” Debutantes may therefore suspend their despair until further notice.

Whispers of the Vague Era

Where other debutantes enter the public square screaming, crying, and throwing up before declaring themselves vague, @r.a.raineauthor chose to skip the formalities. Her official statement reads, in full: “I HAVE AN AGENT.” Her enthusiasm appears to have consumed the remaining vocabulary.

@melissa_whitneyauthor “didn’t think” she would be typing this on a Tuesday afternoon, and yet here we are. She has “SIGNED WITH AN AGENT!!” Congrats to her.

Congrats to @marierioswrites, who secured a whopping 28 full requests and now has “some possible news to share on Monday.” It would seem she has, unofficially, entered her vague era.

Recommended Reading for Debutantes

@lettysharpewrites (repped by Kirsten Lang of Zeno agency) has generously shared the query letter that secured 14 full requests and multiple offers of representation.

Debutantes would do well to visit Letty’s IG profile and behold the eighth wonder of the trenches.

Soirees

Keir Alekseii Opens to Queries

Keir Alekseii of Azantian Literary Agency is opening to queries September 1-7. If you can’t make this window, there’s no cause for panic. She’ll reopen October 1. In YA and MG, she’s seeking science fiction, horror, “and all stripes of fantasy from contemporary to epic fantasy.” In adult fiction, she’s seeking science fiction and horror, but only grounded or contemporary fantasy.

SmoochPit AMA

Attention, SmoochPit hopefuls! Mark your calendars! SmoochPit is hosting a general AMA on Monday, August 31 at 8am ET via their question box in their IG stories. They will answer any questions you have about SmoochPit or submission process. Mentors will also hold their individual AMAs on either Sept 1 or Sept 3.

The Road to DVpit

Attention, DVpit debutantes: preparations for the September 30 affair begin September 17 with #AskDV, followed by #preDV, another #AskDV, five days of #DVparty, and finally #DVpit itself. Apparently one does not simply attend DVpit. There is an entire social season preceding it.

QueryTo has assembled the full calendar, rules, and preparation guide for debutantes determined not to arrive at the ballroom on September 30 asking where everyone has been.

An Opportunity Across the Trenches

Neighborhood Literary is seeking a fall/winter intern to assist with manuscripts, proposals, contracts, and more. A rare opportunity to cross to the other side of the query trenches and discover what everyone over there has been doing. Applications and particulars may be found on the agency’s website.

Formal Alliances

A toast to Lulu Morris @lulu.morris.author, who is now represented by Liza DeBlock of Greenstone. She says she “can’t wait” to tell us about her new book, which, in publishing terms, means she has marvelous news and is presently forbidden from telling us any of it. In the meantime, she has entrusted us with: 🧛‍♂️🌶️👱‍♀️🏰💗.

Lorrie Potvin @lorrie.potvin has officially secured representation with Leslie Zampetti of Open Book Literary. A tradeswoman, artist, award winner, crime-fiction finalist, and 2 published memoirs to boot, Lorrie apparently decided there remained one unchecked box on the resume and has now dealt with it.

Mae Murray @maeisafraid has entered into an alliance with with Elizabeth Copps of Confluence Literary Agency! Her new patroness described her work as “visceral and feral.” Mae’s own verdict on the match is rather more emphatic: “She SEES me.”

Celeste Pewter @celestepewter has officially taken up literary residence at Neighborhood Literary, where she is represented by Eric Smith and Rebecca Podos. The agency joyfully welcomed her “to the neighborhood.”

Michael Boulerice @michael.boulerice has emerged “staggering and bloody from the query trenches” with “wild eyes” and “almost alien determination.” He is now represented by Des Salazar of Metamorphosis Literary Agency and, by his own declaration, officially a “Metamorphosis Literary Agency babe.”

A toast to author-illustrator Joshua Timothy @j_tart87, who has formally allied himself with Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency! His graphic novel immediately drew his new patroness in with its “authenticity and unique storyline.”

A splendid new chapter has begun for Liv Lowry @livlowryauthor, who is now represented by Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq! The newly agented debutante reports that she is “still pinching” herself. Trench physicians have prescribed continued celebration until the condition passes.

L.H. Blake @lhblake.author has entered into an official alliance with Heather Roberts of 1852 Literary Agency.

A chorus of cheers for Rhiannon Purchon, who has officially signed with Liz Gettle of Myth Literary! Liz reports that their newest debutante is “bringing pirates with her.” We congratulate Rhiannon and politely request that someone count the silverware after the welcome reception.

A toast to Charlotte @authorcharlottegoode, who has signed with Daniele Hunter! Charlotte entered the trenches with a “solid wishlist” of everything she wanted in a patroness and reports that Daniele is “all of that and MORE.”

A toast to @sarahhirschart, who is now represented by Mona Kanin of Mona Kanin Literary! The author-illustrator says she feels “so lucky” to have Mona beside her as she pursues her dream of creating picture books.

May all these literary alliances be long, prosperous, and utterly legendary!

From the QueryTo Ballroom

Last week, the ballroom stood ready and the invitations were about to depart. This week, dear readers, the doors opened. QueryTo’s first beta guests have arrived, wandered the halls, and begun making themselves quite at home. More invitations are on their way, so those still outside needn’t scale the garden walls just yet.

Until next Saturday, I remain…

Yours in the Trenches,

Lady QueryTo