The QueryTo Society Papers, Volume 18

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 18.

Dispatches From the Query Trenches

@lanebraxon has submitted four queries and hopes that, like pebbles cast into the sea, “hopefully one returns to me.” Society has checked. Pebbles do not do this. Good heavens, querying really is built entirely on hope.

@m.a.cobb_author has received a full request on a query she withdrew three months ago. She is pleased but regrets to inform the patroness that the debutante who sent that query is no longer with us. Three months have passed. She is “a different woman now.”

@akosswrites has received one of the trenches’ most cherished assurances: “I know another agent will have a stronger passion for this.” The identity and whereabouts of this other agent remain, as always, a closely guarded secret. If anyone happens to know who this woman is, debutantes everywhere would be enormously grateful for an address. She is apparently expecting quite a lot of us.

Gather round, debutantes. @lifeofmaryreyes has discovered what we’ve all sought: the holy grail of querying. Wait for it…cake. Full = cake. Pass = cake. Maybe pile? Even better. Double cake!!! The patronesses may continue making their little decisions. Mary has already won. “It’s a win-win either way,” she says. “I’m gonna get cake.”

@thedavidmcilroy asked, in what we can only assume was a moment of dejection: “Who else is deep in the query trenches right now? How long have you been there for?” @thearchivistwrites has been there for 84 years and would like to discuss David’s definition of “right now.” Her descendants now monitor her query inbox. The patroness they await, according to the agency’s website, responds to every query.

A patroness’s pass on a query has accidentally turned one of us into a philosopher. “Every rejection is a redirection. 🔐 TF in writers!!” @brandy.onice_writes declared after receiving her first rejection. You heard the philosopher. 🔐 TF in.

@anyaclarawriter believes querying requires its own equivalent of “break a leg” and proposes “break a pen.” We respectfully submit: “May your dream agent not announce she’s now closed, five minutes before you hit send, and won’t reopen until summer 2027.” What even is time?

“Ever read an agent’s MSWL and wonder how you’re not BFFs?!?” asks @vivi_de_vare. Why, yes. We’ve all read one and thought, surely this is The One. We share the same obsession, favorite books, TV shows. We listen to the same podcasts, the same songs. We’re highly confident we’re a right fit for her list at this time. So, naturally, we query her. She replies within 0.7 seconds with “not the right fit for my list.” A classic case of I thought we had something.

@canthony7263 has made a discovery we feel morally obligated to report, though we would rather not. “Submit” can mean both to present something for consideration and to surrender. Twenty-seven queries and six nos later, he has questions. Unfortunately, so do we.

@not_chloe.typicalwriter stepped into the public square to ask: “Want to know how I feel about querying?” Before her fellow debutantes could reply, she pointed to an inbox folder titled “Query Crap.” Inside, we assume, are the usual replies: hope, disappointment, renewed hope, and 300 emails beginning “Thank you so much for thinking of me.”

On her first day in the query trenches, @danielleippaso asked the most important questions: “Do I like pain? Do I like to suffer?” Her answer: “I think so,” she says with a gleeful smile. Somewhere, a form rejection has taken this very personally.

One day after @cassandra.eddington entered the trenches, she received her first rejection. “Personalized though!” she says cheerfully, adding “haha” for good measure. Let it be known that on this day, the trenches said no and Cassandra said, “But look! They wrote something!”

@lizzzienelson is asking someone, anyone, to rescue her from the query trenches before she ends up like her protagonist. We regret to inform Lizzie that we have bad news and good news. The bad news: the nearest available patroness has a stated response time of twelve weeks. The good news: this patroness responds to every query. Or so she says.

“I’m about to enter the query trenches and hope not to sink,” says @vallovell.author. We regret to inform Val that the trenches are apparently deeper than previously disclosed. Some of us have been down here for 84 years. Bring provisions.

@lanebraxon has completed the manuscript, written the query, assembled a “big messy list of agents,” acquired two doses of anxiety, three cups of excitement, and arrived at the following readiness assessment: 🚫✅🚫✅🚫✅. We tried to translate her readiness, but this is the best we could do: Absolutely not. Unless? Definitely not. Mayhaps. No. Too late, sent.

Literary Highwaymen

It is my deepest regret to report that the literary highwaymen have modernized. They have left the inbox and made their way to Threads. This week, one rogue rode directly into the public square disguised as literary agent Danielle Marshall, complete with her photograph, agency credentials, wishlist, and the five words guaranteed to summon debutantes, both asleep and awake, from every corner of the trenches: “I’m currently open to queries.”

Hundreds of writers responded with their pitches before @itscourtneyitscourtney sounded the alarm. This rogue may have fooled most of us, but not Courtney. She called the agency to verify and had her suspicions confirmed. Upon the revelation, many debutantes had some choice words for the rogue.

We used to tell debutantes to research the agent. We must now add: and then research whether that is actually them.

Good News From the Trenches

@okayjaclynn received multiple requests within 24 hours and was so thoroughly fluttered by this sudden turn of fortune that she ran into the public square, hands folded on her head: “What if I simply just… perish?! WHAT THEN?!” Madam, you may perish on your own time. Kindly send the full first.

A toast to @emilyveroauthor who received her first full request!

You may recall that last week @marierioswrites, who had 28 full requests, informed us she had “some possible news” coming Monday, which we all understood as her unofficially entering her vague era. Well, Monday has now come and gone. True to her word, Marie has provided considerably more information by announcing: “I’M VAGUE.” Congratulations to Marie on telling us absolutely nothing with considerably greater certainty.

New Literary Alliances

After two books, more than 200 rejections, and a year in the query trenches, Brittney Joan @authorbrittneyjoan has signed with patroness Hannah Todd of Janklow & Nesbit.

Deana Lisenby @deanalisenby has officially secured representation with Carleen Geisler of BSCM!

Enola M. Douglas @enolamdouglas_author is now represented by Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency! The new alliance feels “a little surreal,” and Enola is “excited, nervous, incredibly grateful, and extremely excited.”

Mylee J. Miller @myleejmiller has entered into a literary alliance with Liz Gettle of Myth Literary! Mylee was “blown away” by her new patroness’s editorial vision and passion for her horror-fantasy standalone, WE WHO ROT.

Hayley Turner @hayleyturnerauthor has officially entered into a literary alliance with Christina Zobel of JABberwocky Literary Agency! Hayley is “Absolutely THRILLED,” describes her new patroness as “absolutely fantastic,” and “can’t wait” to see what they can do together.

Lauren Jackson @laurenjacksonauthor entered the query trenches for the very first time and has emerged having “found my person.” That person is patroness Josi Beck of Beck Literary Agency.

Mo Moshaty @momoshaty has announced that the “cat’s outta the bag.” She is now represented by Rita Veras of Rosecliff Literary.

Luna Peters @luna_peters_author has officially secured representation with Savannah Greenwell of Two Daisy Media Literary Agency!

K. Reyes @k.reyeswrites emerged from the whirlwind of a new school year, came “up for air,” and apparently decided breathing could wait long enough to announce that she is now represented by Frannie Dove of The Caldwell Agency.

Rebecca @r.v.ellis_ has officially secured representation with Najla Mamou of Savvy Literary!

Victoria Bilstein @victoriabilsteinwrites has officially secured representation with Bethany Hendrix of Spencerhill Associates!

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

Patronesses Open to Queries

There is a new patroness in town. Sahar Kashi has joined Heirloom Literary. She is now open to queries. She is seeking adult and YA fiction and memoir. She is especially interested in romance, humor/comedy/dark comedy, romantasy/fantasy, and stories about grief/loss, but she’s willing to consider most adult or young adult fiction or memoir projects.

Danielle Burby of Mad Woman Literary is now open to queries. She seeks complex female characters, seaside novels, girls with swords, fantasy, LGBTQ+ love, sister stories, toxic friendships, feminist fairytales, social justice themes, folklore, creepy forests, complicated family dynamics, quirky adventures, protagonists who change systems and break rules, heartwarming love stories, and, of course, a healthy dash of whimsy.

Kaitlin Des Roches of Storyteller Talent Agency has announced that her query doors open Monday, September 7. She’s seeking:

1. Romance: Contemporary, New Adult, Rom-Com, Historical, Clean Romance.
2. YA: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal.
3. Women’s Fiction: Commercial, Upmarket, Book Club.

She is not seeking crime, horror, dark fantasy, sci-fi, erotica, graphic violence, trauma-centered narratives, disturbing themes and imagery, demon- or witch-centered stories, or occult themes.

Gabrielle Harbowy of Corvisiero Literary Agency is open to queries. She’s seeking Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction across fantasy, romantasy, magical realism, sci-fi, and LGBTQ+ contemporary. She’s also seeking adult urban fantasy. She has one request before debutantes advance: “Please check my wishlist before submitting!”

Another reminder that Keir Alekseii of Azantian Literary Agency is open 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.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

SmoochPit - Applications Open September 7

Applications for #SmoochPit 2026 mentorship program opens on Monday. SmoochPit pairs selected unagented BIPOC romance writers with agented authors. Deadline to apply is September 14.

#PitchDis - September 8–10

#PitchDis begins September 8 and runs through September 10. The pitch event provides unagented writers who self-identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill the opportunity to pitch completed, unpublished manuscripts. Lucky participants will receive requests from participating agents and editors during the request window: September 15–18.

#AskDV - September 17

#AskDV Day 1 is on September 17. This is the first event in a list of events leading up to #DVpit on September 30. The event will hold on BlueSky from 1 - 2pm. This is your opportunity to ask participating literary agents questions about querying, pitching, and traditional publishing.

Participating agents currently include Alexandra Levick, Michaela Whatnall, Paula Weiman, and Eric Smith.

From QueryTo

May your sample pages be crisp, your concepts be high, and your Inbox be ever full of invitations to the ball.

QueryTo’s beta is now underway, and more authors joined us this week. Invitations will continue to go out in waves. If you’re still on the waitlist, keep an eye on your inbox.

Until next Saturday, I remain...

Yours in the Trenches,

Lady QueryTo