QueryTo Society Papers, Volume 21: Querying News, Literary Alliances & Writing Partners

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 21.

Dispatches from the Query Trenches

“I received my first query rejection! This means I’ve made it, right?!” asks @vallovell.author. Absolutely. The first rejection is complimentary. All subsequent rejections are also complimentary. The trenches are remarkably generous in this regard.

“Kindly asking all lit agents… to not send me any rejections during Libra season,” writes juliekraetz.author after receiving her first full rejection. We admire her diplomacy. Other debutantes have been summoning ancestors and sacrificing husbands. Julie has simply requested that the patronesses consult a calendar.

“Did you know that if you got a rejection today, you get to buy yourself a book and an iced coffee?” asks @haileyevansauthor. A most extraordinary discovery! Debutantes everywhere have begun reviewing their QueryTracker histories. Several are now owed entire libraries and, by our calculations, a small coffee plantation.

“GUYS AN AGENT REQUESTED FOR A FULL MANUSCRIPT 🥹” cried @margauxanne_barbin. The announcement was delivered at a volume normally reserved for fires, invasions, and the occasional royal birth. We are delighted to confirm that this particular emergency is a happy one.

A dispatch from the other side of the trenches! @aldoyle.writes has informed us that “My QueryTracker success story interview is up!” Debutantes are encouraged to read it, take notes, and resist the temptation to compare every detail of their own querying experience with hers. We recognize that the final instruction may be difficult.

“I was so nervous to go back into the query trenches,” confesses @riathewolfwrites, who received a full request on day one. Day ONE. Several debutantes who have been waiting since the previous geological era would like to know which entrance she used.

“Eeeeee I’ve been drawn to participate in RevPit 10Queries!” cries @emmys.shelf. The drawings have begun, and Emmy has secured a place. We congratulate her and encourage those not selected to remember that this is a random drawing, not a verdict on their manuscripts. The patronesses will have plenty of opportunities to deliver those later.

“And for the lady, a full request ✅” announces @mabelhallerauthor. Good heavens. Has she discovered that one may simply order these things? Several debutantes have been waiting months for their requests and would very much like to see the menu.

“Y'all, I got a full request on one of my novels!” announces @davin.roberts.35. A splendid development! Somewhere, his other manuscripts are gathering to discuss why they were not chosen.

From the QueryTo Community

There is matchmaking afoot at the QueryTo Beta Matchmaker ballroom! Laura is seeking a beta reader or critique partner for her 72,000-word MM romance, MM Fake Dating, Cozy Vibes. She's looking for first-chapter and developmental feedback, with a preference for thoughtful, encouraging notes. Debutantes, the fake dating is strictly within the manuscript. The writing partnership, we assure you, is meant to be real.

Anna is seeking an ongoing beta reader or critique partner for Mine: Body and Spirit, a paranormal romance involving a dead fiancé, a second chance at love, and the possible destruction of the world. We’d like to point out that while Anna’s characters are operating under a rather alarming deadline, prospective critique partners may arrange a more civilized schedule.

Patronesses Opening Their Doors

Miriam Cortinovis of The Ki Agency is now open to queries. Miriam is particularly interested in science fiction and fantasy, especially original stories with strong voices and speculative elements. She represents Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction, and also considers contemporary MG and YA without speculative elements. She is not seeking literary fiction, adult contemporary, nonfiction, historical fiction without a significant speculative element, picture books, or chapter books.

Literary Alliances

An extraordinary announcement from @doctorjonpaul, who has received an offer of representation from their dream literary agent, Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary! “You can't stop a bad bitch,” they informed the public square. Society agrees. In fact, we suspect Eric decided that joining forces would be considerably wiser than attempting to stop them.

@chisonarii has secured representation with Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency! “I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ACTUALLY SAYING THIS BUT I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!!!!” she announced. Society congratulates Chisonari and Tali on this wonderful milestone!

“Here we go!!” announced @write_as_rain_sullivan, now represented by Peter Steinberg and Gwen Beal of UTA. The agents read the manuscript “in a matter of days” and are already dreaming big. We congratulate the trio but also wonder whether this extraordinary reading speed might be made available to the rest of the publishing industry.

@jaded.dahlias has signed with Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency and, rather considerately, announced the news without a vague era. “Non-vague publishing news,” she declares. We’d like to thank her for her service. The public square's amateur detectives may finally take an afternoon off.

Andi Twaddle of Spencerhill Associates has welcomed award-winning picture book author Lisa Mueller to her list. Andi describes Lisa's writing as “a warm hug” and is already preparing to board her “rocket ship of success.” We trust that all passengers have fastened their seatbelts.

@cassidycoleauthor has secured representation with Jenna Satterthwaite of Storm Literary Agency! Her announcement contains the four words every debutante dreams of writing: “I have an agent.” Huge congratulations to Cassidy and Jenna on their new literary alliance.

@laurarobertsauthor has announced her new literary alliance with Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency. “I just knew she was my girl from that first call,” she writes. A most romantic declaration by the standards of the query trenches, where debutantes are ordinarily left wondering whether their emails have even been opened.

@lauracaseywrites is “Officially agented!!” and now represented by Madison Hernick at UTA. Congratulations to Laura and Madison on their new literary alliance. The announcement was delivered with admirable efficiency: one note, one photograph, and two exclamation marks. The matter is settled.

From the QueryTo Ballroom

The QueryTo ballroom is becoming a place for literary alliances of more than one kind. While some debutantes seek representation, others are searching for the beta readers and critique partners who can help strengthen their manuscripts before they reach the patronesses.

Our Beta Matchmaker allows writers to discover potential partners based on their projects, feedback preferences, and availability. Those seeking a writing partner, or wishing to offer their own feedback, are invited to explore the requests currently posted on QueryTo.

For debutantes who would appreciate a guided introduction to the website, a video tutorial is also available on the QueryTo YouTube channel (@querytoapp).

Until next Saturday, I remain…

Yours in the Trenches,

Lady QueryTo