Today I’m pleased to welcome Lorna Peel to Off the Page, sharing the query that landed her a publishing deal.
Just a quick reminded about this feature…
- All these featured queries worked! Meaning they snagged the attention of an agent or editor. These books are now represented or published, or both.
- These queries are not perfect. They don’t have to be. This is to show aspiring authors the kind of query that works despite imperfections.
- These authors aren’t looking for critique on their queries since these books are already represented or published, but have kindly agreed to allow me to showcase these queries to help other authors currently playing the query game.
You are of course welcome to comment on all the queries!
About the Author
I am the author of Only You, a contemporary romance, published by Entranced Publishing.
I was born in England and lived in North Wales until my family moved to Ireland to become farmers, which is a book in itself!
I now live in Ireland, where I write, research my family history, and grow fruit and vegetables. I also keep chickens (and a Guinea Hen who now thinks she’s a chicken!).
I’ve had some pretty varied jobs, including Tour Guide, Professional Genealogist, Bookseller, and Census Enumerator, but I think I’m going to enjoy being an author best of all!
And now the query…
Dear Editor
I would like to submit the synopsis and full manuscript of my contemporary romance novel ‘Miracles Can Happen’ of approximately 50,000 words, set in London, England, for your consideration.
As Jane Hollinger puts it bluntly herself, she’s the wrong side of thirty, teaches Adult Education Classes, and is divorced. So why is she more concerned about the “Badly Blond Bloke” who enrolled so late for her family history evening classes that she doesn’t even know what his name is yet, than finding a new man on the dating website her sister, Mags, and best friend, Carol, have subscribed her to? Why does she have a nagging feeling that she thinks she’s seen him somewhere before? And why is it that Mags is the journalist on a fashion magazine and gets to interview sexy actors and pinch designer clothes and not her? Life can be such a bitch sometimes but for Jane that’s all about to change…
I was born in England and lived in North Wales until my family moved to Ireland to become farmers, which is a book in itself! I now live in Ireland, where I write, research my family history, grow fruit and vegetables, and keep chickens (and a Guinea Hen who now thinks she’s a chicken!).
To date, I have had work published in three Irish magazines – historical articles on The Stone of Scone in ‘Ireland’s Own’, on The Irish Potato Famine in the ‘Leitrim Guardian’ and a contemporary short story in ‘Woman’s Way.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Lorna Peel
And there you have it. What do you think?
If you have a query that worked and would like to share it with others, please feel free to email me at the address listed on the Contact Me page.
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