Examples of Query Letters
For me, one of the hardest parts of querying was knowing where to start. There's a lot of information about querying available on the internet, but I found the overflow of information to be quite overwhelming. Plus, what I really wanted--solid examples of good and successful queries--was really tough to find! Luckily, after LOTS of digging, I was able to find several examples that I found super helpful!
I'm going to post them here for anyone else who is querying and looking for examples! Also, if you haven't read the interview I posted from my agent, Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, you really need to! Lots of really great information about querying and what agents look for! You can read it HERE.
Query Letter Examples:
And since several of you have asked so nicely, here is MY query letter that I sent to Caitlen--the one that ultimately led me to representation. :)
Dear Ms. Rubino-Bradway
Good Afternoon! I'm hoping to interest you in my YA contemporary fantasy, KEEPER. Considering our mutual love of magic, Harry Potter, and Kristen Cashore's Graceling, I would love the opportunity to know/work with you! Plus, given that you are a fellow writer, I believe you are the perfect person to make KEEPER shine! I have included sample chapters and a synopsis below my query. Thank you for your consideration!
Magic always leaves a mark. When the ghost of a 200-year-old witch attacks her on the road, sixteen-year-old bookworm Lainey Styles is determined to find a logical explanation. But even with the impossible staring her in the face, Lainey refuses to buy in to all that “hocus pocus nonsense”—until she finds a photograph linking the witch to her dead mother. After the library archives and even Google come up empty, Lainey gives in and consults a psychic. There she discovers that, like her mother, she’s a Keeper: a witch with the exclusive ability to unlock and wield the Grimoire, a dangerous spell book. But the Grimoire is missing, stolen years ago by a malevolent warlock known as the Master. Now that Lainey’s true heritage has been uncovered, she’s the Master’s only hope in opening the Grimoire, where a powerful spell is locked inside—a spell that would allow him to siphon away the world’s magic. In an effort to force her hand, the Master kidnaps Lainey’s uncle and offers a trade: the spell for his life. With the help of her comic-book-loving, adventure-hungry best friend and an enigmatic but admittedly handsome street fighter, Lainey must leave behind her life of books and studying to prepare for the biggest test of all. She must steal back the book…before her uncle and the entire supernatural race pay the Master’s price.
KEEPER is a young adult contemporary fantasy, complete at 92,000 words. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in education. I currently work as a high school English teacher in the public school system where I work closely with my target audience. I enjoy vlogging about writing and have a growing YouTube channel with over 75,000 views and 3,000+ subscribers. When I'm not writing, I'm busy wrangling my 4-year-old twin daughters, binge watching shows on Netflix, and making death-by-cheese casseroles. My sincerest thanks in advance for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Kim Chance
(Contact Information)
I'm also going to put some links to all my videos on querying and the query process:
I hope this post is helpful to all of you! Happy querying, everyone! And may the odds be ever in your favor!
