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Post by Admin on May 5, 2017 12:50:40 GMT
Because I decided to query Knock Knock before putting it out independently I'm going back to research and rebuilding my agent contact list. Knock Knock is a different genre than the last three I wrote. So I'm starting from scratch. It's taking way longer than I thought it would.
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Post by Admin on May 5, 2017 14:25:42 GMT
As soon as I come up with 5 agencies that I want to query, I'll finalize this query letter. Polish up chapter one, or whatever the agent requires, and email them all. I'll give it six weeks to receive rejections then go ahead and indy publish. As soon as I've fired off the emails I'm going to put Kay's story on the front burner. I'd still like to have it written before the reunion.
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Post by Admin on May 5, 2017 18:13:08 GMT
(date) Dear (agent) Deep in the Missouri Ozarks there is a house awaiting the arrival of the spirit-touched. Samantha Reardon, mourning the loss of her twin sister, finds herself on a path that will take her to this house where she will meet with three others. Together, they will form an alliance destined to fight a battle that can’t be won with physical weapons; and stop a potential war that threatens all humanity.
Knock Knock
Welcome to the House
Knock Knock is a Young Adult paranormal SF approximately eighty thousand words long. It is Book number one in a four book Spirit-Touched series. Book One introduces the characters and highlights Samantha Reardon’s story. I am an independently published author writing under my birth name, C.L. Roth. Cosmic Shift and Cosmic Chaos are middle grade fantasy books. Cosmic Justice, the final book in the Cosmic Chronicles series will come out at the end of this year. I have an adult cozy mystery, Bone Weary, in print. It is book one of a three-part series. In addition to writing, I am an artist and full-time caregiver to an adult son, Joshua Englehaupt. Birth trauma left Joshua with cerebral palsy. With my help, he became an accomplished artist in his own right. After thirty-plus years of being non-verbal, with the help of eye-gaze technology and a Tobii/Dynavox computer that gives him a voice he is starting out on his own writing career. Between the two of us we are gathering quite a following. We have an artist website that is linked to my author website. www.ourhomestudio.com for art. www.clroth.com is where I post author related topics. Joshua and I also have artwork available at: www.fineartamerica.com that is linked to my Facebook author page. www.facebook.com/CL-RothI have a youtube account and my video clips have gotten good views. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjcY5jpxpVQ9Q74kKQkqdjQ We are going to add podcasting to our resume soon as well as increase our public appearances. We’ve presented at local schools and enjoy the experience very much. Thank you for your time and consideration of my eighty-thousand word YA paranormal SF story. Sincerely, Carol Englehaupt (C.L. Roth) carolenglehaupt@gmail.com 815-228-4989 |
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Post by bill on May 7, 2017 15:12:54 GMT
I like your query letter. My only thought is if it should have more about the story? You have a lot of credentials and I think those are good, but they feel like the highlight of the letter, instead of the story iteself.
So you're only going to send to five agents before self-publishing?
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Post by Admin on May 7, 2017 20:33:22 GMT
I've tried using more of the story and got rejects. This is my experiment to try more credentials. I sent the first 5 pages of the ms. so they get a glimpse at my voice and hook. I'm not really expecting to get an agent. I just think its the thing to do when I have a new project started. I don't know what piece of work will open the door. I'm in learning mode.
First query sent to Writer House to Daniel Laran. He can respond as quick as tomorrow or as long as six weeks. Six weeks is all I'm giving any query. To me, traditional publishing slows me down but I have several projects that I need to be working on so I'm willing to tie this one up for a month or so.
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Post by Admin on May 7, 2017 20:34:09 GMT
This one didn't ask for a synopsis. Some of them do. I need to get a synopsis written up so its ready if its requested in the query package.
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Post by bill on May 7, 2017 20:39:48 GMT
I should have known you have a strategy. I didn't have any luck with the queries I sent out last year so I don't know what works and what doesn't. Like you said, it's trial, error, and learning. Good luck!
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Post by Admin on May 7, 2017 21:21:24 GMT
Once I convinced my left brain, (the rotten eternally spoiled 12 year-old who despises anything resembling work) that marketing was a game she's been very good about trying new stuff. It's fun to try different approaches and analyze reactions. I don't expect anything to come from them so the pressure is off me. It's simply a move on the chess board and I always lose so winning isn't on the board for me. If I get a jerk on the bobber you're going to see a crazy person emerge because I'll panic and wonder what the heck I do to land the fish.
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Post by Admin on May 7, 2017 21:24:00 GMT
I took out the Knock Knock Welcome to the house. It took up too much space on the page and it felt gimmicky to me. I will choose 4 more agencies to try and then I'm done with this one. I'll move it toward indy and be happy with it.
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Post by bill on May 7, 2017 23:55:52 GMT
Even Kevin Hearne queried 24 times  |
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2017 0:13:20 GMT
There is a part of me that would rather stay independent but to achieve my goals I need to step outside my comfort zone on a regular basis. Both in my art, and in my writing.
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2017 0:19:13 GMT
There is a part of me that would rather stay independent but to achieve my goals I need to step outside my comfort zone on a regular basis. Both in my art, and in my writing. I came across my book that lists Literary Agents. Its old but all I need is the website. I always go there and see if the agents have updated what they are looking for and what they want to receive and how. How did your book signing go? The picture you posted looked good. I also came across a website: Association of Author's Representative's Association aaronline.org/Find I'm using it to locate 4 more agencies. I used to query 10 but my patience is shorter now. I'll do 5 and while I'm waiting I'll get Kay's story written and, hopefully, get Cosmic Justice laid out to write. |
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Post by bill on May 8, 2017 0:31:55 GMT
The book signing was slow. I think Bob and I both sold three books. I don't know what more I could have done to get the word out. I guess I can just hope the publicity from it will help me in the future and move on. My next public appearance will be on the 27th for Yates Center Days. I'll be set up all day selling both mine and mom's books. I hope to have Aneeka done but then but it's going to be close.
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2017 1:13:03 GMT
Book signings tend to be slow at times. So do art shows. I have not figured out how to increase awareness and attendance.
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Post by Admin on May 18, 2017 22:41:04 GMT
Licking my wounds tonight. Even though I didn't expect to acquire an agent, getting that rejection letter still darkens my spirit. I'd already been feeling low because the paintings I thought would do well at the show, didn't do well as well as I expected, and I'm not sleeping well. Last night was a horrible night and I'm so tired I can't see straight. Then the rejection email. I keep telling myself I only sent out one letter. I meant to send 5 and just never got it done. I'm trying to decide if I want to send 4 more or just go independent. I intend to go indie anyway so bypassing agents would be faster. But I really want to make myself go through the discipline of acquiring those rejection emails.
My brain is foggy from lack of sleep. Just wanted to whine a bit to somebody who knows what it feels like to try, and try, and keep falling short. I'll wait until I'm rested before I decide what to do next.
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