Hey Everyone!
I need your help. I just want you to briefly view this, and let me know if you would want to read this book. I am only asking for "yes" or "no." It is market research for me. (This is part of a query letter). Don't worry about hurting my feelings. In the end, it is the audience that matters...not me. Thank you so much in advance.
My novel Skeletons in the Closet is a riveting tale of mother, daughter, and the family secrets that bond them. This novel is a psychological thriller, and it is targeted toward the women's fiction area. Skeletons in the Closet, is a novel that will definitely make you ask yourself; “What would I do in that situation?”
One night in desperation, fifteen-year-old Sadie kills the town bully- her stepfather Roy. Sadie and her mother Esther come to share a secret that will prove to change their lives forever …murder. It appears that Sadie has opened the “Pandora’s box” as this incident opens her eyes to the truth about her mother. Esther is an alcoholic, and she is not well. Esther has more secrets than a room of women at a Bordello. She can be quite charming, and she can be quite dangerous. Although Esther can be entertaining, and I believe there is a little “Esther” in all of us-she will prove she is not a woman to be reckoned with—Esther always wins. A young Sadie has to make some quick decisions, and her options are quickly running out.
This novel contains symbolism, ironies at times, and depicts family patterns. I was inspired to write this piece after working with homeless adults for the past ten years as a counselor. (The readers do not have to notice this; this element just adds a firm foundation for the book).
Thank you so much for your consideration. I do have a completed manuscript upon request of 80,000 words.
Sincerely,
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Comments: 47
About this, though: "she will prove she is not a woman to be reckoned with" I think the usage you want would actually be that she is a woman to be reckoned with. Check this link and see if you agree.
Ok. The query sucks? I have re-done the query about 10 times now. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would appreciate any imput that you have. It is soooo difficult to write a query on a book that has so many twists and turns to it. Sadie is trying to get out of a situation that would frighten the be-Jeeesus out of anybody, and she is young and poor and the police just don't want anything to do with that household anymore. Her step-father is the town bully. Her mother is a Psycho who has kept many secrets from Sadie over the years. Because of what they have done, things go from bad to worse. Sadie is 15 and she just killed a man. (think of Thelma and Louise here)
Now, Esther takes over in her own way, and for Esther, this is an "out" for her. Esther is a survivor, and a psychopath, period. It is so difficult to explain this.
Thank you so much
Sharon
I've been checking out a lot of agent web sites, and some of them are really great sources of information. Check out, for example www.manuslit.com. There are other resources, Writer's Digest is a great one. Their annual publications on publishers and literary agents always include some great articles on wading through the publishing world. My local library carries the current year in the reference section, with past copies available for checkout.
Again, good luck. I think you have an intriguing plot - but that's not going to do you any good if you can't create a clear, concise, and compelling pitch! Listen to me - I'm still struggling with that myself!
Reading the synopsis of the book didn't hook me. Reading your comment above is what hooked me. You explained in detail what the book is about - now take what you said in your comment from 11/15 @ 2:30pm fix it up and put that as your query. You don't have to have big flashy words in order to have a good query. A simple explanation in the 3rd person works well too.
So my answer... Yes. ;-)
hahahahaha
Seriously? YES! Sounds very intriguing! ;)