This query is part of the Be an Agent for a Day contest. Rules and Regulations here
Please post your rejection or manuscript request in the comment section!
Dear Agent for a Day:
My young adult novel, “Quartz Sky,” has a word count of approximately 41,587.
I am a new author seeking representation, though I have been agented before. My relationship with my first agent has ended amicably: he is Gerald Abel, formerly a director of the trade division of Disney/Hyperion Books before he opened his own agency, and he has also been a consultant for Alloy Productions. He helped me greatly in developing “Quartz Sky,” but was not able to go forward with plans to submit the manuscript to several imprints, including Feiwel & Friends, this past spring, due to the increased demands of his consulting work. He felt that he would not be able to give “Quartz Sky” the attention it deserves and has released me from our representation agreement with his best wishes.
“Quartz Sky” has an interesting backstory: I originally set out to write and illustrate a picture book about a young boy who makes friends with a baby dinosaur. (My four-year-old son adores dinosaurs.) Once I began the writing portion of the project, though, it took on a life of its own—it turned into a novel about a teenaged boy who develops a unique time-traveling ability. No matter where his time-jumping adventures take him, he must deal with the problems of kids his age: insecurity, love, bullying, and finding the courage to defend the family and friends he loves. He learns very quickly that his abilities come with a price, and a sense of responsibility, too. The baby dinosaur is still part of the story, in addition to a fiesty, strong, female love interest.
The novel would particularly appeal to middle-age readers and young adults, but I believe adults may find interest in it, too.
May I send you a partial manuscript and synopsis of “Quartz Sky?” I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Author
STATS: 1% request rate
Agent FaD Jen says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the query. Unfortunately, I am going to have to pass. Good luck,
Agent FaD Jen
Comment: The backstory of how you came up with your idea is not the best use of space in a query. I think the premise actually sounds intriguing, both with and without a dinosaur added. However, there are too many problems with the query. Try tightening it up a bit and there will be more room to add additional information about the plot. Good luck.
The Spidermonkey says
Thank you for your query, which I have considered carefully. I’m sorry to say I can’t represent you at this time.
YA fantasy is such an overcrowded market that I could only consider something truly distinctive, and I’m afraid your story just doesn’t stand out sufficiently.
This is a subjective opinion of course, and others may see it differently. Good luck!
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for considering me. I can see this being picked up elsewhere, but unfortunately I have to pass.
Best of Luck!
Agent X-9
Heather says
Dear Author,
Thank you very much for taking the time to query our agency. I have given your project thoughtful consideration; unfortunately, it is not a good fit for us at this time because, although the project seems to be well conceived, I had some difficulty with your word choice in the query letter, and feel the manuscript may need extensive editing prior to being ready for shopping at publishing houses; however, after a revision of your query letter and/or partial manuscript, please feel free to resubmit to my attention.
Sincerely,
Heather
abouttothunder says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to represent your work. Unfortunately, it isn’t a good fit for me. Since you deserve an agent who will fully support you project, I will have to pass.
I wish you the best of luck in finding representation.
Sincerely,
Agent-for-a-day Sara
P.S. The query needs more specifics about the plot and less backstory about the writing of the novel. It wasn’t possible to form an accurate opinion of the story from what was there.
Rik says
Thank you for submitting your book – Quartz Sky – for my consideration. Regrettably, I do not feel that I am able to represent this work for you. Best wishes for your future endeavours. Agent Rik.
EJN says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to request additional materials at this time. Your writing credentials are impressive. I just wish you had spent more time in the query letter focusing on the story instead of the process of writing it.
Best of luck,
Agent EJN
GuyStewart/DISCOVERCHURCH says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your query, but I’m going to have to pass. I do not feel strongly enough about your story to represent it well.
Sincerely, Guy Stewart
SuzieQ Agent4U says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I do not feel this book is right for me. Good luck with your search.
Best,
S
Leis says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I cannot offer representation at this time. Good luck with your project.
Regards,
Agent for a Day
AndrewDugas says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I do not believe I would be the best advocate for your novel. I wish you luck in finding representation elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Andy
==================
If Gerald Abel, who was very involved in the novel’s development, lost interest, why should I be interested? This tidbit killed the query.
Madhat says
Dear Author:
I’m going to have to pass.
-Agent
Why: I think this is YA SF, but I’m not sure. You barely describe the book. I don’t think it looks good for an author’s enthusiasm toward their own work, when the description of it reads like an afterthought.
Dawn says
Dear Author,
Thank you for contacting Dawn Ink. Unfortunately, Quartz Sky is not what we’re looking for right now.
Best of luck in finding representation.
Sincerely,
Dawn
—–
This tells me more about what the manuscript has been through and how it came to be rather than explaining the story.
ludwig snarf says
i’m sorry, but we cannot help you
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to me.
At this moment in time, however, I choose to pass on your project. This doesn’t automatically mean your query isn’t good enough. It simply means that I’m not the right agent for this project. This can be for a number of reasons.
If you would like to know why, you can send a reply to this mail. Please change the subject line to: FEEDBACK / QUARTZ SKY / YOUR NAME. I will respond to your request within two weeks.
Good luck with finding representation and keep on writing!
Kind regards,
Nicole34
2readornot says
I’m afraid this doesn’t work for me. Good luck!
Anahita says
Dear Author:
Thanks for sharing your query. Sorry I can’t represent your work. Good luck!
Anahita
Diana says
The story sounds very interesting but I think the query could use just a little more detail. Where does he travel to most? How is he called upon to defend his family? Is there a later conflict that comes with that?
That Girl says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I will have to pass at this time.
Best of luck,
That Agent Girl
Enusan says
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately I get no sense of the book itself beyond the general themes you describe and will have to pass.
Saint_Fool says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I do not feel that your story is the right fit for me.
Best of luck.
Saint_Fool
R. Markiam says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query letter and for thinking of me for representation of Quartz Sky. While your novel sounds intriguing, I’m sorry to say I won’t be able to pursue it further with you. I wish you all the best in securing other representation.
Regards,
R. Markiam
Sara J. Henry says
Form rejection[Reason: You lost me at “
“Quartz Sky” has an interesting backstory.”]
MonkBoy says
Thank you for your query submission, but I’m afraid we’re not interested in your material at this time.
Best of luck,
Placebo Publications
Laura Martone says
Dear Author:
Thank you for submitting your query for consideration. I appreciate the time, energy, and passion that it required to complete “Quartz Sky”.
Unfortunately, given the thousands of queries that I receive annually, I can only request a small percentage of manuscripts for possible representation. While I find the subject matter of your novel intriguing, it does not meet my editorial needs at this time.
I am grateful for the opportunity to consider your work and wish you much luck in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
Livia says
Thank you for your query, but it is not a good fit for me. Best wishes.
Livia
Linta says
Dear Author
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately I’m not the right agent for you. Best of luck in finding your novel a home.
Regards
Agent for a day
[reasoning: unfocussed, what’s the story about? Where’s the conflict? Also, too much detail about the previous agent.]