Author Secrets #1 (Agent + Query Letter)

Hey everyone!

When I first stared my writing career, I went the traditional route. I got an agent, sold my books to multiple publishers, and went through the long editing and publishing process.

Getting an agent is typically an irritating process for most authors who go this route. You have to write agents a super specific email called a "query letter" and then you have to wait 5-12 weeks for them to get back to you about whether they even want to read your book.

That query letter just says things like, "Hey! My book is a cross between [this cool book] and [this other cool book] and here's the plot! If you want to see more, email me back!"

It's much longer than that [I'll show you the query letter that got me an agent below] but that's the gist. If the agent likes the premise of the book, they might ask for the first 10 pages, and if they like that, they'll ask to see the whole thing.

It's frustrating because authors get way more rejections than they do acceptances, and getting told, "No, I don't want you book" over and over is disheartening, to say the least.

I actually pitched Knightmare Arcanist to about 50 agents back in 2018, and all of them said no. So even if your book is entertaining/fun/etc. it doesn't mean you'll have an easy time getting an agent. It's always hard, and there are always people going to say no.

The agent who finally signed me is Evan Marshall of the Marshall Agency. He wanted to pitch my crime series (yeah, I used to writer crime thrillers). I had to use my law degree somehow! lol

Evan's contract stated he would take 15% of the sale price of the book, and then 10% of royalties afterward. There were rules on whether I could pitch the movie/TV rights, and what would happen if the book turned into a series. Basically, in exchange for selling my novel to a publisher, he would get a piece of pie (which is super standard and rather reasonable). 

Anyway, Evan was great, but the traditional publishing route was also super frustrating. That's another post for another day! (Including why I had to buy back the rights to the Ethereal Squadron). 

Right now, if any of you are interested in selling a book, or want to know what a query letter looks like, here is it. I literally spent years looking for an agent, and refining the perfect letter, so I know it's a crazy uphill battle. If one of you are attempting to sell a novel, I hope this example letter comes in handy and shortcuts your process.

QUERY LETTER

Dear [Agent Name Here],

I noticed you represented [Novel Here] and thought you would be the perfect agent for my thriller novel, VICE CITY.

Miles Devonport joined the Vice family mob to make money. Not because he wants a huge pile of dough, but because he wants to support his younger brother and keep him off the streets. Unfortunately for Miles, his brother enlists with the Cobras, a street gang encroaching on the Vice family’s territory. Using his money for bail, Miles rescues his brother from jail on several occasions… which gets the mob thinking he’s a mole for the police.  

Nicholas Pierce joined the Vice family mob twenty years ago to get off the streets. He became the family’s head enforcer—the hatchet man they send to handle all their difficult problems, including police moles. Pierce interrogates Miles thinking he’s seen everything, but Miles’ altruistic motives catch him off-guard.

Impressed by Miles’ moxie and willingness to shoulder the responsibility of a younger brother, Pierce decides to take him under his wing and help him with his problems. The act of mercy and understanding sparks something in both men, and as their friendship develops, Pierce decides he wants out of the mob life for good.

But nobody leaves in the middle of a turf-war without getting branded a traitor. And the Vice family has a way of dealing with traitors.

VICE CITY is complete at 80,000 words and has series potential. I have included the first three chapters and a synopsis in the body of this email.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.