We’ve already examined what a really, really bad query letter looks like. So today, we’re going to answer the reader question that deals with the other side–the good query letter. =) To keep it real, I’m going use as an example a query I got from one of the ladies who is now a WhiteFire author, whose project we bought after receiving this query. (Well, and after reading the manuscript, of course, LOL.)
Dear Ms. White:Thank you for taking time to read the proposal for my Women’s Fiction novel, Jasmine. My completed manuscript contains 82,600 words.Jasmine is a survivor. She’s lived through the abuse of her father, running away at age fourteen, living on the streets, and now she counsels at risk young women—giving them a second chance at life. But when her mother dies, can she go home again and face the past she’s forced herself to forget for the last twenty years? Or will the past she’s long forgotten take over her present once again?Through the story, Jasmine realizes that even while she suffered at the hands of others, God never leaves or forsakes any of us. Jasmine will reach adult readers as it offers healing Biblical truths, touching on issues of abuse, abortion and reconciliation with the Lord. Readers that like Lori Copeland’s Simple Gifts, or Francine River’s Her Daughter’s Dreamwill enjoy Jasmine.
I won The Writer Magazine’s prompt contest in May 2010 for my short story The Gift. I have previously published a short story in The Storyteller. I am a member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. My blog, Faith and Fiction, has over 4000 hits and 700 followers—these numbers are increasing. I am also a regular attendee of Christian writer’s conferences. I can help promote my books via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Grace and Faith Author’s Marketing Group, and at writers’ conferences.I hope you enjoy reading Jasmine, and I look forward to hearing your response. Would you please send me an email confirming you have received my proposal? Thank you.Sincerely,April McGowan
She opens respectfully, which is always good, and knows who she’s talking to–a definite plus. 😉 As it happens, I met this author at a conference and had already looked at another of her manuscripts, but she still retained a professional tone. Now, as a note, I had already agreed to read the proposal, hence that first paragraph. But for a cold-query, you can just not mention that.