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Reader Blaine asks
Does anyone out there know of a website or a book with a lot of sample query letters?
The question comes just as I’m studying this guide to marketing a novel:
The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit: Everything You Need to Know About Queries, Synopses, Marketing, and Breaking In by Elizabeth Lyon.
The book was recommended to me by a colleague for the very reason that it contains numerous sample fiction queries.
Chapter Six defines the query and offers step-by-step instructions for writing one:
Queries Defined
Lead
Model Query Letter
Body
Closing
Style
Types and Uses
Chapter Seven provides 15 examples of actual letters. Several genres are represented, including
Literary
Historical
Christian
Adventure
Mystery
Suspense
Fantasy
Romance
Children’s 9-12
So far I’m finding Lyon’s book extremely helpful as I prepare to market a mystery novel of my own. When I’m ready to do something with one of my non-fiction projects, I’ll have a look at her other guide: Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write.
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Thank you very much for this information. I’m one draft and a line-edit away from sending my first novel out to agents and query letters have been on my mind.