Comments for kt literary

Comment on Ask Daphne! About My Query XXXXVI by Kater

Kater — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:20:05 +0000

It sounds like a very good novel to me. The only thing I’d change is make it a little less coy. I guess that’s the same thing you said.

Comment on About My “About My Queries” by kt literary » Blog Archive » Ask Daphne! About My Query XXXXVI

kt literary » Blog Archive » Ask Daphne! About My Query XXXXVI — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:09:19 +0000

[...] more queries to get me well into the spring. Please follow the submission guidelines as listed in this post. I’ll see how many I get, and if I need to close the call at any point. If so, I’ll do [...]

Comment on Ask Daphne! About My Query XXXXV by Kristy Colley

Kristy Colley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:56:13 +0000

Wow, Kate. I think you hit it right on. I’m not sure I have anything to add.

(This is where I prove myself wrong.)

I feel as if I don’t know enough about this story, or am persuaded to read THIS book out of thousands. It also seems to lack a strong voice. I think addressing Kate’s observations will fix this.
Good luck!

Comment on Ask Daphne! About My Query XXXXV by Corinne

Corinne — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:52:22 +0000

My main problem with this query is that it’s not very specific. Her friend’s disappearance changes things – how? Why? Where do the accidents come from? How does Adam tie into things? In the next paragraph you mention Miami’s night life and the business world, both of which come out of the blue. They don’t seem to tie into what we just read. Queries don’t need a blow-by-blow, far from it, but specifics are necessary to get a feel for the story and how it’s different from everything else in the genre.

Overall I do like the writing, and I think this would be a good query if you focus more on the actual story. All of the above comments are also important – the book being self-published, the hyphens, and the way you describe the book. (For example, you really don’t need to mention it’s contemporary. Unless it’s explicitly stated to be a historical, we’ll generally assume it’s contemporary, and the rest of the query makes it clear anyway.)

Comment on Meg Loves Josie! by Lysh

Lysh — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:36:06 +0000

I met Meg Cabot a few times! She’s lovely. And I have a pic that I would never share. (I still had braces back then! ick)

And I went to LeakyCon, so I met John Green and Maureen Johnson. I was nervous, but they’re both down to earth and fun people.

Comment on Who’s Your Audience? by Donna Gambale

Donna Gambale — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:44:29 +0000

To be as specific as possible: My audience is the 15- to 18-year-old girls whose close-knit group of best friends is most important to them. They’re quite content with not having an epic romance in high school… but thoroughly enjoy kissing a crushworthy guy every once in awhile.

To be more general: My audience wants novels that reflect their lives, preferably with a touch of humor, and are likely fans of Anne Brashares, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, and Lauren Myracle.

Comment on Meg Loves Josie! by Mandy

Mandy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:38:10 +0000

Ann Crispin has been a huge inspiration to me. She was so nice and friendly when I met her and she thought it was very ironic that I’m an engineer writing fantasy (instead of SF). I also think that Brandon Sanderson is one of the nicest authors I ever met. When I pulled every book he ever published out of my backpack (which is only like nine, so not that great a number), he did not complain a bit and talked to me the entire time he signed.

I’m lucky to live in Atlanta where many SF/F authors come for signings (mainly at Dragon*Con), so I’ve been lucky enough to meet many of my heroes. And I find that they are all extremely nice and down to earth. Meeting Anne McCaffrey was my only real letdown, but that’s only because she’s so old and frail that I don’t think she heard a word I said.

Comment on I’m Back! by Kate

Kate — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:36:00 +0000

I’m so glad that Anna has a head and face! One of the cover trends in YA books that drives me crazy are the photos with-the-main-character’s-head-chopped-off.

Comment on Meg Loves Josie! by Erin S

Erin S — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:31:16 +0000

I met Lisa McMann and Patrick Jones (both YA authors) at a reading event in Minneapolis. Both were so fun to listen to and gave me great advice on the query process. I will never forget that Lisa said she sent 69 queries for her first novel…which never got picked up. But, her third novel, WAKE, got her an agent in a week! That just goes to show that even if your first novel doesn’t make it, that doesn’t mean your second or third won’t! )

Comment on Meg Loves Josie! by Amy

Amy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:17:23 +0000

I met Sara Zarr at a reading/signing in San Francisco (and, yes, my trip was semi-planned around said event), and it was so awesome and inspiring, because she was so open and kind, and also commiserated with me about writing YA contemporary realistic in a world where YA paranormal gets a lot of attention. It was a really great chat, totally invigorated me, and it came from someone who wrote one of my favorite books (Story of a Girl).

Also I have met some awesomepants writers through my book club!