Cinco de Mayo

[mrockwell]

Writing

*Rejection (2), Dreams & Nightmares, 5/4 (RT: 1 week)

Okay, writerly friends. I am in need of brains to pick regarding the mystical art known as query-writing.

Seeing as I was offered the contract for Legacy of Wolves without having to write a query, I'm a bit behind the curve in this area. I have a novel I'm working on (the YA-turned women's fiction with a sprinkling of paranormal), and I know I will need to craft an eye-catching query for it. I've read quite a bit about writing queries, and, having seen several examples of ones that worked, I think I have a pretty solid grasp of what needs to be done. However, I have a question that I have not seen answered anywhere, so I was hoping my fellow authors might be able to help me out.

My novel is based (very) loosely on St. Catherine of Siena. Since Catherine is not a household name to non-Catholics, I want to open my query with a couple of quotes about her - one from a "classic" Catholic source, and one much juicier quote from a more academic text that touches on some aspects of her life which make her the ideal inspiration for a YA-turned women's fiction novel (or at least the one I'm writing). I think this information is vital to understanding the premise of my novel (information that wouldn't be necessary with a more widely-known historical figure, such as Cleopatra, where the editor/agent and I would instantly have the same frame of reference).

No matter how intriguing the quotes, are they likely to turn agents/editors off? Will they see the quotes and automatically think I'm querying non-fiction (and probably toss the letter without reading further, thinking I'm an idiot who can't follow guidelines)?

Opinions, O Writerly Ones?

Everything Else

Booked my flight and (uber-expensive) hotel for GenCon today! I shall be leaving my children in the capable hands of my neighbors (or possibly the ILs, if they decide the ignominy of having the neighbors watch their beloved grandchildren is just too much). Watch out Indy, here I come!

Comments

[sheriffjoe.livejournal.com]

Let me ask YOU a question. Is having your character loosely based on a catholic saint REALLY vital to understanding the premise of the novel? I think it truly depends upon which market you are attempting to sell the book to. Will the readers to whom you are marketing the book be offended or even interested? Can you market the story without referencing the religious aspect and, most importantly, can the character be presented within the context of the premise without the religious background?

I don't think you are likely to turn off an agent unless that agent represents a market wholly unsuitable for a religious/catholic character. Finally, I wouldn't suggest mentioning it simply because the editors probably just don't care, as long as it doesn't affect the bottom line. Again, however, it truly does depend on who you are marketing the story to, I would think. Certainly it wouldn't matter one way or another if you were marketing such a story to Wizards of the Coast.

Ask yourself what you would do if you worked for the company you were querying and you received such a letter.

Does any of the make sense?

[mrockwell.livejournal.com]

The religious aspects are integral to the story. Along the lines of Jodi Picoult's "Keeping Faith" - there is no story without the religious angle, (even though the book itself would definitely not be considered religious fiction).

I guess what I'm more concerned about is if starting the query off with a quote or two would make the editor/agent want to read on, or not. I could convey the same information without the quotes, but a) it would take up more space in the query and b) I personally think the juxtaposition of the two different quotes about the same figure are intriguing, especially when you then tack a "what if?" on to the end which is essentially the heart of the novel. But I am, undoubtedly, biased. ;)