Two Successful Query Letters

Pitch your book to publishers

How do you get published? That’s the big question. First, find some books similar to yours and check who the publisher is. Then go to their website and click on their Submission Guidelines. You can also ask around, search up reasonable publishers, or meet them at conferences. The last is best since they’ll see your smiling face. Finding a time when they’re sitting bored at a table is great. I walk up and ask what they publish. If it’s anything like what I write, I smile. “That’s perfect — I just happen to have finished writing a book like that. Here’s what it’s about…” Ideally, the publisher will ask to see a letter, sample, or proposal (which you can email later) and hand over a business card. Then you can send them whatever their instructions suggest — most likely a query letter. Here are two of mine that actually sold books.

Dear Mr. ***:

After meeting you in the Worldcon Dealer’s Room, I was so pleased at your interest in my project. With your house’s interest in scholarly approaches to speculative fiction and pop culture, I believe this book has much to offer you:

Many know Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey: how every man from King Arthur to Hercules travels the road from childhood to maturity, battling his dark alter-ego. Still, that very statement — every man — leaves…