Huzzah! The Query Letter Blogfest is Here!

Do you know what today is, kids? The nineteenth. And while that has tons of crazy importance in a certain fictional world that involves this poem, it's also important on this plane because today's our query letter blogfest. *hands out celebratory mochas*

If you've already signed up, hooray. If you haven't, there's still time.

The rules:
  • Post your query letter on your blog.
  • Read and critique* on at least 5 other query letters.
When critiquing a query, here are a few questions you should ask yourself. (Thanks to Pam & Quita for putting these up.)
  • Tell whether or not the letter hooks you--is there a pitch line apparent somewhere through out the letter?
  • Determine whether or not you GET what the novel is about.How is the sentence flow? Transitions? 
  • If you were an agent--would you request pages? Why or why not?

So simple, right? Let's get to it.


Dear [Agent Name],
  
All Cheyenne Butler ever wanted was a normal life: have friends, sleep in class, hell, maybe date. But accidentally killing her aunt always got in the way. That, and juvie.
After five years, Cheyenne finally has the opportunity and is ready to take the challenge head on. Sort of. Adjusting to life on the outside would be easier if she could get her workaholic uncle to agree that a lie of epic proportions is in order and if she didn’t need to convince her therapist she’s fit for life on the outside without actually contributing.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to adjust, since North Maltwood is so bland her cousin has renamed the town “Normal.”
Only if it was the truth. Cheyenne walks right into a social status pissing contest between her cousin’s vapid girlfriend and the rest of his friends. Not to mention that her housemaster’s determined to put Cheyenne right back in juvie. She makes new friends and begins to finally live the life she never knew she could have, until the news of her ailing father’s death and the circumstances of her past become school-wide gossip and jeopardizes everything. Through all this, Cheyenne discovers the most common definition of normal may be the most abnormal thing of all.
I am a contributing blogger to [REDACTED] blog and am also a member of SCBWI.
My contemporary young adult novel, FALLING TO NORMAL, is complete at 55,000 words. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your time.
Regards,
Alicia Gregoire


Don't forget to check out the other contributors!

* When I say critique, I mean constructive feedback. This isn't an open invite to be all "THIS SUCKS."

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Last.fm hit of the day: My Devotion by Opera IX