Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Queries, queries and more queries!

So, we're still digging out from under the query letters sent our way last week. And we have to say, this is super-fun. You guys have some excellent ideas. And as much as we'd love to say we were the reason K.M. Walton made her big announcement yesterday, it would be a big old LIE. Her query rocked before we even hit send!

Anyways, here's another amazing query we thought you all would get a kick out of. This is Jared Larson's query for his middle grade novel I'M HERE TO SAVE YOUR DAY: THE ADVENTURES OF BO WOLF. Enjoy!

Dear Agent,

Bo Wolf is just your average bully-slaying fifth grader. Sure, the other kids tease him about his arms looking like flexi-straws, and they tell him to go back to his home on Dweeb Island, but Bo doesn't care. With his mad fencing skills and soon-to-be ravishing good looks, he's convinced he's on the way to becoming king of [insert school name here].

After impressing a school yard gang by defeating their leader in a broomstick combat, Bo agrees to help them take on the meanest, ugliest, and biggest bully known to man– Grendul– who's taken the playground jungle gym for his own.

However, when Bo puts the smack-down on Grendul, he finds a much more powerful adversary in the bully's mom, the school lunch lady. Angered by her precious son's defeat, she plots to poison the entire school with her irresistible ginger snaps. When Bo discovers her diabolical plan, he must find his courage to save his friends from an imminent cafeteria induced death.

Complete at 34,000 words, I'M HERE TO SAVE YOUR DAY: THE ADVENTURES OF BO WOLF is a middle grade retelling of Beowulf, set within the tumultuous battlefields of the middle school playground. [Insert reason why you are querying them here].

Hooked, right? So, what are you digging out from under on this lovely Wednesday in August?

23 comments:

Tabitha Bird said...

Yeah! Hooked for sure. Very cool :)

Kelly Lyman said...

This sounds great! I'm totally hooked and love the idea. I just wrote my first query letter last night to begin the whole process...oy vey!

B.E. Sanderson said...

Definitely hooked. So much that I want to know where and when I can buy this. =o)

Creepy Query Girl said...

what a great story idea! Thanks you guys for the query critiques- I LOVED what you did with mine!

K. M. Walton said...

Lisa & Laura, let me say this, THANK YOU for genuinely sharing in my excitement and for always believing this would happen and for sharing the news here.

And for making laugh every time I come to this blog.

As usual, you two rock.

Jared Larson said...

Screw Oprah! I just got my query posted on Lisa and Laura's blog. How awesome is that! (The previous is not a question. It is an expression of excitement). Thanks girls. You're the best. Love your blog btw... no one can talk about J-Love like you two can. I'm amazed that the meaning of life is found within the dramatic and vivacious roles of Jen Love. Long live Lifetime Movies! You two are brilliant!

Unknown said...

I'm trying to get out from under the big pile of flaming life I found burning on my doorstep this morning ... "Don't stomp it out with your boots again, Harold!" Billy Madison, anyone?

@ Jared: Your story concept rocks the block! Seriously considering e-mailing the ladies and having them 86 my query after reading yours. I think mine sounds like, "Boy finds stick. Boy uses stick to save world." compared to yours.

Sarah Ahiers said...

that query is awesome.
and the book sounds GREAT

Katie Anderson said...

TOTALLY HOOKED!!!!!!! How cute is that?!

Paul Greci said...

I love the voice in this query. And the story, yeah, I'm hooked!

Kerri Cuev said...

Go Jared!! This sounds fantastic! And thank you Lisa and Laura!

Patti said...

Sounds like an awesome story. Definitley hooked.

Kelly Polark said...

That does sound awesome! Great premise and description!

Nicole Zoltack said...

Wow, loved it! Definitely hooked.

Jemi Fraser said...

Totally hooked - when it's published I'll buy a copy for my classroom!

Tara Maya said...

This one's gonna sell. No question. Fabulous.

Jennifer Rummel said...

My desk! It's a disaster area like usual

ps:Check out my blog for an award: http://yabooknerd.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-award.html

Reesha said...

I'm digging my way out from under plastic boxes.
Literally thousands of plastic boxes.

My technical writing job has changed from "here, write this" to "Pry the lids loose from these plastic boxes so we can re-hinge them and package our product in time".

Lol.

At least the work is easy and I can read your blog while I do it.

Thanks for the great query. It made me smile. I LOOOVE that idea and I want to read The Adventures of Bo Wolf. :)

Jennifer Foushee said...

Holy cow - I am laughing so hard right now. GRENDUL! Genius. Nice work, Jared. Thanks for sharing, LiLa!

Tahereh said...

that book sounds AWESOME. i don't understand why i'm not reading it RIGHT NOW.

Jared Larson said...

Wow! I'm not sure what to say, but thank you for the awesome comments. I have the biggest grin on my face while I read them. I'm shocked. Really am. Now I just hope the MS lives up to the query. That's what really counts. Thanks to Lisa and Laura for taking the time to go out of their way and critiquing these queries for us. Those sisters rock!

Elana Johnson said...

HOOKED.

And congrats to Kate!

Lori W. said...

Wow! I'd love to read that book.

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