The Query That Got Me a Literary Agent

THIS IS IT. I got a ton of agent requests from this query and ultimately landed my dream literary agent. I'm going to share the query and then break it down.

Dear ______,

I would love to send you my upmarket women’s fiction AN ENCHANTMENT OF CURSES, which is complete at 75,000 words.

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of five heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer and her first heartbreak returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel. Add to that a strained relationship with her twin brother Seth who is still searching for his own magic, a mysterious spirit hanging about the garden, and a deeply buried family secret, and Sadie has a recipe that will test the very bonds of family, magic, and love. Secrets unravel, and betrayal abounds as Sadie struggles to reconcile the wounds of the past before her curse casts her into chaos and she loses her magic once and for all. AN ENCHANTMENT OF CURSES is the first in a proposed series (though it can also stand-alone) that will follow the characters and town presented in this novel, the latter of which is inspired by my home in Gold Country in Northern California. This novel will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells and Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic but is also reminiscent of Sweet Home Alabama with that tumultuous and feisty kind of first love. Tinged with enchanted confectionaries, a magic garden, and the idea that family are the ones who can hurt and heal in equal measure, this novel reaches to the heart of anyone who’s ever struggled with the fear that accompanies heartbreak while also reminding us that magic doesn’t necessarily ensure a happy ending. At least not the one you imagined.

I graduated with honors with a double major in English Literature and Psychology. I’ve worked as a freelance journalist for the past six years with pieces published in Good Housekeeping, Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Brides, Family Circle, et al. I’ve also lived and worked in over forty countries, studying the genus, species, and symbolism of local flowers, herbs, and spices mentioned in this book. You can also find me on Instagram @houseofrandall (11.4k followers) where I share recipes, remedies, and more. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you!

Alright, now let's break it down!

I would love to send you my upmarket women’s fiction AN ENCHANTMENT OF CURSES, which is complete at 75,000 words. (Detailing the genre lets them know you've done your research and helps them see where it can be positioned in the market. This is also the area to let them know why you're sending to them specifically if you have a reason. For example: "I thought this would be a good fit for your list because you mentioned in a recent blog post that you're looking for multigenerational family dramas.")

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of five heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. (Start with a hook.) But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer and her first heartbreak returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel. Add to that a strained relationship with her twin brother Seth who is still searching for his own magic, a mysterious spirit hanging about the garden, and a deeply buried family secret, and Sadie has a recipe that will test the very bonds of family, magic, and love. (Add everything that stands in the way of the protagonists goal.) Secrets unravel, and betrayal abounds as Sadie struggles to reconcile the wounds of the past before her curse casts her into chaos and she loses her magic once and for all. (End with the stakes of what happens if goal is not achieved.)

AN ENCHANTMENT OF CURSES is the first in a proposed series (though it can also stand-alone) that will follow the characters and town presented in this novel, the latter of which is inspired by my home in Gold Country in Northern California. (Show your vision for the book.) This novel will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells and Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic but is also reminiscent of Sweet Home Alabama with that tumultuous and feisty kind of first love. (Give comp titles, usually no more than two.) Tinged with enchanted confectionaries, a magic garden, and the idea that family are the ones who can hurt and heal in equal measure, this novel reaches to the heart of anyone who’s ever struggled with the fear that accompanies heartbreak while also reminding us that magic doesn’t necessarily ensure a happy ending. At least not the one you imagined. (End with a hook about the overall theme of the book.)

I graduated with honors with a double major in English Literature and Psychology. I’ve worked as a freelance journalist for the past six years with pieces published in Good Housekeeping, Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Brides, Family Circle, et al. I’ve also lived and worked in over forty countries, studying the genus, species, and symbolism of local flowers, herbs, and spices mentioned in this book. (Add why you're the best person to write this book and any credentials you have. But remember, you don't have to have previous writing experience! The story is more important than your background.) You can also find me on Instagram @houseofrandall (11.4k followers) where I share recipes, remedies, and more. (If you have a big following on any social media platforms or have good website traffic, share that because it shows your online presence, which is something publishers look for.) Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you! (Finish by thanking them, and that's it!)

Okay, let me know what you think in the comments and I'm always available to chat query letters - find me on Instagram @houseofrandall or breannerandall.com.

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