Mentors for Nightmare on Query Street 2016

I know you'll want to get to know the mentors who will be helping the finalists perfect their query letter and first 250 words. But first a few dates for Nightmare on Query Street:

Submission Window Opens: October 14th 4:00 pm EST
Final Picks are Announced: October 20th
Mentors Go to Work: October 21th - 26th
Revised Entries Due Back: October 26th at noon EST
Agent round: October 29th - 30th

A third of the list of amazing mentors is here. To see the other parts of the list, visit Mike's blog and Laura's blog. Mike has had a personal emergency and all the mentors are now listed on my blog or Laura's blog. Some of the mentors have been helping our contests for ages and some are brand new. Please give all of them a big welcome!

Jessica Kapp went to her first Writers’ Group meeting with her grandmother when she was eleven but didn’t take her love of writing seriously until she graduated from college.

With a degree in Broadcast Communication, Jessica started her storytelling career through the lens of a camera. From television news, she transitioned to print journalism and eventually succumbed to her true passion: fiction.

Jessica writes YA Contemporary and Speculative Fiction, and her debut novel, BODY PARTS, comes out Fall 2017. 

She is represented by Whitley Abell of Inklings Literary Agency. Find her on twitter at @JessKnapp.

Gail Nall lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her family and more cats than necessary. She once drove a Zamboni, has camped in the snow in June, and almost got trampled in Paris. Gail is the author of the Aladdin/S&S middle grade novels BREAKING THE ICE, the YOU'RE INVITED series (co-authored with Jen Malone), and the upcoming OUT OF TUNE (11/8/16) and BEST.NIGHT.EVER. (co-authored, 8/15/17). She is also the author of the young adult novel, EXIT STAGE LEFT (Epic Reads Impulse/HarperCollins).

Buy links for all books: http://www.gailnall.com/my-books.html
Website: http://www.gailnall.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gailecn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GailNallWrites/

Newsletter sign-up: http://www.gailnall.com/newsletter.html

Annie Sullivan has worked at John Wiley and Sons, Inc. publishing company since 2007 in acquisitions, editorial, content marketing, and publicity roles. In addition, she writes young adult fantasy and is represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary. She received her MFA in creative writing from Butler University, and her work has been featured in Curly Red Stories and Punchnel’s. Her novel won the Luminis Books Award at the 2013 Midwest Writers Workshop.

She lives in Indianapolis but has traveled to over 50 countries, and she now offers free setting advice to anyone looking to set a story in a country they’ve never been to. When she’s not off on a new adventure, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and playing with her dog. She’s an expert four-leaf clover finder and loves everything Jane Austen.

Twitter: @annsulliva

Blog: https://anniesullivanauthor.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annsulliva/

When C. B. Catalano realized she spent more time daydreaming than living in the real world she decided to write them down to share with others. Now she's ready to bring those daydreams to life. C. B. writes MG and YA, and is represented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media. She can be found wandering around the Pacific Northwest with her 3 kids, husband, and new puppy. After moving 21 times over the span of 7 states and 18 years she thinks she may have finally found a place to call home (for now) and aims to explore all that Washington has to offer.

https://twitter.com/C_B_Catalano

Erika David is a Toronto-area writer of middle grade and young adult fiction, and is represented by Eric Myers at Dystel & Goderich. She credits a lifelong appreciation of sci-fi and fantasy to the discovery of John Christopher’s The Tripod novels, and classic TV shows like Space 1999 andBattlestar Galactica. She also loves a good thriller, but can only read them with the lights on, or watch them through the buttonhole of her sweater. When not reading, writing, or eating too much dark chocolate, she enjoys going out to movies and indie concerts, as well as keeping up with her husband, three kids and a munsterlander named Martha.

https://twitter.com/ErikaDavidCAN

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23009060-erika-david

J.B. Rockwell is a New Englander, which is important to note because it means she's (a) hard headed, (b) frequently stubborn, and (c) prone to fits of snarky sarcasticness. As a kid she subsisted on a steady diet of fairy tales, folklore, mythology augmented by generous helpings of science fiction and fantasy. As a quasi-adult she dreamed of being the next Indian Jones and even pursued (and earned!) a degree in anthropology. Unfortunately, those dreams of being an

archaeologist didn't quite work out. Through a series of twists and turns (involving cats, a marriage, and a SCUBA certification, amongst other things) she ended up working in IT for the U.S. Coast Guard and now writes the types of books she used to read. Not a bad ending for an Indiana Jones wannabe.

J.B.’s debut sci-fi novel, SERENGETI (a NoQS 2015 entry) was recently published by Severed Press. Find out more about J.B., SERENGETI, and J.B.’s other writing projects at www.jenniferbrockwell.com 

ELIZABETH RODERICK is the author of the LGBT romantic suspense novel, Love or Money, and the magical realism The Other Place Series, which includes The Hustle, The Other Place, Love and War (release date 3/7/17), and Synchronicity, (release date 5/2/17). She has written ten other novels in a wide range of genres, which are in various stages of revision and pitching.

Elizabeth’s stories are about love, death, gang warfare, and madness. Her characters tend to be of the type that society generally shuns: addicts, convicts, and the neurodiverse. She herself is a neurodiverse person, and has struggled with addiction and other issues.

Elizabeth believes if people get to know people who live on the fringes of society, both in stories and in real life, they'll find them more likeable than they originally thought.

Amazon

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Wren hails from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin where beer and cheese are their own food groups. But a cowboy swept her off her feet and carried her below the Mason-Dixon line to Texas, where she promptly lost all tolerance for cold and snow. Fueled by coffee, dreams, and men in kilts, Wren promises to bring you laughter, sexy fun time, and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The easiest way to her heart is anything to do with the Green Bay Packers, Doctor Who, or Joss Whedon. 

Represented by Margaret Bail of Inklings Literary Agency.

https://twitter.com/AuthorWren

https://wrenmichaels.com/

https://www.facebook.com/authorwrenmichaels

Nicole Tone is a novelist, essayist, and editor. She's the Publishing Director and an editor at REUTS Publications. She is getting her MA in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, is an intern for a literary agency, and freelance writes and edits. Check out her website, follow her on Twitter, or you can like her Facebook page.

Shari Schwarz lives in Colorado with her husband and their four boys. TREASURE AT LURE LAKE is her debut middle grade novel which reflects her love for a good survival adventure story. When she’s not reading or writing, Shari can be found freelance editing, weight-lifting, gardening or watching her boys play various sports. She frequently daydreams of exploring Oregon Coast beaches and enjoys reading manuscripts as a literary intern. 

You can visit Shari on her website: http://sharischwarz.com

Twitter: @sharischwarz

Born and raised in the sunny land of Portugal, Diana lives in Lisbon, where she works as a game developer and writer. In her free time, she can be found writing (obviously), painting, and devouring extraordinary quantities of books and video games—especially anything on the fantasy spectrum. Keeping her company are two awesome kitties, Sushi and Jubas, and her bearded dragon Norbert!

Her work is represented by Natalie Lakosil of Bradford Lit.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Pinguicha

Blog - http://pinguicha.wordpress.com

Art portfolio - http://pinguicha.deviantart.com/

Peggy Rothschild grew up in Los Angeles. Always a mystery-lover, she embraced the tales of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys before graduating to the adult section of the library. An English major in high school, she switched to art – her other passion – in college. Peggy has authored two adult mysteries, CLEMENTINE’S SHADOW and ERASING RAMONA. PUNISHMENT SUMMER is her first young adult book.

Peggy is represented by Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency. She lives in the beach community of Ventura with her husband and their cats. In her spare time she focuses on transforming their yard into a drought-tolerant garden.

www.peggyrothschild.net

https://www.twitter.com/pegrothschild

https://www.facebook.com/peggyrothschildauthor

www.goodreads.com/author/show/7079283.Peggy_Rothschild

https://plus.google.com/+peggyrothschild

Kate is a freelance editor, MG Pitch Wars mentor, and the editorial director at Lakewater Press. She's also an award-winning middle grade author. Although originally from the UK, she now lives on the Gold Coast in Australia with her family.

www.katejfoster.com

Twitter

Facebook

Nightmare on Query Street 2016 Free Pass

Contests are subjective. I like to take some of that out of the equation with an equalizer like a free pass! It lets someone who might not make the finals go before agents and get help from mentors. This is one of my favorite parts about any contest I help host. 

So let's talk about this opportunity.

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and use the rafflecopter to be entered. Everyone gets a free entry. There will be other extra entry options that you can skip or use for bonus chances.

Something a little harder this year. I want you to describe your favorite Halloween decoration you put out every year or maybe one you had as a child. Give me that description below in a comment, then use the rafflecopter to record that you entered. It can be scary or not. No extra bonus points but extra fun if you want to send me a picture of the decoration on twitter (@Michelle4Laughs) under #NoQS. I'll RT and share them.

I know some people don't decorate, so you can take a picture of an item at your local store next time you're shopping. (Note: I'm not asking you to buy anything, just get ideas there.) I won't be rating you on your ability with words, so relax and have fun with it.

Here's the little doodad I got at the our Blueberry Festival. I'm not sure what it is, but it looks to be a mix between a creepy egg boy and a sad zombie. I needed a decoration that wasn't a pumpkin because I sadly lack variety. :-) 

It's been brought to my attention that some countries don't celebrate Halloween. I offer my condolences at missing all the free candy. But we want to hear from you, too! Instead, please comment with a description of a popular holiday unique to your country. Let us know what we are missing. 

This will run from today until October 10th when the rafflecopter will pick one winner. The Free Pass winner will bypass the slush and become one of Michelle's Minions for Nightmare on Query Street. They will work with a mentor to polish and then be entered in the agent round, where 25 agents will read their work.

Don't forget to use the rafflecopter if you comment or your entry will not be processed.

And that's it!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Query Questions with Jennifer Wills

 

 

Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.

Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a series called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers from the real expert--agents!

Query Questions is back with a fresh set of questions and more agents. The people have spoken and let me know which questions should stay and which could go. We've got a few brand new situations that writers would like clarified.

I'm happy to share an interview with another new agent that may not be on your radar yet. Jennifer Wills joined the Seymour Agency in April 2016 and is now an associate agent.

Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?

I always read all my queries, including the sample.  You can tell so much from the sample – whether the author has an instinct for where to begin their story, whether the voice is appealing, if they know how to keep the writer’s interest.  A strong sample can overcome a weak query but a weak sample always cancels out a strong query for me.  If I’m lukewarm about five pages, there’s no point reading the rest, right?  However, if you end your sample or your partial on a little mini-cliffhanger, I know I’m in good hands and I’ll be happy to read more.

How open are you to writers who have never been published?

I’m open to unpublished authors, but it’s definitely helpful to have at least an article or a published short story under your belt.  If you haven’t been published, it’s even more important to have a following on social media.  Potential publishers will be considering your platform, not just your manuscript.

How important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query? Are movie/tv reference okay as comp titles?

Comp titles are great, if they make sense and are timely, accurate, and original.  I’m still getting Harry Potter and Hunger Games as comps in queries….  The worst is when someone tells you their book is THIS meets THAT, and when you read there are no traces of either title and you start to wonder if they sent you the wrong manuscript.  My first job was as a projectionist at a movie theater, so I love movies almost as much as I love books.  Comps that contain both are a win-win for me.  I especially love it when an author tells me which aspect of their comp titles resemble their book--“the voice of THIS but with the suspense of THAT.”

Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter or would you rather hear about the manuscript?

“All of that chit-chat’s gonna getcha hurt.” --Jared Leto as the Joker

Just joking!  A little personalization to show that the query is targeting me is helpful.  I’ve had some queries where the first line of the query is intriguing, and then they include something personalized later on.  That works, too.  When I offer representation, I’m not offering just for the manuscript.  I’m looking for authors who are in it for the long haul, so I like to get a sense of their personality to see if we would work well together.

When a writer nudges with an offer, what length of time is helpful to give you enough time to consider? A week? Two weeks?

At least a week is helpful, especially if I’m sharing a manuscript with my fellow agents for a second read.  Two weeks would be ideal.

Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?

I like to see authors who already have the foundation of their online presence in place because it can take time to get that ball rolling.  If I love the work and believe in the author, I’ll still offer representation even if their social media platform is nonexistent.  (BUT, if there is an existing platform that is problematic, ie unprofessional, hurtful, overly controversial to the point of damaging the author’s brand, I might decide not to offer representation.  So be careful what you post out there!)

If a writer makes changes to their manuscript due to feedback should they resend the query or only if material was requested? Does it make a difference if the changes are from an R&R with another agent?

If I’ve requested pages, I always try to offer at least one constructive comment even if the manuscript isn’t working for me.  If the manuscript was otherwise a good fit, I’ll absolutely invite the author to make changes and resubmit.  If I don’t specifically say I’d like to see the revisions, then it’ll probably still be a pass although I will occasionally take another look if the author asks nicely.  

Do you look at trends or editor wishlists when deciding to sign a manuscript?

If I think a manuscript will appeal to a particular editor or two or five, I’m probably thinking about representation before I’ve even finished the manuscript.  Trends can fluctuate, so I’m more interested in what my editorial contacts have specifically told me they want to see. 

Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent? Does a manuscript have to be sub-ready or will you sign stories that need work?

I love to edit! It is so gratifying to help an author take their great manuscript one step closer to perfection.  I’m in the early stages of building my list so I’m probably a bit more willing to spend time polishing my authors’ work before submission than agents with a full list.  

What is your biggest query pet peeve? Is there anything that automatically sinks a query for you?

Clichéd but true – “Dear Agent” or seeing a billion other agents’ email addresses in the CC line of the email.  It just doesn’t make for a good first impression, and it shows a lack of attention to detail.  If an author can’t take the time to figure out a prospective agent’s name, or send an individual query, it shows they haven’t taken the time to do their homework. It doesn’t bode well for the quality of the query, or the manuscript itself.  I don’t mind as much when people misspell my name; I get a lot of Willis instead of Wills because that second i just wants to creep in there, and an occasional Mr. instead of Ms./Mrs.

I love fantasy/sci-fi queries but it seems like authors tend to cram every detail about their world-building into the query.  You just need to give enough in the query/synopsis/sample so I understand the premise as it relates to the character’s struggle, so try not to throw around a million unfamiliar terms or hard-to-pronounce names all at once.  I will revel in your glorious details while reading the partial or full, don’t worry!  The query’s job is to get me excited about reading more – it doesn’t need to be a reference manual for the fantastic, elaborate world you’ve created.

What three things are at the top of your submission wish list?

High concept non-rhyming picture books. YA/MG with sci fi/fantasy, horror/suspense or contemporary bent. Upmarket women’s fiction with a sense of humor.

What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes? 

Since the tender age of too-young-to-be-reading-him, my favorite author was Stephen King, particularly THE STAND and the Dark Tower books.  My favorite movie was the Wizard of Oz.  And to this day, those favorites still hold true.  Others, in no particular order: Justin Cronin’s THE PASSAGE trilogy is up there with The Dark Tower. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy by Beth Revis.  Also THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins, GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, IF I STAY by Gayle Forman, Harry Potter ofcourse, The Earth’s Children series by Jean Auel, I also love Neil Gaiman, Maggie Stiefvater, Alexandra Bracken, John Green, Emily Giffin, Sarah Dessen,  Jennifer Weiner, Laurie Notaro, and I still have a soft spot for RL Stine, Christopher Pike, Roald Dahl, Ann M. Martin.

Movies/TV: The Walking Dead, LOST, Lucky Number Slevin, Boondock Saints, How to Train Your Dragon, Edge of Tomorrow, District 8, Mission Impossible franchise, all the Marvel films, Christopher Nolan’s everything, anything Pixar, romantic comedies and plain ol’ comedies.

I am probably one of eight people on the planet who wasn’t crazy about Stranger Things.

Jennifer has five years’ experience in some of the publishing industry’s leading literary agencies.  She worked with publishers around the world as an assistant in Trident Media Group’s huge foreign rights department, and with domestic publishers as an assistant at Writers House (where, incidentally, she began her career as an intern).  She joined the Seymour Agency in April 2016, where she has quickly moved up the ranks to associate agent.  Jennifer has always loved helping fledgling authors become NYT bestsellers and she’s ready to be a relentless champion for her own clients’ work.  You can find her @WillsWork4Books on Twitter. 

Getting the Call with Teresa Richards

Happy to have another contest success story! I'm sure you remember My Boyfriend Rigged the Lottery from Query Kombat 2016 and here is the happy conclusion. 

Hi everyone! I'm thrilled to announce that I've signed with agent Mallory Brown from TriadaUS, as a result of a request made during Query Kombat this year. My entry was for a manuscript called Windfall, nicknamed My Boyfriend Rigged the Lottery, and made it to Round 4 of the competition. I received eight requests during the agent round.

One of the requesting agents was Uwe Stender, founder of Triada. After I got knocked out of the competition, I sent the requested material to him, along with the other agents. Then I waited. 

I worked on another writing project. I enjoyed the summer. I went on vacation with my family. I sent out more queries. I got my kids started back at school. 

By mid-August, I'd heard back from a couple of the other requesting agents with either rejections or requests for more material, but hadn't heard back from Uwe. Since Triada is well-known for its quick response times (their query guidelines state that if you haven't heard back in two weeks, then they didn't receive your query), I decided to follow up to make sure he'd received the material I'd sent him. He responded right away that it must have slipped through the cracks and that he'd take a look soon. I am *so* glad I followed up!

Two weeks later, he emailed and said that he'd passed it along to one of his agent assistants, Mallory Brown, who wanted to see the whole thing. Five days after that, Mallory emailed me with an offer of representation! She listed all the things she loved about Windfall and all the ways she'd connected to the story! After talking with her on the phone and hearing her enthusiasm, I was convinced she was the right agent for me and the perfect person to pitch my book to editors. 

And now it's official. I've joined #TeamTriada and am now rep'd by Mallory Brown!

*Commence freaking-awesome mildly embarrassing happy-dancing*

Of course, news this big requires a celebration. Since I did things a little backward and already have a book out with Evernight Teen, I'm going to celebrate with a giveaway! Up for grabs is an Emerald Bound prize pack, including a signed copy of the book, a metal Shepherd's-hook bookmark with emerald charm, and a custom-made Emerald Bound key chain. The giveaway will be live on my blog, http://teresarichardswrites.blogspot.com/ until October 4. Emerald Bound is a YA fantasy, so it's a different genre than Windfall. It's a dark retelling of The Princess and the Pea, in which the pea is an enchanted, life-sucking emerald. 

For those who are interested, here are my query stats for Windfall:

Queries sent out: 79

Partial requests: 10

Full requests: 4

Rejections: 46
No response: 33

The bulk of those 79 queries were sent out before Query Kombat. I had a much higher request rate on the queries I sent after incorporating feedback from the competition. If you ever have the chance to enter Query Kombat, or even just stalk the entries and read through the feedback they're getting, DO IT! 

Thanks again to Michelle, Laura and Michael for running this awesome competition and for the gobs and gobs of amazing judges and writers who took the time to read my entry and provide feedback. This success belongs to all of you and I am profoundly grateful! 

And now, if you'll excuse me, I must go finish my happy dance. 

_________________________________________________________________

Teresa Richards writes YA, but loves anything that can be given a unique twist. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has a degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in piano performance. When Teresa’s not writing, she can be found either chasing after one of her five kids, or hiding someplace in the house with a treat her children overlooked. Her debut, Emerald Bound, was released in 2015 by Evernight Teen.

Links: 

http://www.authorteresarichards.com/

https://www.facebook.com/authorteresarichards/
https://twitter.com/byutm33

Nightmare on Query Street Rules and Format for 2016

We're back with 25 agents and even more mentors!

It's Nightmare Time!

Don’t have a scary manuscript, DON'T WORRY. Just read on.

A brand new year, a brand new evil.

This contest, as it runs in the Halloween time, is all about FEAR.


The Details:

The submission window opens at 4:00 pm (EST) on October 14th. Don't send too soon or your entry will be deleted. There will be email confirmation. Please don't resend an entry unless you check with us. Sometimes the confirmation process gets overwhelmed. The window will close when we receive 250 entries or in two hours, whichever is first.

Michelle and Mike and Laura will make thirteen picks each, and those picks will go up on our blogs from October 29th through the 30th. Before this, there will be a mentor round to whip that entry into shape. We've already got amazing mentors lined up, so know that your entries will be polished for the agents.

We are accepting all age categories and genres, excluding picture books and erotica. The story does not have to be scary. But be sure to check our list of agents when it goes live to see if they represent your book's genre.


If you plan on participating in the contest, you have to be following all our blogs (Michelle, Mike, Laura). If you can't get the blog follow to work, just follow on twitter. You'll want to be on twitter for the party anyway.

You are not eligible if you've been in an agent round in the last six months, such as for Pitchslam and Query Kombat. This doesn't not include twitter only events like PitchMad. You may enter if you have a different manuscript to send.

ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. DO NOT TRY USING MULTIPLE EMAIL ADDRESSES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN ONE PER WRITING PEN NAME. ONE AND ONE ONLY.

It's pretty simple, actually.

But there's a catch.

Along with your query and 250, you must write a SHORT paragraph (no more than 100 words) about your main character. This is the question you must answer:

What is your main character's most stressful relationship? Who really makes them sweat?

The Format:

Send all your submission to nightmareonquerystreet (at) yahoo (dot) com. Only one submission per email address AND person is allowed.

Here's how it should be formatted (yes, include the bolded and everything!). Please use Times New Roman (or equivalent), 12 pt font, and put spaces between paragraphs. No indents or tabs are needed. 


Subject Line: NoQS: TITLE, Age Category + Genre
(example: NoQS: GRUDGING, Adult Epic Fantasy)


INSIDE THE EMAIL:

Name: Michelle Hauck

Twitter Handle: @Michelle4Laughs (optional)
Title: GRUDGING (yes, caps!)
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy (Age category and genre. YA/MG is not a genre.)
Word Count: XX,XXX

My Main Character's Most Stressful Relationship is:

My MC's most stressful relationship is with the potato supplier. With prices skyrocketing, the mc can't stop eating those suckers--fried, mashed, frenched--gotta have them. But everyone is trying to undercut our mc's purchase potential. (Please, spend some time on this! We will be looking at this to make up for gaps in the query and 250. It gives us a chance to know your characters better. It doesn't have to be horror-scary. It can be more subtle. Remember 100 words or less.)

Query:

Here is my fantastic query! DO NOT INCLUDE BIO OR COMPS PARAGRAPH. Try to stay in the 250-300 word range. Please put spaces between paragraphs and don't indent.

First 250 words:

Here are the first 250 words of my manuscript, and I will not end in the middle of a sentence, even if I hit 255 words. Do not abuse and send 256. Keep it fair for all. Use Open Office/Word to determine your official word count. 

Entries will be disqualified at our discretion for rule violation.

And that's it! Send in that email during the submission window and you're ready to go. There will be a confirmation email.

We're Tweeting under the hashtag #NoQS. As before, we'll have a twitter party once submission starts. Mentor and agent posts will follow before October 14th.

We also want to mention that Jason Huebinger is having a twitter pitch event called #PitDark on October 20th. That is something you might want to investigate.

Good luck! And sweet nightmares!