I got none of those "instant" rejections that usually happen when you send out queries by email, the ones that come within a few hours of you sending them, or the next day.
This means nothing but, as a writing reject you take your joy where you can find it, so there you go.
An anonymous person (I have a feeling I know who) asked that I post my query letter here, so I will. I always tell myself in getting rejected that the agent is just passing judgment on my ability to write query letters, not my fiction.
So here goes:
Dear Agent:
Run! It was the last word Berjulio “B.H.” Velasquez heard his mother say before she was escorted away by officers of ICE — Immigration and Customs Enforcement — and he did not hesitate to obey, though he quickly realized the consequences of doing so left him stranded and alone on the streets of Los Angeles.
My novel, FOUND IN TRANSLATION, complete at 69,000 words, traces B.H. as he struggles to survive and finds an oasis from the danger of the streets in an open door at a branch library. Head librarian Stephanie Ryan discovers that she has large “rat,” soon realizing that it is a homeless boy. Stephanie is joined by a police sergeant and officer who take an interest in the case of finding the boy before immigration officials, who are required by law to deport him back to Mexico without his parents. As the parents struggle to sneak back across the border without getting caught, those who would help him race against time. The parents themselves have difficulty with some who supposedly want to offer them help. The rescue is completed with essential help from the Los Angeles’ Latino community and the family is eventually reunited. The circumstances of B.H.’s story are quite real. Every year children are deported to Mexico without their guardians.
My name is Phil Latham and I am editor and publisher of the Marshall News Messenger a small daily newspaper in East Texas. I have written a twice-weekly column for the last 25 years and editorials for almost as long. I have won a raft of awards for both, as well as for the public service my newspaper has done. I am former editor of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lufkin Daily News, though I did not participate in the project that earned that award. By my own conservative estimation, I’ve written about two million published words. For some 10 years my column was distributed by the New York Times News Service and has been published in newspapers across the country and the globe.
In my search for possible agents I have tried to match my story and circumstances as best I can. I appreciate your indulgence in considering it and any time you might spend doing so. If time permits, I would request the courtesy of a reply.
Thank you,
Phil Latham
That's it. If you see anything stupid, let me know.
Yours in rejection,
Phil
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Excellent query. I could be wrong, but I think there is one tiny mistake. Shouldn't it be "a" rat, and not just rat? Don't know if you retyped it in her or pasted it, so it might not matter. I don't understand why you are getting so many rejections, it is a great story and wonderful concept. I'd like to read it someday.
ReplyDeleteSo what does a fat old white man know of the Latino community? Oh yes. How to break the heart and spirit of a Latina woman you claimed to love and betrayed. Were you researching when you were in bed with those other women? Because they weren't Latinas.
ReplyDelete