Query Letter Feedback Forum + Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Barnes & Noble
+ The Winners of our $1,000 Mid-Career Writing Scholarships!
Hello, Protagonists, in this post, you’ll find:
🤓 What I’m Reading This Week
📸 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for a Barnes & Noble Grand Opening
🏆 The Winners of our $1,000 Mid-Career Writing Scholarships!
✍🏼 Query Feedback Forum - Get Help on Your Query Letter
🤓 What I’m Reading This Week
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley - If you think senior citizens are all wholesome grandmas who spend their days baking cookies, you haven’t met this motley crew—a kleptomaniac, a Banksy-like knitter, a woman who wields her walker like a weapon, and another who uses a fake name because… no one knows why. This book was an enjoyable read for those days when you just want something low-key.
“Unapologetically Iris” - Speaking of amazing older women, fashion icon Iris Apfel’s personal collection is up for auction at Christie’s. This isn’t an article, but I enjoyed browsing through all the wildly creative clothing, jewelry, and even cocktail coupes she owned.
📸 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Barnes & Noble Grand Opening
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of being the guest of honor at the Grand Opening of a new Barnes & Noble in Brentwood in Northern California.
I got to cut the ribbon to officially open the store!
(and here’s a little video of the actual ribbon-cutting moment!)
Afterward, I signed books for three hours! It was really wonderful to meet more of my readers.
Thank you to Caitlyn and the whole Barnes & Noble team for the honor!
If you’d like an autographed copy, give BN Brentwood a call! They have some extras of my signed books in stock. Their phone number is 925-318-6530.
(note: For my fellow Californians who want to stop in to the actual store, this is Brentwood in the Bay Area, not the one in L.A.)
🏆 The Winners of our $1,000 Mid-Career Writing Scholarships
There were over a thousand applicants for our Mid-Career Writing Scholarships, and let me tell you, it was nearly impossible to choose our winners because everyone was so amazing!
However, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS are in order for our two winners, Khanh Mi Meadows and Katrina Donham, who will each receive $1,000 to use toward their writing education.
Khanh Mi and Katrina, your official scholarship award email will come from Bold.org (the scholarship administrator) with all the details you need to get your writing education underway. Congrats again, and we can’t wait to watch your writing blossom!
The most important part of your query letter is the pitch section. If you don’t know how to write this, check out my post from a couple weeks ago:
✍🏼 Query Feedback Forum
‘Tis the time of year when many writers start looking for literary agents. If that’s you but you want another set of eyes on your query letter, let’s help each other out!
Get Help on Your Query Letter (and give help in return)
In the Comments section below:
In ALL CAPS, state the genre of your book (e.g., FANTASY, CONTEMPORARY FICTION, YA)
State whether you’re looking for general feedback, or if you have specific questions.
Then paste only the pitch section of your query letter
(pitch section = story description, not the info about who you are, etc.)
Browse other queries and give your gentle feedback.
Remember: We are all about the spirit of generosity & kindness here!
Example:
FANTASY
I am looking for feedback on whether this is catchy enough or if it needs more detail:
Jor-Gan is an octopus king, and he loves the kingdom over which he rules. His kingdom is actually a sunken ship, but he doesn’t know that. One day, a scuba diving oceanographer swims into his life and declares his kingdom a “research site.” Something about Vasco de Gama’s last voyage. Jor-Gan has to choose between fighting for his octopus kingdom and falling in love with a human—who would destroy everything he holds dear.
(I just made that up, but it’s an example of the format for asking for feedback on your own query.)
I wonder if cutting a ribbon for a new Barnes and Noble gives the same rush as getting the news that I'm one of the two winners for the Creative. Inspired. Happy. Mid-Career Scholarship??? Maybe one day I'll find out. 😉 Thank you, Evelyn, for your generosity and kindness and for really seeing and cheering on the individuals who are trying to successfully pivot from one career to another! ❤️🙏🏼🥳
Congratulations to the winners! How to Agr Disgracefully is on my TBR!