Query Letter

Still getting rejected, which is frustrating to say the least, but again, par for the course.

Here is the typical query letter that I emailed to agents, in early January 2013. Followed by the first query I sent in August 2012. They differ quite a bit!


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Dear [AGENT],



Hello. Hope you are doing well.



Stacey believes in magic and her parents don’t—until they find out she can fly. My 60,000-word Middle Grade novel FLYWINGS brings a childhood fantasy to working-class New England. An exciting 'what if' about a toy that really works.



Stacey is new in town and bullied at elementary school until her shipping-clerk dad brings home a lost parcel. The dress-up wings look normal, but as her dad naps, Stacey discovers they actually fly. She sneaks outside, perfects her flying skills, and soon, when she swoops down to save a boy from drowning, her magic feats go viral. Global media investigates the mystery, and dub Stacey the Arlington Angel. She shares her secret with her friend Wally and his grandfather, a botany genius whose mutant plants hold their own secret powers. And when Stacey’s dad eventually finds out, it’s the least of her worries. The powerful magician that lost his parcel is back and he wants more than just Flywings. Stacey’s dad is captured and only she can save him, as two families discover that magic is more trouble than it’s worth.



Beyond magic, the heart of FLYWINGS is the genuine reaction characters have to fantasy. Plot twists occur quickly, keeping everyone guessing, including the reader. FLYWINGS questions what kids believe, and why they lie. The book demonstrates the value of honesty, communication and family.



This story is so close to my heart. I recently wrote 75 parenting articles describing the relationship with my daughter. While pursuing freelance journalism, I worked nights as a shipping clerk, like the dad in the book. My daughter still attends the Catholic school described in the book, and so on. These are characters and settings I know and love.



As per [AGENT] submission instructions, I’ve included the first 3 pages of FLYWINGS. My completed manuscript awaits your request. Thank you and take care.



Best,



Ryan P. Standley


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Dear [Agent],



Stacey believed in magic and her parents didn’t. Until they found out she could fly.



My 57,300-word middle-grade novel FLYWINGS is ready for your consideration.



Stacey was new in town, caught lice, got bullied at school, and her only friend, Wally, wouldn’t speak to her since her dad, Tim, busted his hideout under a neighbor’s porch. Tim worked nights as a shipping clerk and took daily afterschool naps, while Stacey watched TV and played dress-up. The only perk of Tim’s lousy job? Sometimes a package went unclaimed, and Tim kept anything useful. So he brought home a pair of costume wings for Stacey and went to sleep.



Stacey opened the cellophane bag and the wings fluttered to the ceiling. She coaxed them down, strapped them on, snuck out of the house and shot into the New England sky. While Tim slept, Stacey chased birds, saved the bully, Greg, from drowning, and stopped a burglary. Soon the global media invaded town to cover the story. Was it an angel, an alien, a superhero? Stacey couldn’t keep her secret long.



Wally saw her fly. He invited her to his attic, where his grandpa, Ozzie, kept a jungle of exotic mutant plants. Greg recognized her too. So he tricked her into coming to his house, attacked her, stole the wings and jumped out the window. But Flywings only flew for Stacey.



Flywing’s powers bowed to Stacey. Even damaged, the strong wings carried Stacey, Tim, and baby brother, Emmett, over a lake in a blizzard to the hospital.



No sooner had Tim discovered Stacey’s powers, than he received a phone call at work. The magician, Antonio, wanted his wings. Tim returned the wings but Antonio was also after something else.



Only Stacey could save her dad. But were her efforts too extreme? She hadn’t realized that the fate of the Earth rested in Antonio’s hands.



Below my signature are the first 10 pages of FLYWINGS. I’d be thrilled to send the whole thing, just let me know. Thank you for your time.



Best,

Ryan P. Standley