Query Requirements
Query by email to query@secretagentman.net -- with sample chapters sent as an attachment, or pasted into the body of the email.
When querying by email make sure the word "Query" is somewhere in the subject line.
If it isn't, it may (and probably will) go into the spam folder, and we'll miss it.
Query by USPS (snail) mail to:
Secret Agent Man
P.O. Box 1078
Lake Forest CA 92609-1078
(Please include email address and/or SASE for a reply.)
Include sample chapters and synopsis and/or outline.
To be honest, it's nearly impossible to judge your work based a query letter or synopsis alone. We'd prefer to see the "real thing" rather than a description of it.
Oh, and send the first 3-to-5 chapters, not non-sequential chapters (like 6, 17 and 34).
Don't expect a quick reply. We may be able to get back to you in a couple of days, or six weeks. Please be patient, though you're welcome to send a little "reminder" if you wish.
And please, no phone calls pitching a manuscript. You have our permission to submit.
(Everything sounds good on the phone, but the actual writing tells the real story.)
Genres
We focus on the following:
- Mystery (detective, procedural, hard-boiled, noir, amateur, humorous).
- Suspense/Thriller (espionage, action, light paranormal).
- Westerns (modern or classic).
- Christian fiction.
Note:
- Not really interested vampire, sci-fi or horror.
- Animal detectives or cooking fiction is not our cup of tea.
- Also not interested in cold war or political thrillers.
- Non-fiction is rarely considered, though there are exceptions (it's hard to be specific -- we'll know it when we see it).
- Christian non-fiction should be based on Biblical theology, not speculative.
Query Tips
- Do be professional and to the point. Rambling or jokey queries don't work well.
- Don't use the term "Fiction Novel". A novel is fiction. Using this term says you're not ready, and you'll probably be declined without us bothering to read any further. (Sorry, but it's the truth.)
- Do tell us a little about yourself in your query, even if it's not writing related. (But just a little -- a biography is too much.)
- Don't use terms like "this is an exciting novel", or "I've written a suspenseful thriller" -- that's for others to decide. (I'd also suggest that a thriller is supposed to be suspenseful, so also please try not to be redundant.)
- Do make sure your novel is absolutely ready. Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors equals a decline.
There are some writers who believe that an agent or a publishing editor will "fix things up." This is not true.
- Don't use loaded adjectives to describe your work ("fascinating", "gripping", "exciting", etc.)
- Don't use blurbs from readers or include reviews unless it's from the New York Times or Publishers Weekly.
- Do address your submission to one of us personally (Scott Mortenson or Aaron Montaine). "Dear Agent" or "To Whom It May Concern" is a wee bit impersonal.
- Multiple or mass submissions are fine with us. We kind of expect that.
For more insights, visit the Secret Agent Man blog at http://seagman.vox.com or follow us on Twitter @Seagman or Google Buzz.
About Rejections
There are three basic reasons we may decline to represent a particular work:
1. It's not ready. Either there are too many mistakes, or the writing is not mature enough (in our humble opinion) to be published yet.
2. The writing may be just fine, but we're not exactly excited by the work. It's a taste thing -- some people like broccoli, some don't. It's really tough to make this call because we know how personal (and confusing) it can be.
3. The writing may be fine, and we can see it may be marketable -- but we don't have a clue of where to place it. This usually happens when we receive a manuscript that falls outside our list of preferred categories -- like a book on architecture, or a children's book. (See above.)
If you would like to find out why we passed, drop us an email and ask. But be aware, we'll tell the truth.