After very much enjoying the writing sample submitted together with this query letter, we requested the entire manuscript to review and placed it in our work queue. When we followed up a few weeks later with a status update, we received this follow-up letter from the author:
Lily,
Thanks for the update. I’m glad you wrote because it gives me the opportunity to reply and pass on some information.
First of all, I really liked your book and think you did an amazing job of getting inside the head of a male and having the voice sound male. You also did a good job making the younger brother sympathetic even though many of his actions were not likable. That’s a hard thing to pull off and a risky thing to do because it can potentially alienate the reader, but not in your case. And finally, I liked the structure of the book which oddly enough is pretty much the same structure of [author’s novel]. That too is another risk because readers sometimes don’t like the jumpiness or get confused, but you succeeded for sure.
As for your read of [author’s novel], I hope you find it to be a match for Casperian. You should know that I am very open to suggestions or editorial changes and honestly believe that two minds are better than one. So, if after your read you like it but only if some things were revised in all likelihood I would be willing to change it.
As for a marketing plan, here are a few things I would like to do:
1. Relaunch my website and set up a profile on myspace and facebook.
2. Send a copy to all the people who reviewed my first book to try and get a second review.
3. I could send you somewhere between 50 and 100 copies of my first book which you could package with [novel] as some kind of special only at your website, like buy [novel] and get a copy of [first novel] free.
4. I know some authors and will definitely try and get a blurb from them. The first person I would ask is [very well-known author], unless you objected given his whole story, etc. After him I’ve got a list of other authors and I will ask my agent (who is not involved with [novel]) if he could help. He’s with [large agency] and they have an incredible roster of authors and he might be willing to do me a favor.
5. Use every connection I have at magazines to try and get some exposure.
6. I am definitely going to consult with a publicist/ pr person to see what if any options there could be for promotion.
7. Make sure all my friends and family buy multiple copies.
8. Take any suggestions from you about what else I can do.Okay, you sent me a short simple considerate email and I am blasting you with this. Sorry, but wanted to pass on the info. I hope you like the book and that your travel goes smoothly.
Take care,
[Author]