Annie Bomke

Q10: In my #MSWL request I asked for literary/psychological horror, instead the author sends me slasher horror. Pass #10queries

Q9: There’s nothing wrong w/ the writing, but there are no surprising images or ideas. Don’t get a sense of the characters. Pass. #10queries

Q8: Opens w/ super famous line from another book almost verbatim. Also switches between present & past tense mid-sentence. Pass. #10queries

Q7: 3rd time author has queried me on the same book. Past 2 times she told me she had an offer soon after sending. Pass. #10queries

Q6: Five paragraphs describe the setting before any characters appear. I care more about the people than the place. Pass. #10queries

Q5: Concept of the book promotes stereotypes that are already too pervasive. And it’s below a publishable word count. Pass. #10queries

Q4: Mystery w/ clever writing. The protagonist’s voice is unique and memorable. The stakes are in the 1st chap. Request full. #10queries

Q3: Uses character’s fuzziness upon waking up to info dump where the character is and why. Pass. #10queries

Q2: Male author writing about an emotionally disturbed and/or sexually abused woman in a sexy way. Hard pass. #10queries

Q1: Protagonist’s voice is nuanced & feels realistic. Her goal (the central conflict) is clear in the 1st chap. Request full. #10queries

Q10: Book introduces the conflict on the 1st page and the voice is solid. I’m worried for character immediately. Request full. #10queries

Q9: Author says her book features 10 of my #MSWL requests when the book has nothing to do with any of them. Pass. #10queries

Q8: Instead of launching into the plot, author mansplains the topic of my college minor. Pass. #10queries

Q7: Query is a super long subject line describing the book & a photo of the author. Not sure what to do w/ this. Pass. #10queries

Q6: Opens w/ dialogue w/o any grounding in the characters or setting. I can’t care about a character if I don’t know him. Pass. #10queries

Q5: This is the 3rd time I’ve received this query in the past 3 yrs. Each time it’s w/ a new title, but it’s the same book. Pass. #10queries

Q4: Under platform, the author cites the total number of people on LinkedIn, not the number of connections she has. Pass. #10queries

Q3: I really want to like this one, cuz I love the setting & concept, but the writing is info dumpy & stilted. Pass. #10queries

Q2: A lulling sadness and yearning in the voice pulls me in even though I’m not sure what the story’s about. Request full. #10queries

Q1: Tries to evoke a sense of place w/o any vivid, visceral details, so I can’t picture it. Pass. #10queries