Alec Shane

Q5: MG fantasy involving a young prince and a version of a grail quest. Sounds cool...but I really don't do kingdoms, realms, dragons, or anything like that in the fantasy I represent. Pass. #tenqueries

Q4: This author listed all of the things I'm hoping to see in a query, then let me know his novel featured none of those things. It's fine if you don't check off every box - no need to highlight it, though. #tenqueries

Q3: Horror, Stranger Things as a comp title. Stranger Things is a good comp title - so good, in fact, that I see it in almost half the horror queries I get. Keep using it, but find some others as well. #tenqueries

Q2: Apparently I'm listed somewhere as an agent who represents romantic suspense. News to me. I don't mind if suspense has romance, but it's a major element of the novel, I'm not the best fit. #tenqueries

Q1: Historical fiction set in a time period that doesn't overly interest me - The French Revolution,. Pass. #tenqueries

Q7: MG sports mystery. Very familiar, too many cliches, lots of the usual tropes. Would be hard to break this one out. Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: NF about a NCAA coach. These books are tricky, with a relatively low ceiling. My kind of project, but a tough sell. Pass. #tenqueries

Q3: Memoir. I do very little memoir, and nothing about this one led me to believe there was a wide audience for it. Pass. #tenqueries

Q10: WWII bio of author's grandfather. I'm sure it's an amazing story...but that war is full of amazing stories like this one. #tenqueries

Q9: MG. Author tries to be funny, came off sounding a lot like a dad who embarrasses his daughter at a sleepover party. Pass. #tenqueries

Q8: Author's query letter was more or less a statement of her political beliefs and I have no idea what the book is about. Pass. #tenqueries

Q6: Mystery, and it's good...but nothing really stands out about it. I need to be sucked in right away, and I wasn't here. Pass #tenqueries

Q4: This novel is 148,000 words. That's about twice as long as a debut should be. Pass. #tenqueries

Q3: MG fantasy. In general, with a few exceptions, I'm not the biggest fan of kingdoms, realms, castles, and princes. Pass. #tenqueries

Q2; MG novel told in verse. These kinds of books are extremely tricky, and not quite in my wheelhouse. Pass. #tenqueries

Q1: After acknowledging my terrorist fatigue, author submitted a terrorist thriller, assuring me THIS one was different. Pass. #tenqueries

Q10: My name isn't Alan...but honestly, that's the least of this query's problems. Pass. #tenqueries

Q9:This sounds cool, and the writing is good, but it's 145K words. Even if I LOVE it, I have to figure out how to cut it in half #tenqueries

Q8: Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy, but I'm tired of reading openings about kids running to catch the departing schoolbus #tenqueries

Q7: First part, tons of action. Three asterisk page break, and I'm with a PI behind a desk watching him eat lunch. You lost me. #tenqueries