Ann Rose

I keep my DM's open for query issues and am happy to check if they have come through on my side. I know our site is funky. I'm sorry.
Unfortunately, Prospect's policy is we only reply if we want to see more, which is crappy I know, but since the site is so clunky...

It would be really hard to say without seeing it or knowing more specifics. That is a good internal obstacle, but are there any external ones as well?

There is a group that is putting a list together of agents who are open to making accommodations for authors who need them. Is there something particular that you can share as a challenge? I know for myself we have a submission portal which isn't the friendliest...

If it's anything like Wattpad than it's basically published. I would caution posting complete work for public consumption if you are wanting to try to sell it.

YA contemporary I'm assuming? That isn't that far off 60K which is the low side of that age group/genre so I think you would be fine. I'm always more wary of things over than under.

1) Have you already signed the contract? If not, than yes it's possible to query with an "offer of publication." If the contract is already signed then it's best to query the next thing, and that does not mean book two of the series. I'm not sure I understand question 1a...

It may mean something in those opening pages just aren't clicking. I would reevaluate them. Are you starting in the right place? This is a common error I find. Have you had other writers look at your work? Critique partners are the best!

You can say it was inspired by, I don't see that as a problem. As long as you didn't copy it, which I feel confident you did not, I don't see any issues at all.

I give my authors my main focus at all times. I average 40 hours a month on queries which is broken up over the month. I look at all of my own queries. I do not have an assistant. I also read all requested materials on my own.

I personally sign authors the people and if they have a pen name great, but to me these aren't two separate things. How other agents do their business I can't say.

No. Unfortunately, that isn't how it works.

I don't think agents say things they don't mean. So I would take it at face value. They liked it but it wasn't a good fit which could mean they have something similar already. Keep moving forward!

Nope age and location don't matter--unless it shows you know about the location the book is set then it could help. Just tell us what you want us to know about you. I love getting a little of the author's personality in the bio.

You shouldn't share anything you aren't comfortable in sharing, and no one should make you. If you want to say what you just said here that would be fine (again only if you want)... there are pieces of me and my experiences in this story... and then you don't have to pinpoint

So book three comes first? Not sure I understand, but if the books stand alone then you should be okay. I would hesitate to finish all the books in that world in case it doesn't sell though. Spreading out your eggs instead of having them all in one basket isn't always a bad thing

Just say how they are a comp. For example, the family dynamics of X Title, is a way to explain how the book you've chosen makes it a great comp. Make sense?

If that is something you want to share. But it's not required for any author to self disclose anything they aren't comfortable sharing.

It doesn't make a difference to me.

I don't see many editors actively seeking this right now, which is why agents might not be open to it. That doesn't mean if it is done well it won't find it's home though, so don't be discouraged.

I don't think you need to be that specific