Patricia Nelson
@patricianels
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, representing YA & MG fiction (all genres), women's fiction & romance. She/her.
70 MSWL
2 Queries
94 Tips
Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q11: The writing creates an eerie atmosphere that grabs me even though not much has happened in the plot yet. Request full. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q10: Plot is a very well-worn territory & the writing doesn't elevate it beyond the cliché. Also book opens w/ an info dump. Pass.#10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q9: Writing is ok, but then there’s a random misogynistic aside that ruins it for me. Or a graphic analogy for no reason. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q8: First chapter opens w/ a cliché. You have a very short amount of time to grab a reader’s interest. Don’t waste it. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q7: Prologue explains away the mystery of the 1st chapter. If the book had opened w/o it, I would’ve been really intrigued. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q6: About a topic I’m really interested in, the plot is clever, and the MC’s voice comes through loud and clear. Request full. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q5: Opening page spends a lot of time describing how the MC looks. I care more about who she is than how she looks. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q4: Book published in foreign country, looking for a publisher here. Author has a platform in home country, but none here. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q3: Love the topic. Writing is good, but it doesn’t amaze me enough to feel it can break into a crowded market. Reluctant pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q2: Over-narrates characters’ thoughts, so they feel convoluted & clunky. Don’t get a sense of the voice or characters. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

Q1: Query describes overall mission for writing the book, but doesn’t describe plot or even name the genre. Pass. #10queries

Annie Bomke
@ABLiterary
Literary Agent
Literary agent, pizza lover, dance fiend, park enthusiast, and that's just the beginning. There are no limits to what I can do. (She/her.)
151 MSWL
24 AskAgent
42 Queries
25 Tips

So I've compiled these #10queries over a period of time. These are not the queries I'm reading today.

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q10: Interesting premise but the book isn't finished. Too bad. Pass. #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q9: Another screenplay. Pass. #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q8: Unrequested synopsis and no query letter. Pass. #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q7: Interesting premise but not for me. Something just didn't click. :( #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q6: Query is right on the money, great platform, and the writer knows my buzzwords. Request! #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q5: Fun idea for a PB but plot not developed enough so will need to pass. #10queries

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Q4: Less of a query than a writer trying to feel out if their ideas would make a book. Pass. #10queries