Q8: Thriller, set inside a prison. Skeptical about originality - hope it doesn't become one guard who teams up with a badass con who is actually a good guy to take out the gang of inmates hell-bent on escaping and going on a murder spree - but will request and find out#tenqueries

Q7: Appealing to my Patriots fandom is always nice - a good way to show you've done some research and are querying me for a reason.

But in doing that research, you should also have learned that I'm beyond clueless when it comes to Picture Books. Pass.#tenqueries

Q6: Thriller. Prologue with girl getting chased through the woods by...something...then Ch. 1 is a detective fielding a phone call from a hysterical jogger who found a body. Sound familiar?

Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: Collection of essays. I've never had much luck selling essay collections. Pass. #tenqueries

Q4: This query represents what it hands down the most common reason I pass on a submission: it's good.

Writing is fine.

Nothing structurally wrong.

Not a bad concept.

Just didn't blow me away. #tenqueries

Q3: Doomed from the opening line! Used the wrong version of lose/loose AND breathe/breath in the same sentence. A pet peeve double whammy - and since it's the first line, doesn't speak well to attention to detail. #tenqueries

Q2: Proposal for 20K word NF about an obscure battle of WWI. Interesting, but would be a very tough sell, especially given how short it aims to be. Pass. #tenqueries

Q1. Horror, already published with small press, but rights can be reverted at any time and "I think there's a real market for it." With very few exceptions, once a book is published, it's extremely tough to get it re-published elsewhere. Pass. #tenqueries

Q10: MG fantasy. Hits a lot of my buttons. Sounds very funny/heartwrenching. Cool (never before seen) magic system, lots of adventure + friendship. And sports! Request! #tenqueries

Q9: Historical fiction. This covers a time period that's been done to death and doesn't have a new angle. Pass. #tenqueries

Q8: Chapter book. #ownvoices. I think it's a very important topic and this feels accessible to young readers. Request! #tenqueries

Q7: The letter is very vague (only 1 paragraph). No stakes, goals or motives defined. The topic is also not terribly exciting or fresh. Pass #tenqueries

Q6: YA urban fantasy featuring demons. Paranormal is hard for me and demons/devils are, for the most part a no-go. Pass. #tenqueries.

Q5: YA fantasy. Plot description feels as if I've been dropped in the middle of the story. I'm not grounded in the world. Pass. #tenqueries

Q4: Adult sci-fi. Imaginative, but far too complicated/confusing. Pass. #tenqueries

Q3: Adult sci-fi. This is not a new concept and the plot is really bloated. Pass. #tenqueries

Q2: YA fantasy. This is a close one as it sets up a cool world and a good quest, but I'm finding parts confusing. Pass. #tenqueries

Q1:YA fantasy. Good comps, but not enough plot info. What are the stakes? Pass. #tenqueries

It's a quiet, gloomy afternoon and the perfect time for a #tenqueries! I've now reviewed all queries through 10/1 with 29 marked for further review.

It’s time to go through my inbox and do a #tenqueries!

Queries 1 - 10: Pitching a book you’ve put your whole heart into is a brave act, and I’m proud of you.