Category: Writer

“Sunday in New York”, a romantic adventure that’s not a walk in the park!

“Sunday in New York” is ultimately a story about trust, and what happens when a marriage is stretched to its limits.

When Harry Steele attends a lunch with his manager, Barclay, to discuss a promotion that any junior executive would accept in a heartbeat, it is the fact his wife, Alison, who previously professed her reservations about Barclay, also agreed to attend, that casts a small element of doubt in his mind.

From that moment, his life, in the company, in deciding what to do, his marriage, his very life, spirals out of control.

There is no one big factor that can prove Harry’s worst fears, that his marriage is over, just a number of small, interconnecting events, when piled on top of each other, points to a cataclysmic end to everything he had believed in.

Trust is lost firstly in his best friend and mentor, Andy, who only hints of impending disaster, Sasha, a woman whom he saved, and who appears to have motives of her own, and then in his wife, Alison, as he discovered piece by piece damning evidence she is about to leave him for another man.

Can we trust what we see with our eyes or trust what we hear?

Haven’t we all jumped to conclusions at least once in our lives?

Can Alison, a woman whose self-belief and confidence is about to be put to the ultimate test, find a way of proving their relationship is as strong as it has ever been?

As they say in the classics, read on!

Purchase:

http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-SundayInNewYork

In a word: Bar

There’s more than one way … er, perhaps it’s better to say, there are many ways to use the word bar, which is not bad for a three-letter word.

Bar, the one you associate with drinks, in hotels, restaurants and we’ll, just bars.

Probably the best type of bar you might find me in is a Sports Bar, where you can snack on buffalo wings a tall glass of beer and watch with ice hockey in winter or baseball in summer.

It’s one I use from time to time when asked, what will we do, and the reply is often let’s go to a bar.  The best bars are underground, dark and dingy, full of eclectic people, with a band playing almost passable music or better still jazz

Bar, as in the legal variety

There are so many legal references to using bar, that the one that I am most familiar with is being admitted to the bar which means that you can now practice law.

Raising the bar, if that’s possible, where the bar is that imaginary level which offers sinks very low.  When someone says they’re going to try and raise the bar, you may be assured there will be a long battle ahead, simply because people generally find it hard to change.

Bar, as in we are not going to let you in here.  Yes, this is the irksome one where you find yourself, often for reasons unknown, barred from somewhere or something.  This may also be referred to by saying everyone may enter bar you.  

Bar, as in an iron bar, the sort that is sometimes used as a blunt force object by villains to remind the victim they owe any one of a loan shark, bookie or the mafia.  God help you if it is all three.

There are also iron bars of a different sort, those that are set in concrete outside a window most likely in a prison where the objective is to prevent escape.

It gives rise to an old expression, that person should be behind bars.

Then there is just a bar, such as a bar of gold, which I’m sure we’d all like to have stashed away, but not necessarily in the mattress, or the more common variety, a chocolate bar, which I have one now.  What’s your favorite?

And just to add to the list of meanings you can always refer to sashes or stripes as bars.

Confused?  Well, there’s still music, and the bane of yachtsmen, sand bars but I think we’ll leave it there.

Welcome to the English language

“Echoes From The Past”, the past doesn’t necessarily stay there


What happens when your past finally catches up with you?

…

Christmas is just around the corner, a time to be with family. For Will Mason, an orphan since he was fourteen, it is a time for reflection on what his life could have been, and what it could be.

Until a chance encounter brings back to life the reasons for his twenty years of self-imposed exile from a life only normal people could have. From that moment, Will’s life slowly starts to unravel, and it’s obvious to him that it’s time to move on.

This time, however, there is more at stake.

Will has broken his number one rule: don’t get involved.

With his nemesis, Eddie Jamieson, suddenly within reach, and a blossoming relationship with an office colleague, Maria, about to change everything, Will has to make a choice. Quietly leave, or finally, make a stand.

But as Will soon discovers, when other people are involved there is going to be terrible consequences no matter what choice he makes.

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newechocover5rs

The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to write a war story – Episode 52

For a story that was conceived during those long boring hours flying in a steel cocoon, striving to keep away the thoughts that the plane and everyone in it could just simply disappear as planes have in the past, it has come a long way.

Whilst I have always had a fascination with what happened during the Second world war, not the battles or fighting, but in the more obscure events that took place, I decided to pen my own little sidebar to what was a long and bitter war.

And, so, it continues…

…

Carlo had returned, as promised, just over an hour later, and over the map, he showed where the explosives had been placed, under the tank, and where the men were camped.

They were set to go off in the early morning, giving them several hours before they had to assemble for the assault.  According to Carlo, the explosives would neutralise the tank and immobilise about 30 of the enemy.

That was only one problem.

The other was the men that the new commandant had sent out of the castle to presumably hunt down Atherton and whatever resistance was left.  They were noisy and failed to see Carlo following them, listening to their conversation.

It was obvious they were not trained for stealth.

The first mission was to take those men out of the equation.

Then there was a third problem, the last of the resistance in the castle, those left behind by Fernando, had taken all the prisoners out of the castle and executed them.

Carlo had then killed those men and left them with the bodies of the murdered defectors, and, unlike his German counterparts, he had undertaken it swiftly and silently.

Our force of eight moved quietly in the direction Carlo last saw the soldiers heading, he assumed towards the underground wine cellar where Martina had taken me after I had been captured.

We managed to hide Chiara in a spot where the enemy if they came to the church, would not find her.  The plan was to find them before they got to or left the cellar.

Of course, like any plan, it could always be guaranteed to go wrong.

The last time I went from the cellar to the church, it had been by an old truck, and by my estimation, it would take us about half an hour by foot.  It might, by the time we got there, and found them missing, make us late for the main event.

I looked at my watch about a dozen times on that trek, fretting about time which for some odd reason seemed to be passing faster than usual.

Then, Carlo was waving his hands, a signal I assumed was to tell us to stop.  We were not far from the cellar.  I recognised the landmark used to find it.  We formed up in a line just inside the thicket line, a bunch of overgrown bushes providing excellent cover.

Beyond that, we could see intermittent flashes of light from torches.  The soldiers were making no attempt to hide their presence.

Blinky was beside me.  “What the hell are they playing at?”

“Perhaps they thought if they made a bold attack we’d wilt under the surprise.”

“Or just shoot them.  Why are we waiting?”

“Carlo is ascertaining their position.”

“You trust this Carlo.  He could be leading us into a trap up at the castle.”

I was surprised he’d taken this long to express his reservations.  “Don’t be surprised if he kills everyone in the German squad himself.  His home was in that castle.  It was his life.  They killed his friends.  He is not forgiving.”

Jack chose that moment to return from wherever he’d gone soon after we reached the thicket.  He had come with me from the church, and I wondered if he knew just how dangerous it could be.  He flopped down beside me, waiting.

“What’s with the dog?”

“We found each other at an ambush.  Been with me ever since.  I have no idea if he’s German, or Italian, or if he understands English.  But there’s no questioning his loyalty, he helped me take down Jackerby.

“Well, just as long as I don’t trip over him in the fray of battle.”

We watched the German soldiers who remained on sentry duty when I thought the entrance to the cellar was, and I assumed the others were down in the cellar.

It was what Carlo said was the case when he returned.

Ten in the cellar, two on guard, though I would not call what they were doing sentry duty.  They were smoking and talking, guns leaning up against a tree.

Easy shots for our sniper who at this moment had both in his sights.

Carlo kneeled beside me and said, “Cover your ears, pass it on.”

I did, and thirty seconds later there was a huge explosion followed by a storm of soil particles falling on his.  The sniper, in the instance following the boom, shot the two sentries.

German forces were eliminated.

The only issue was the castle was now alerted to our presence, so our arrival at the castle was going to be a little more difficult.

…

© Charles Heath 2021-2023

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 16

I thought since it is Winter here, we could do with a breath of fresh air and colour that comes with the change if season

Living in Queensland, Winter never quite seems to be as cold as it is in the southern states, which are closer to Antarctica.

We have had a relatively mild winter this year and I didn’t have to light the fire once, though we did use the reverse cycle sir conditioning.

But, from now the temperature will be rising as well as the humidity and will hang around until April next year.

Normally this would mean that a large proportion of the population would be planning their summer holidays, but with Covid restrictions, we may not be allowed to leave our state, or only visit states that have no or few cases like us, and definitely no overseas travel.

For people who like to travel, this is a bitter pill to swallow, and especially so for all those retirees who have worked all their lives, and decided to wait until retirement to see their own country and the world at large.

To me, the adage ‘don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today’ seemed appropriate and we decided once the kids were old enough, we would travel far and wide while we could.  It was a wise decision because neither of us are as agile as we used to be.

Seems we were the lucky ones.

Now we are content to see our own country which no doubt will be able to manage Covid to the extent that life might return to a form if normal sooner rather that later.

And if it doesn’t, then I have enough to amuse myself at home. I’m sure we are all familiar with the expression ‘spring cleaning’. We have decided to clean house, and do some renovating.

And it’s a surprise when cleaning out those cupboards, drawers, and boxes, the stuff you’ve accumulated over many, many years. Last I heard, we were taking about getting a large skip, so I suspect this culling is going to be savage.

But, just to be clear, no books will be thrown out!

The cinema of my dreams – Was it just another surveillance job – Episode 35

I’m back home and this story has been sitting on a back burner for a few months, waiting for some more to be written.

The trouble is, there are also other stories to write, and I’m not very good at prioritizing.

But, here we are, a few minutes opened up and it didn’t take long to get back into the groove.

Chasing leads, maybe

 

She gave me a minute to think about the situation, and then said what I was thinking, “So he could be anywhere?”

“He was dead.  I felt for a pulse.  There wasn’t one.”

I could interpret that expression on her face, ‘you’re not a doctor’.

She turned another page, read a few lines, then made a note at the bottom.

It read, if my deciphering was up to scratch, ‘doesn’t know if subject dead or not’.

She looked up again.  “It appears these documents are out there,” she waved her hand in the air, “somewhere.  Fortunately, they have not turned up, not has someone tried to sell them back or to the newspapers, so we’re lucky.  So far.  That isn’t going to last for much longer.  Every extra day out there is another chance for the government to be embarrassed.”

“You know what the contents are?”

“Don’t be silly.  That’s above my pay grade, and besides, you and I are better off not knowing.  So, what you need to do is find O’Connell and/or find the documents on this USB drive.”

She slid a card across the table.  It had a name and a telephone number.  Monica Sherive.  A mobile number, a burner no doubt that couldn’t be traced back to her.

“You find either, you tell me first.”

“Nobbin?”

“Second, and when I tell you.”

“So you don’t trust him either?”

“At the moment, for both you and I have to be careful who we trust.”

I added her to the list of people I couldn’t trust, not that she had told me I could trust her.  Yet.

“And if I get contacted by Severin again?”

“Have you?”

I had thought about not telling her about that brief meeting where he told me about the USB drive, but it couldn’t do any harm.  At least she hadn’t asked me if I knew about the USB, which was something, I suppose.

“Yes.  Once.  Told me to keep my head down.  And asked me if O’Connell had time to talk to me.  It was the same answer I gave him back in the alley.  No.  I’d just managed to corner him when he was shot.”

“By Severin, or this other fellow,” she shuffled back several pages, then said, “Maury?”

“No.  That was what was odd about it.  The shot came from somewhere else.  A sniper I would have thought.”

And, my brain suddenly moving into overdrive, piecing together what might be a coincidence, but in our business, they were rarely coincidences.  A sniper shot him., say Nobbin or one of his people, he looks dead, waits for a call to the cleaners, intercepts it, and collects the so-called dead O’Connell.  It was a good conspiracy theory.

And as far-fetched as one.

Severin had to have the body somewhere, trying to figure out how to bring O’Connell back to life so he could torture the USB location out of him.

Hell, that was as twisted as the conspiracy theory.

Time to change the subject.  “Do you have any idea who Severin and Maury are?”

She went to the back of the file and pulled out some photographs, mug shots perhaps of staff members.  She put five faces in front of me and asked me if the two were there.

They were.  The first, with the name of David Westcott, and the fourth with the name of Bernie Salvin.

“Who are they?”

“They used to work in the training department for ten or so years ago.  Westcott was also a handler for several years.  They both requested a transfer to operations, and we give a mission.  Six agents were assigned, and all six were killed, an investigation after the fact found that their identities had been leaked to the enemy before they reached the target.”

“They gave them up?”

“Nobody knows for sure.  There were others in that group, but in the end, the department retired them all.  All their years in training served them well.  We found the place where you were trained.”

Another photograph of the main building.  I nodded.

“It was an old training facility closed down five years ago.  It was just sitting there waiting for an enterprising crew.  It won’t happen again.  Needless to say, we haven’t been able to find either of them, only the people they employed, who believed it was in good faith.  A mess in other words.  Now, go.  Find me answers.”

She stood.  The meeting was over.

© Charles Heath 2020

365 Days of writing, 2026 – 29

Day 29 – Synopsis Tools

…

Crafting the Perfect Synopsis: Tools to Help You Succeed

As a writer, you’re likely no stranger to the daunting task of condensing your entire manuscript into a concise, compelling synopsis. A well-written synopsis is essential for capturing the attention of literary agents, publishers, and readers alike, but it can be a challenging and time-consuming process. Fortunately, there are several tools available to help you create the perfect synopsis.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the most effective tools and techniques for crafting a synopsis that showcases your work in the best possible light.

1. Synopsis Templates

One of the most useful tools for creating a synopsis is a template. A template provides a structured framework for organising your thoughts and ensuring that you include all the essential elements of a synopsis. You can find a variety of synopsis templates online, or create your own using a word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Some popular synopsis templates include:

  • The Snowflake Method: This template involves breaking down your story into smaller and smaller pieces, starting with a one-sentence summary and gradually expanding to a full synopsis.
  • The Three-Act Structure: This template is based on the traditional three-act structure of a story, with a setup, confrontation, and resolution.
  • The Hero’s Journey: This template is based on the classic hero’s journey narrative pattern, with stages like the call to adventure, the road of trials, and the return with the elixir.

2. Writing Software

There are many writing software programs available that can help you create a synopsis, including:

  • Scrivener: This popular writing program includes a synopsis feature that allows you to create an outline of your story and organise your thoughts.
  • Novelise: This writing software includes a built-in synopsis tool that helps you create a concise and compelling summary of your story.
  • Writing.com: This online writing community offers a variety of tools and resources for creating a synopsis, including templates, prompts, and writing exercises.

3. Online Synopsis Generators

If you’re struggling to come up with a synopsis on your own, you can try using an online synopsis generator. These tools use artificial intelligence to analyse your story and create a synopsis based on the characters, plot, and themes.

Some popular online synopsis generators include:

  • AutoCrit: This writing tool uses AI to analyse your manuscript and create a synopsis, as well as provide feedback on character development, pacing, and other elements of your story.
  • ProWritingAid: This writing software includes a synopsis generator that helps you create a concise and compelling summary of your story.
  • Synopsis Generator: This online tool uses a simple questionnaire to gather information about your story and create a synopsis.

4. Writing Guides and Resources

In addition to templates, software, and online generators, there are many writing guides and resources available that can help you create a synopsis. Some popular options include:

  • The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters: This book provides comprehensive guidance on writing a query letter, including tips and examples for crafting a compelling synopsis.
  • The Synopsis Workshop: This online course offers in-depth instruction on writing a synopsis, including video lessons, writing exercises, and feedback from industry professionals.
  • Writing Excuses: This popular writing podcast often features episodes on writing a synopsis, with tips and advice from experienced authors and industry professionals.

Conclusion

Crafting the perfect synopsis is a challenging task, but with the right tools and techniques, you can create a compelling and effective summary of your story. Whether you prefer to use a template, writing software, online generator, or writing guide, there are many resources available to help you succeed. Remember to keep your synopsis concise, focused, and engaging, and don’t be afraid to seek feedback and revise your work until you’re satisfied with the result. With practice and patience, you can create a synopsis that showcases your work in the best possible light and helps you achieve your writing goals.

If I only had one day to stop over in – Monte Carlo – what would I do?

The One Place You Must Visit in Monte Carlo to Make Your Stopover Unforgettable

Ever found yourself with just 24 hours in Monte Carlo, wondering how to make the most of it? Perhaps you’re on a European adventure, a business trip, or simply passing through—either way, a one-day stopover in this glamorous Mediterranean gem is a gift. And while it’s tempting to try and cram in as much as possible—the glitzy casinos, the yacht-lined harbour, the chic boutiques—there’s one experience that stands above the rest, capturing the very soul of this principality in a single, breathtaking moment.

If you’re looking for that one place to visit that will make your day truly memorable, look no further than Le Rocher de Monaco, or as it’s more commonly known, The Rock of Monaco.

Why The Rock of Monaco?

Monte Carlo is often synonymous with luxury—fast cars, high-stakes gambling, and opulent lifestyles. But to truly understand the heart and history of this tiny sovereign state, you need to go to its ancient core. The Rock is Monaco’s historic old town, perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Here, centuries of history blend seamlessly with stunning views, charming streets, and an authentic sense of place that you won’t find in the more tourist-heavy areas below.

How to Spend Your Day on The Rock

Start your morning by taking a short walk or bus ride up to this elevated enclave. As you ascend, the modern bustle of Monte Carlo fades away, replaced by narrow cobblestone lanes, pastel-colored buildings, and the scent of salt air mixed with blooming flowers.

Your first stop should be the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. This isn’t just a museum—it’s the official residence of the Grimaldi family, who have ruled Monaco for over 700 years. If you time your visit right (between April and October), you can even tour the State Apartments, adorned with frescoes, antique furniture, and historical artifacts that tell the story of Monaco’s royal legacy. And don’t miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 11:55 AM—a brief but captivating display of tradition.

Next, wander through the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, a beautiful Romanesque-Byzantine masterpiece where Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III and where both are now laid to rest. The serene atmosphere and stunning altar make it a peaceful retreat from the outside world.

But the true magic of The Rock lies in its hidden corners. Lose yourself in the Jardin de la Petite Afrique, a small but lush garden with exotic plants and panoramic views of the sea. Pop into a local café for a quick espresso or a glass of Provençal rosé, and savour a simple lunch at a family-run restaurant offering socca (a chickpea pancake) or barbagiuan (a traditional stuffed pastry).

As the afternoon sun begins to soften, make your way to the Fort Antoine Theatre, an open-air venue built into the old fortress walls, or simply find a quiet bench along the ramparts. From here, you’ll witness one of the most spectacular vistas in the Mediterranean—the entire Monaco coastline, the sparkling harbour filled with yachts, and the endless blue of the sea stretching toward the horizon.

Why This Makes Your Stopover Memorable

In a place often defined by extravagance, The Rock of Monaco offers something deeper: a connection to history, culture, and timeless beauty. It’s a reminder that Monaco isn’t just about what money can buy—it’s about legacy, resilience, and the simple joy of a stunning view shared over centuries.

By choosing to spend your day here, you’ll leave with more than just photos. You’ll carry with you the feeling of having touched the soul of Monaco, if only for a moment. And isn’t that what the most memorable travel experiences are all about?

So, on your next stopover in Monte Carlo, resist the urge to see it all. Instead, go to The Rock. Let its history inspire you, its views awe you, and its charm remind you that sometimes, the best way to experience a place is to slow down and savour its heart.

Happy travels!

What I learned about writing – Query Letters

What Makes a Query Letter Successful?

Your ticket to the publishing world, distilled into a single page.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank document wondering how to convince a literary agent—or a magazine editor—that your manuscript is worth their time, you’re not alone. The query letter is the publishing industry’s version of an elevator pitch: a concise, compelling snapshot of your work that must grab attention, convey professionalism, and leave the reader wanting more.

In this post, we’ll break down exactly what goes into a successful query letter, why each piece matters, and how you can craft a letter that feels both polished and uniquely yours. Grab a notebook (or a digital equivalent) and let’s turn that one‑page ask into a powerful first impression.

1. Know the Goal: What a Query Letter Actually Does

PurposeWhat the Agent/Editor NeedsHow You Deliver It
HookA reason to keep readingA tantalizing opening line or logline
SnapshotA clear idea of your story/essayA tight, 150‑word synopsis
CredibilityConfidence in your ability to finish/marketBrief author bio & publishing credentials
FitEvidence that you belong on their listTailored market comparison and personalized greeting
Call‑to‑ActionA polite request for the next stepClear, courteous closing

If any of those columns are missing, the letter falls flat. A successful query hits all five without feeling like a checklist.

2. The Anatomy of a Winning Query Letter

Below is the typical order of a query for a fiction manuscript (non‑fiction, memoir, or article queries follow a similar skeleton with a few tweaks).

SectionApprox. LengthWhat to Include
Header1–2 linesYour name, address, phone, email (top‑right) – optional but professional.
Date & Agent Info1 lineDate on the left, then agent’s name, agency, and address.
Greeting1 line“Dear [Agent First Name],” – never “To Whom It May Concern.”
Hook/Logline1 sentence (15–25 words)The big idea—genre, protagonist, conflict, stakes. Think of it as a movie trailer tagline.
Synopsis1–2 paragraphs (150–250 words total)Briefly outline the inciting incident, major plot points, and ending. No sub‑plots, no analysis—just the story’s arc.
Manuscript Details1 lineWord count, genre, and any relevant comparables (e.g., “The Nightingale meets All the Light We Cannot See”).
Author Bio1–2 sentencesRelevant writing credits, platform, or life experience that informs the story. Keep it relevant; a teaching degree is fine, a love of cats is not—unless it ties directly to the manuscript.
Closing1–2 linesThank them for their time, express willingness to send sample chapters or the full manuscript, and sign off with “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”
Signature1 lineTyped name (hand‑signed if sending hard copy).

Pro tip: Keep the entire letter no longer than 350–400 words. Agents read hundreds each week; brevity is a virtue.

3. Crafting Each Piece: Tips & Tricks

a. The Hook (Your Elevator Pitch)

  • Lead with the protagonist, not the setting. “A teenage prodigy discovers a hidden library that can rewrite history” beats “In a dystopian London…”
  • Show the conflict & stakes. “She must choose between saving her brother or exposing a government conspiracy that could end the world.”
  • Genre‑specific language matters. Romance agents love “enemies-to-lovers,” thriller agents crave “a ticking‑clock race against the NSA.”

b. The Synopsis (The Story in Miniature)

  • Write it as if the story is already sold. Use present tense and active verbs.
  • Include the ending (agents want to know you can finish).
  • Avoid adjectives that feel like fluff (“beautiful,” “heart‑warming”). Let the plot do the heavy lifting.

c. The Author Bio (Your Professional Brand)

  • One line for credentials: “Author of the short‑story collection Echoes (Prairie Press, 2022).”
  • One line for relevance: “Former forensic accountant, which informed the financial intrigue in The Ledger.”
  • If you have a platform, mention it briefly: “Blog with 15k weekly subscribers on true‑crime storytelling.”

d. The Comparables (The Market Fit)

  • Pick 2–3 recent, well‑known titles in the same genre.
  • Explain why they’re comparable in one clause: “The Goldfinch meets The Girl on the Train in its blend of literary depth and suspense.”
  • Avoid over‑reaching (don’t claim your debut is the next Harry Potter unless you have a massive, proven platform).

e. The Closing (Polite & Proactive)

  • Stay humble: “Thank you for considering my manuscript.”
  • Offer what they need next: “I would be delighted to send the first three chapters or the full manuscript at your request.”

4. Formatting Essentials (Make It Easy to Scan)

ElementRecommended Style
FontTimes New Roman or Garamond, 12‑pt
Margins1″ on all sides
Line SpacingSingle‑spaced within paragraphs, double‑spaced between paragraphs
LengthOne page (max 400 words)
File TypePDF (unless agency specifies otherwise)
Subject Line (email queries)“Query: Title – [Genre] – [Word Count]”

A clean layout tells the agent you respect their time and know basic business etiquette.

5. Common Pitfalls (And How to Dodge Them)

MistakeWhy It HurtsFix
Writing a “cover letter” (long, formal, no hook)Agents think you haven’t read the guidelines.Follow the query template exactly; keep it concise.
Over‑describing the settingDrowns out the plot/conflict.Limit setting details to what’s essential to the conflict.
Using jargon or insider slangConfuses or alienates the reader.Write for a non‑specialist; keep language clear.
Leaving out word count/genreAgent can’t file it correctly.Always include word count and genre line.
Being overly casual (“Hey there!”)Unprofessional tone.Use a proper salutation and closing.
Spelling/grammar errorsSignals carelessness.Proofread, then have a beta reader or editor glance over it.
Copy‑pasting a generic bioShows lack of research.Personalize each query to the agent’s interests.

6. A Real‑World Example (Fiction)

[Your Name]
123 Maple Lane • Anytown, NY 12345 • (555) 123‑4567 • you@email.com

February 10, 2026

Ms. Jenna Patel
Literary Edge Agency
200 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036

Dear Ms. Patel,

When a disgraced climate scientist discovers a hidden Arctic research base that can reverse global warming, she must decide whether to expose the secret—risking her freedom—or let the world burn.

In The Ice Below, 92,000‑word climate‑thriller, Dr. Maya Ortiz is framed for falsifying data and forced into exile. While living among a nomadic Inuit community, she uncovers a clandestine government project capable of seeding clouds to cool the planet. As corporate mercenaries close in, Maya must rally the community and a skeptical journalist to broadcast the truth before the project’s creators weaponize the technology. The story ends with a global broadcast that forces world leaders to confront the ethical limits of climate engineering.

The Ice Below will appeal to fans of The Water Will Come and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo—combining hard‑science climate stakes with a relentless, female‑driven thriller.

I am a former climate policy analyst who spent five years on the Arctic research program that inspired the novel. My short story “Thaw” appeared in Clarkesworld (2023) and was selected for the Pushcart Prize anthology. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

Thank you for your consideration. I would be delighted to send the first three chapters or the full manuscript at your request.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Notice the tight hook, clear synopsis, market comparables, relevant credentials, and professional formatting—all fitting on a single page.

7. Quick‑Reference Checklist

  • [ ] Targeted to a specific agent/editor (personalised greeting).
  • [ ] Includes a compelling one‑sentence hook.
  • [ ] Provides a 150‑250-word synopsis with an ending.
  • [ ] States word count, genre, and 2–3 comparables.
  • [ ] Features a concise author bio with relevant credentials.
  • [ ] Polite closing with a call‑to‑action.
  • [ ] Proper formatting (12‑pt font, 1″ margins, single‑spaced).
  • [ ] Proofread for spelling/grammar errors.

If you can tick every box without forcing anything, you’ve built a successful query letter.

8. Final Thoughts: The Query Letter Is a Conversation Starter

Think of your query as the first line in a dialogue with a potential champion of your work. It should intrigue, inform, and invite. By respecting the agent’s time, demonstrating market awareness, and showcasing your professionalism, you turn a simple email into a compelling pitch that stands out in a crowded inbox.

Pro tip: After you send a query, give the agent six weeks before politely inquiring about status. Patience + professionalism = good agency relationships.

Now, go ahead and draft that letter. Remember: the goal isn’t just to be read—it’s to be remembered. Happy querying!

‘What Sets Us Apart’ – A beta readers view

There’s something to be said for a story that starts like a James Bond movie, throwing you straight in the deep end, a perfect way of getting to know the main character, David, or is that Alistair?

A retired spy, well not so much a spy as a retired errand boy, David’s rather wry description of his talents, and a woman that most men would give their left arm for, not exactly the ideal couple, but there is a spark in a meeting that may or may not have been a setup.

But as the story progressed, the question I kept asking myself was why he’d bother.

And, page after unrelenting page, you find out.

Susan is exactly the sort of woman to pique his interest.  Then, inexplicably, she disappears.  That might have been the end to it, but Prendergast, that shadowy enigma, David’s ex-boss who loves playing games with real people, gives him an ultimatum, find her or come back to work.

Nothing like an offer that’s a double-edged sword!

A dragon for a mother, a sister he didn’t know about, Susan’s BFF who is not what she seems or a friend indeed, and Susan’s father who, up till David meets her, couldn’t be less interested, his nemesis proves to be the impossible dream, and he’s always just that one step behind.

When the rollercoaster finally came to a halt, and I could start breathing again, it was an ending that was completely unexpected.

I’ve been told there’s a sequel in the works.

Bring it on!

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The book can be purchased here:  http://amzn.to/2Eryfth

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