Debut Author Ronnie Allen and "Gemini"

The best part about being a published author, in my opinion, is when I get to see a person go from a writer to a published author--with all of the hard work, self-doubt and frustration in between. As such, it is with a mother-like pride that I welcome my friend, Ronnie Allen to my blog today to discuss her debut novel, Gemini! 



Hi Ronnie! So glad to have you on as a published guest! Woo hoo! I had the pleasure of reading Gemini in it's first draft format (and just bought my own copy of her final book on Amazon HERE), but can you tell my blog readers a little about how you got that elusive publishing contract? You used a query letter (see below for her actual query that resulted in a contract), but what tips would you give an author on query letters?

Ronnie Allen's Debut Thriller Gemini

There are many key points I'll tell you, Dylan. This one is the most important. Know your genre. Gemini is a multi genre psychological thriller with paranormal and romantic elements. The paranormal aspects are present day, psychic mediums, and there are sensual threads throughout the ms from the first chapter to last. Next is to do your research. Only and I mean it, only send your ms to publishers that specifically say on their website, that they're looking for your content. I can't express this enough. So many times I've heard agents and editors say that the reason for rejection is that the writer didn't follow their directions. I looked for publishers that were seeking multi-genres, mine specifically. I looked at their author bios and books they published on their web site.  I was very impressed with the credentials and educational backgrounds of the authors at Black Opal Books. Then I read their guidelines, maybe ten times. Seriously. I wanted to follow them to a T. Sorry for the cliche. In the query they specifically asked for the writer's background relevant to the book. Why was I qualified to write it? Another thing they wanted was our social media platform. I'm big on that. Website, Facebook, Twitter all set up and Black Opal Books and I followed each other on Twitter. I didn't forget to mention that. Because I followed directions on my submissions, my contract on Gemini was secured after relatively few submissions.

 

Ronnie Allen's Actual Query Letter That Resulted in her Contract! 
For my post on  how to write a query letter, click HERE. 

Great query letter! You hit all of my Tips and Tricks to Writing Query Letters on this one! Okay, next question: What is the most important thing writers could do for themselves to get an agent/publisher in today's market? 

Oooops! I believe I answered that in question 1. And I'll also say, perfect the ms. Have critique partners, beta readers. If they bring up the same issues, listen! And revise. At my first RWA conference, I pitched to two editors and one agent. They wanted the ms. I got three rejections, but the feedback I got was invaluable. All three said I had POV issues. I rewrote and submitted to other publishers again. After a few, Gemini got the contract. Those that rejected it, said it wasn't what they were looking for now. And 'never give up.' If you love the ms, as I did with Gemini, keep revising and submitting.

The "never give up" part is key!! If you could have done anything differently with your writing career so far, what would it be? 

So far, nothing differently. My second novel, Aries, was plotted for a few months, written in three months and ten days, and secured a contract the first time out. So that's a beautiful thing. I'll let you know later on when I'm marketing and we could discuss marketing successes and failures. I'm a data and statistics person by education, so for me the most measurable data is sales. So this remains to be seen.

Who are your writing role models and how have they influenced you? 

I must say, you are one of them Dylan! With a young family and being president of out RWA chapter, Sunshine State Romance Authors, your plate is full, and yet you've accomplished being multi-published.   Other authors from SSRA that have influenced me are Loretta Rogers and Flossie Benton Rogers. I believe in not reinventing the wheel, so I can honestly say, that I would not have been multi-published this year without you gals!

Aww! You are too kind--what a lovely compliment. Okay, so tell me about your upcoming releases? 

Aries, the second in the 'Sign Behind the Crime' series is coming out Oct./Nov. also from Black Opal Books.  AriellaRose Larcon has three beholden who do her killing for her while forensic psychiatrist Dr. Frank Khaos uncovers her inner most demons as he himself has his own, mourning the murder of his wife. A rookie Detective, Samantha Wright is assigned to the Larcon case and... That's all I'm saying.

Great teaser blurb! Okay, last question: What's one fact about you that people do not know? 

Um, I don't carry my problems on my shoulders. Not saying another word about that, or people would know.

Thanks again for joining me today! I know my readers will want to check you out. Can you give us your social media links, as well as your blurb and excerpt for Gemini? 

For you readers to find me, they can go to my website, http://www.ronnieallennovel.com which is up to date with weekly blogs. On Twitter I'm  @ronnieanovelist. On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ronnie.allen.507.

Thank you so much, Dylan, this was fun and I hope reading my query will benefit your readers. 

Best,

Ronnie

Gemini Blurb:

His life is exactly the way he wants it to be—until he meets her…

Both psychic and clairvoyant, Dr. John Trenton is a forensic psychiatrist who has a wife he worships and a position as a department head at a hospital for the criminally insane in Manhattan. His patients—young adult men, who are some of the most psychotic and psychopathic criminals in NYC—enable him to live his life on the edge, just the way he likes it. Then he meets a woman who changes everything.

She is two days from accomplishing the revenge she lives for—until she meets him…

Stripper by night, school psychologist by day, Gemini obsessed Barbara Montgomery, makes a critical mistake and is committed for seventy-two hours of observation, where she risks it all in an unnerving escape. Furious with Dr. Trenton for interfering in her life, she is now determined to kill his wife and unborn child, along with everyone else who has ever caused her pain—real or imagined.

As the killing spree continues, John is forced to use all his ESP, as well as his knowledge and expertise, to interpret this psychopath’s Gemini obsession and unravel her dark and murderous past. But can he track her down and bring her to justice—before she destroys his world completely?

Gemini Excerpt:

Okay, girlfriend. Let’s get serious here. Tonight’s gotta be the night. Time’s runnin’ away from me.

She jammed her eyes shut, swallowed hard, and blew out a prolonged breath. Tonight could be rough. Or impossible. Her heart thumped in expectation of finding the right person to accompany her in the train wreck of her life.

She had no choice, but to make it work.

Her life depended upon it.

Before she could overthink it, she grabbed the pink paisley duffle bag, which held her outfit for the job, off the Queen Victoria chair that graced the corner of the hallway. The entire getup could fit in her jeans pocket but she had to go fancy. She zipped up the black patent leather stiletto heeled boots, hesitating for a moment, contemplating if she was getting too old to wear them. After a last minute once-over in the full length mirror on the adjacent wall, she reconsidered. Nah, not with her knockout bod. Women half her age didn’t look so good. Not even any laugh lines around her eyes to give it away. She winked in the mirror and her emerald contact lenses twinkled back.

She eased the door closed to her ritzy Manhattan apartment at one a.m. with her right hand on the knob and her left palm on the door, guiding it to the latch so that her ears alone heard the soft clicks of the bolt.

Can’t wake those old geezers next door. Otherwise, I’ll just have to do what I do best.

Chills of anticipation snaked through her as she traversed the darkened hallway to the elevator all the while listening for footsteps in her neighbor’s apartment. The elevator door opened. She slipped in.

All was good.

They got to live another night.

BUY LINKS: 
You can buy Ronnie Allen's thriller on Amazon HERE
And on her Publisher's Website at Black Opal Books HERE.

How to Sell Yourself in a Query Letter...and not sound like a jerk

If you've been following my blog, you know that Friday is Writers Pay it Forward, and today I'm talking about How to Sell Yourself in a Query Letter (not your book, but yourself) . 

When I wrote my query letter for my first paranormal romance, DESPITE THE GHOSTS, I naively thought the Author Bio portion of the query letter would be a breeze. In fact, of the four parts to a query letter (See the Anatomy of a Query Letter here), I figured the brief writing bio would be the easiest. I was talking about myself. How hard could it be?

Really freaking hard, is the answer to that question. 

I hated writing the Author Bio/Writing Credits part of the letter, and not just because I wasn't published at the time. I even hated it the second time with ANY WITCH WAY, after I'd been published already. And, surprise! When I wrote my query letter to my editor for my third novel, DESPITE THE FANGS, it was about as effortless as extracting an impacted tooth, and she knew both me and my writing!

It's tough to write about yourself and make it sound professional, yet not come off as a braggart. Or an idiot. So, in the spirit of  paying it forward, I'm going to give you my tips to Sell Yourself in a Query Letter, and below that, you can see my Author Bio/Writing Credits portion of all three of my novels (which all got a contract from The Wild Rose Press):

3 Ways to Sell Yourself in a Query Letter:

1. The Author Bio/Writing Credits paragraph, typically toward the end of your query letter, tells the agent/editor who you are as a writer, and what writing props and/or other skills that you possess. List any publication credits you have here, but list only the most relevant. TIP: If you have NO writing credits, don't apologize. Let your writing speak for itself and move on to Step 2. 

2. List any writing groups you belong to, as it demonstrates your dedication to writing. For example, in my first novel, I had only my critique group to boast of (and yes, this is a good thing to mention, as it shows the agent/editor that you are serious enough to seek out feedback--a key quality in a good writer). In my second novel's query letter, I was a member of RWA as well as a VP of a writing organization. TIP: If you are NOT a member of a writing organization (in your genre, preferably!), sign up, for Pete's sake! If you ARE a member of a writing organization, you better get yourself involved. Write the newsletter, hold an office--anything to distinguish yourself above the rest of the saps in the slush pile!

3. Include any relevant life experience/hobbies as it relates to your expertise in writing that novel. The key word here is relelvant--I run marathons, scrapbook and have a Shiz Tsu, but none of that is relevant to any of my novels to date. However, if I were pitching a book featuring a marathon runner, scrapbooker-turned-serial-killer, or where a Shiz Tsu was the narrator, then it's relevant! TIP: If you do have a hobby/relevant life experience that relates to your novel, remember to use that to your advantage when you are published! If your heroine knits, hold a book signing in a knitting store, or create a blog that features your books, plus your knitting to appeal to both audiences.

And finally, here are my Author Bio/Writing Credits paragraphs from each of my query letters. They may not be perfect, but both my query letters landed me a publishing contract!

Author Bio/Writing Credits paragraph I used when I sold my first novel, DESPITE THE GHOSTS: (my transition sentence makes more sense when you read the whole query letter here)

Unlike Nola, my publishing credits are more mundane. They include a year-long stint with ClubMom.com as a Go-To writer, publishing a total of 22 “Stories from the Heart” and educational articles for their website. I have writing credits with several local newspapers, as well as training and sales materials created for corporate clients. I am an RWA member, as well as a member of Scribbler’s Ink, a Tampa-based writer’s group.

Author Bio/Writing Credits in my query letter that sold ANY WITCH WAY. While I sold it to The Wild Rose Press (same publisher as published DTG, my old editor was gone, so it was sort of like starting anew.

My most recent publishing credit is my debut novel, DESPITE THE GHOSTS, a paranormal romance published with The Wild Rose Press in 2009. My website, www.DylanNewton.com contains a blurb and excerpt of the novel, as well as current events to promote the book. As Vice President and Co-Founder of Sunshine State Romance Authors, a Florida chapter of Romance Writers of America, I believe in doing my homework and the Black Rose line at The Wild Rose Press would be the perfect home for my novella.

I hope this helps you on your query journey!

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

Need more help? Click here for my Top 10 Do's and Don'ts for Query Letters and check out my post on the Anatomy of a Query Letter here.
Want to see the entire query letter for DESPITE THE GHOSTS? Click here.

Anatomy of a Query Letter

One of the questions I get asked most by unpublished (and stressed out) writers is, "How do I get an agent/editor to read my f-ing manuscript?" and because they know I succeeded with a 'traditional' query letter approach, "Will you help me with my f-ing query letter?"

Yes. I will. Read on, my stressed out writing friend!

The Anatomy of a Query Letter (below)  is from a course I gave two different writer's workshops, and it is the backbone of my Writers Pay it Forward program, where we will be visiting each section of the query letter in depth, and showing actual query letters that led to a writer's contract! Here's what I would recommend:

1. Print out my "Anatomy of a Query Letter" below. 
2. Join me as I take it section by section. Skip ahead on my blog to whatever you feel is the easy section and write that first, as some will be easier for you to write than others.
3. When you need to see how other writers have done it, read the Actual Query Letters that Worked from my blog. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any tips that might help make your query brilliant!
4. Give yourself time--as one agent I follow so wisely said, writing your query letter should take you as long as it did to write (and revise) two of the BEST chapters in your novel.

Good luck and be sure to subscribe to my blog to get the latest examples and hints for your query letter and your developing writing career!

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

Anatomy of a Query Letter

A query letter is your introduction as a writer, your calling card. Unless you’ve previously met the agent/publisher, this is a cold sales pitch in which you are selling your story, your writing talent/voice, and YOU! The query is the way to get your proverbial foot in the door; its job is to entice the reader to request your manuscript!

Follow the basic anatomy of a query letter (in any order):  hook, mini-synopsis, your writing bio or credits, and the call-to-action. Although you'll likely submit via email, when writing your query in Word, make sure it fits to one page, single spaced, one inch margins and standard business letter formatting (don’t forget your phone number and email address!)

• Hook: Eye-catcher; what sets your book apart from the rest? I'm not gonna lie, this one sucks to write, but spending time here will be well worth it, as this short 1-2 line hook will grab the editor/agent's attention and ensure your query is read. Most queries fail here, so be sure to tune in as we discuss various hook options, and give examples.

• Mini-Synopsis: This is where you do your market research, and let the agent/editor know how your book fits. Who is your reader? What is your genre? This section will also contain your ‘TV Guide Blurb’ and should give a sense of the overall arc of the book and themes within. Be sure to include approximate word count and using the words, “complete” when describing your novel. By the way, your novel should be complete before you query!

• Author Bio/Writing Credits: One to three sentences that highlight resume-worthy aspects of YOU. If you have writing credits, contest wins, background or relevant life experiences, list them here.

• Call-to-Action: The shortest (and usually the easiest!) section of your query letter to write, this is typically a one-liner, indicating what is attached beneath the query (i.e. first 5 chapters and synopsis), or it is a nicely worded plea for the agent/editor to take a look at your manuscript.

Okay...you've gotten the Basic Anatomy of a Query Letter down...next I will give you the Top 10 Do's and Don'ts of a Query Letter. Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a thing!

Writers Pay It Forward Friday--Query Letters that Worked!

Today is the first post of my Writers Pay It Forward Friday series--where I will feature a writer, showcase their latest and greatest novel, and give newbie writers a chance to look at what I would've given my left nostril to have before I was published...

ACTUAL QUERY LETTERS THAT RESULTED IN A PUBLISHING CONTRACT!

I'm not sure why it is, but actual query letters that got results are hard to find online, especially from the author himself/herself. Maybe it's a hit to their pride; query letters are personal, sometimes embarrassing, soul-baring missives that writers may not want their fans to see. Or maybe it's a territorial thing--sort of a 'I had to muddle through it, so should they!' vibe.

I'm neither prideful nor territorial. 

So over the next few weeks, I'll show you mine--the ones that bombed, and the ones that got requests for partial manuscripts. Along the way, I'll offer tips and tricks to writing a query letter (or query email) for ANY manuscript.

Best of all...I will feature an author each month with his/her actual query letter that got him/her a request for a partial or full manuscript. In that way, not only will you see the actual query that resulted in a contract, you can also see the end result--what the novel came to be after edits and revisions.

Pretty cool, right? If you want 'in' on this party, just check back weekly to see what's new, or better yet, subscribe to my blog by clicking on the link to your right that says, "Follow My Happily Ever After."

Here's to ALL of us writing...
Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. If you are an author who has been traditionally published and have an actual query letter that got you a publishing contract, please click the "Contact" link above. I'd love to feature you, your actual query letter, and the resulting book on my blog!