Query Question

[ViolentGrace]

Another question:

If I have a series idea for a children's book, should I query with the idea of a series and already have 1 or 2 books complete for submission? :shrug

Also, does anyone know of any links online that have sample queries for childrens book queries??

[Stephenie Hovland]

Check this thread at Verla Kay's board. Ask there, too, if it doesn't address the issue enough.

www.verlakay.com/boards/i...opic=676.0 (http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php?topic=676.0)

[mammamaia]

unless you're a known writer, i don't know why any agent or publisher would take you seriously if you don't have at least a first finished book to show them you can actually write one...

first you have to show them you have a book written that they think will sell on its own... then, you can try to get them to back a series... but each book must stand on its own... make sense?

hugs, maia

[Risseybug]

I have to say that I agree with Mama (who loves ya, baby?). Without at least one stand alone book ( I suppose it could even be the first in a series, but it should be able to stand alone), not many publishers/agents are going to take on an unknown.

The reason is simple. They don't know how you'll do. If you can write one book, can you write more?
If you have one book on the market before you pitch a series, at least you'll have had a chance to prove yourself with your first book.

Incidentally, that's what I'm up to now. I am trying to get my first book published (although I had a really good idea for a sequel - and I left myself an "in" with my first book), and am writing another book I hope to be the first in a series.

[Jamesaritchie]

It does no good at all for an unpublished writer to query about anything until at least one book is finsihed, polished, and ready to submit. And it works far better if the first book is a stand alone novel. It's success or failure will determine whether or not it becomes a series.

Had the first Harry Potter novel bombed, there never would have been a Harry Potter two.