Starting a Query Email with an Image of the Book Cover

Keep in mind you don't know what kind of email reader your recipient will be using. Will they have graphics enabled? Will it treat the graphic as an attachment? Might that cause their spam filter to block it?

Unless this is a picture book, I'd leave illustrations out of the query. Save them for when you get a request for samples.

If you're trying to find an agent for a book you wrote, query them with the book.

If you're trying to find an agent for illustrative work, follow whatever the guidelines are for that.

Publishers decide on covers, not you. You have a pretty picture, but it's not a book cover.

Illustrated or not, the agent wants the story not the pictures. The pictures you have may not even be the ones used for it. Don't include anything other than your 3-4 paragraphs if you're querying.

As to your question about your blog... unless those 45K hits are happening weekly, no, the agent likely won't care.

No. Not (most likely) ever.

Is this a picture book or graphic novel? If so, checking each agency/publisher's guidelines for submitting graphics is your first step. Unless they say, "Start with your cover image in the body of the email!" just query them per their guidelines and attach what they request, exactly how they request it.

Some want attachments, some want images sent, in whatever resolution, and in however many copies they require, via hard copy.

This is important, regardless of what genre you're writing in: If you add an image to your email, it will show up in most email clients as an attachment. Most agencies have a hard and fast rule about deleting queries with unsolicited attachments, unread. Until invited (or submission guidelines tell you how to submit them safely), don't add any pictures. Not to the body, not to your signature. Hell, in gmail, if someone from certain email clients sends me a smilie, it comes through as an attachment. Don't risk it.

ETA: Wandered off while posting, sorry. Lots of good responses since. Please excuse any redundencies. This was to the OP when I started this missive 40 minutes ago... Sigh.

Don't send anyone images in an email.

Send them a query for the book, and a link where they can see the illustrations.

I'll second what others have said, but with some clarifications:

First, if your book is most similar to The Arrival, then it will be marketed as a graphic novel, and you should follow the submission instructions for graphic novels. But if it's not really like The Arrival, then it is a novel, and you should query it as a novel but include in the query that you envision it being heavily illustrated and have done those illustrations, and include a link to your portfolio (if you are in fact an illustrator, you should have a portfolio to show). But be aware, if you query it as a novel, the publisher might love the words but want someone else to illustrate it - and you should think about whether you would be comfortable with that. YOU DO NOT NEED to discuss it in the query, but you should think about it, so you can talk to any interested agent about the issue when the time comes.

Second, do not call it a "novelette" - that will be the kiss of death for most agents. If it is a graphic novel, call it that. If a novel you envision being illustrated, call it that.

Third, read submission guidelines - if it is a graphic novel, you will want to find agent who rep graphic novels and then follow their submission guidelines. If a novel, query it as a novel with the extra info that you envision it illustrated.

~suki

Okay, you might hate what I'm about to say, but I think it might help you.

headwax said:

Thank you Suki!

Yes I have avoided the word 'novelette' in the queries I have already sent out. I have been describing it as an 'illustrated novel.'

Personally the genre "Graphic Novel" conjures up (to me unaesthetic) images of black and white comic book type illustrations. Obviously this is incorrect, just a personal foible.

Honestly? First, get over yourself Second, get thee to the bookstore - there are incredible, amazing graphic novels out there. And if that is what your book would best be marketed as, you are doing it a disservice by refusing to call it what it would best be. So...go do your research, and dump your hangups, and figure out how your book would be most marketable. then get over yourself again (that was an attempt at levity, by the).

Yes, the work comes complete with illustrations. The illustrations are better than the text (imho) which I why I am keen to use them as the selling point.

I throw a red flag here - if any part isn't outstanding, you are not ready to query. Both the text and images have to be outstanding. So, get back to work before you query further if you think the text isn't as good as the illustrations.

I have been reading submission guidelines carefully, but though the agent might market "Graphic Novels' submission guidelines are sometimes weighted toward traditional novels.

Another way would be to go check out the graphic novels published in the last few years - you need to do that anyway, given the above orders, right? - and then look up who reps those author/illustrators.

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If your book is close to The Arrival, and the illustrations tell part of the story, then I would call it a graphic novel, if it were me. But you need to go do your research so that you can tell an agent where this fits in the market - ie, who is publishing books like yours? And who might buy them? Not literally, not in the query at least, but if it is hard to describe what it is, then it might be helpful to say something like, "BOOK may appeal to readers of THE ARRIVAL, OTHER COMPARATIVE BOOK, and OTHER BOOK." So that the agent can picture who might be interested in acquiring it.

~suki

From what you describe, I'm thinking of something like an adult picture book - story on the left page, picture on the right - like Kit William's Masquerade (without the puzzle, natch) or one of Alan Aldridge's books (The Ship's Cat, The Peacock Party).

If so, I wonder if you'd do better to approach publishers directly. Look to those who publish Art books - that's what this sounds like. It is an object to have, rather than a story to be read, if that makes sense.

ETA - If you were querying the text, you query the text only, so no pictures with the Q. I don't think that's what you're doing though.

I would find agents who rep both illustrators and authors. Send an e-mail explaining your situation and asking what format they would prefer to see.

Contrary to popular belief agents WANT to represent people. If the project sounds interesting they're going to have a look. So long as you approach them politely most will be receptive to an alternate style of book.

Krieger is fighter/warrior. You're close though.

Andrew, I have nothing to add, except to say your artwork at your blog (and the one here) is very nice.

Jaeger - hunter - right?

Susan Littlefield said:

Andrew, I have nothing to add, except to say your artwork at your blog (and the one here) is very nice.

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Yeah, I second that. Your portfolio is scary good. I'd consider breaking your video up into several shorter ones, though. Eleven+ minutes is going to have too many people missing a lot of images in the second half.

But, really, I just watched it and can't wait to show it to my daughter when she gets home from school. The circus stuff in particular is my fav.

Sorry for the derail...