Query (particularly for fangs_fur_fey people)

[alanajoli]

Since the fangs_fur_fey group did the wonderful hook contest, I figure they must also know something about query letters. If any of you could answer this--or post it over on fff for further input--I'd really appreciate it.

Back when I learned how to write query letters, it was recommended that you mentioned your audience. This typically meant the general ("adult fiction," "fantasy," etc.) as well as "readers who also enjoyed Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Tattoo" (as an example). Is it still a good policy to pick out books that will have a similar audience--particularly titles published by the publisher to whom you're sending the query--in your letter?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Comments

[melissa-writing.livejournal.com]

Here's what I did. In paragraph 3 (after why querying this agent & brief synopsis), I included what I think of as "other details"--

The novel, which is set in a smaller city with a high unemployment rate, utilizes the third person narratives of all three of the primary protagonists (Aislinn, Keenan, and Donia). I believe it would appeal to older teen readers of such novels as {omitted} . . . While it does contain some darker elements (sexual assault, unintentional intoxication, violence, and mild references to drug use and drinking), they are not gratuitous.

Incidentally, 2 of the 3 novelists I mentioned have read & said positive things about the text. :) I don't think it's essential, but there's something to be said for showing that you're thinking big picture.

I'll post your question over at FFF too.

Split decision

[(Anonymous)]

The latest information I have is very much a split decision. Many of the smaller publisher I know, particular publishers of genre fiction, are fine with the query letter dicussing audience.

Larger publishers, on the other hand, don't really care for the writers' opinions on the audience. They have their own marketing departments who decide what the audience is going to be, and if the marketing people don't think that the book can be easily marketed, it really doesn't matter what the editor thinks (in many cases).