It's Raining Bats & Frogs
by rebecca colbyFeiwel & Friends2015Query Letter
(THIS LETTER IS FOR YOU, AND ONLY YOU! )
I was thrilled to read your tweet yesterday stating that you love little witches. I love little witches too and have written a humorous picture book about witches entitled IT’S RAINING BATS AND FROGS.
(I CARE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH TO FOLLOW YOU ON TWITTER AND TO RESEARCH YOUR INTERESTS. ISN’T IT WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE THINGS IN COMMON?)
IT’S RAINING BATS AND FROGS was written first as a picture book manuscript and later as a storybook app. I’ve attached only the picture book manuscript but please know the storybook app text is available upon request. A synopsis follows:
(I’M FLEXIBLE AND I’M WILLING TO LOOK AT OTHER BOOK FORMATS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY. IF YOU TAKE ME ON, I WILL WORK WITH YOU AND WILL BE OPEN TO YOUR SUGGESTIONS.)
IT’S RAINING BATS AND FROGS (450 words) – It’s raining on the Witch Parade and the witches are wet and miserable, so Delia decides to change the rain to cats and dogs, then hats and clogs, and finally bats and frogs. But each new type of rain brings its own problems. Eventually, Delia magics the rain back and the parade proceeds with the witches showing a great appreciation for real rain.
(I KNOW MY MARKET AND MY BOOK FALLS IN THE ACCEPTABLE WORD COUNT RANGE. I ALSO KNOW YOU EXPECT ME TO BE ABLE TO WRITE CONCISELY, SO I’VE SUMMED UP MY MANUSCRIPT IN THREE SENTENCES.)
My writing credits include winning the 2011 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Barbara Karlin grant. This is an international award given out each year to one aspiring picture book writer. In 2012, I won first place in the Winchester Writers’ Conference ‘Writing for Children 4-7 years’ category. I also won the 2012 Margaret Carey SCBWI British Isles Conference Scholarship for picture book writers and illustrators.
(I’M SERIOUS ABOUT MY WRITING. I’VE JOINED A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION AND I’M DEDICATED AND HARD-WORKING. I’VE BEEN WRITING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I’VE PUT ALL MY ENERGY AND FOCUS INTO WRITING PICTURE BOOKS.)
Before writing for children, I worked for the Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff, taught English in Taiwan, traveled the world as a tour director, and worked as a librarian. Born in America, I now live in England.
(EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, AND THIS IS MINE. I’M MORE THAN A WRITER. MY CAREER LIFE HAS BEEN VARIED AND I HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCES TO WRITE ABOUT. I’M ALSO NOT AFRAID TO EMBRACE NEW EXPERIENCES.)
Thank you for your time and consideration of my work. I look forward to your reply.
(YOU’VE TAKEN TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO READ MY LETTER AND HOPEFULLY MY MANUSCRIPT. YOU ARE A STAR! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I HOPE WE CAN BECOME BESTIES! OR AT THE VERY LEAST, I HOPE WE CAN BECOME PEN PALS.)
About
Age Range
Picture Book
Genre
Fantasy (Traditional)
Word Count
450
Book Link
https://www.amazon.com/Raining-Bats-Frogs-Rebecca-Colby/dp/125004992X/
Query Stats
Dare I add that it took me 7 years and 140 rejections to get an agent. The ball didn't drop for me for ages on how important the query letter was to my submission. That momentous week in 2013 was my week of BIG BREAKS (!!) because I got an agent, she sold the book in less than a week, in a separate submission I'd sent out months earlier another book sold (Wee Lassie) and I broke my wrist ice skating and had to sign my agency contract with my left hand. It looked nothing like my signature, but hey, it was finally official--I had broken in to the industry!