Success stories~
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Success Stories: the tale of two queries!

Two of my clients recently celebrated becoming published authors. What a privilege it has been to assist them in achieving their goals of shifting from writer to "author."

Nancy Cavanaugh's original query letter helped her meet a great agent. Despite a valiant effort, Nancy's agent was unable to sell her MG manuscript. However, being competent and smart, the agent switched gears and sold Nancy's second manuscript to a fabulous publishing house, Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky.

    Don't misunderstand how Nancy came to write a query that interested a fabulous agent. She didn't just "whip" it out. Nobody ever does that! Nancy worked (with my assistance) diligently through several drafts until she had identified the core of her story and had crafted a "hook" (the query letter first paragraph) that captivated the interest of her dream agent. It's Posted Here.
    BTW: The story of RATCHET deals with love, forgiveness, and self-acceptance, issues that touch hearts of all readers. You'll love reading Nancy's book, regardless of your age! Meet Nancy on her website.

 Heather Ashby traveled the query/synopsis path to contact agents regarding her first romance novel. I helped her figure out how to craft her query letter using the same captivating "voice" she had used in writing her story.
    Her first agent spent a year not doing much. Sometimes this happens.
    So, Heather switched gears and refocused the marketing skills she'd acquired while writing her query and synopsis. She decided to introduce herself to publishers instead of agents. She attended a RWA (Romance Writer's Conference), pitched her book to Henery Publishing, and signed a four (FOUR) book deal. 
    Heather's first book, FORGIVE AND FORGET will be published in July, 2013. Meet Heather at her website.
    Much of the material from her query letter and quick-read synopsis now appear on her book cover and in promotional pieces.
    Heather's bright, sassy, and smart voice shines from every page of her book. You'll smile all the way though. 

from Heather~
Even though I'm an English teacher, Molli taught me HOW to write fiction. I LOVE being able to break so many rules and having the freedom to start a sentence with AND or BUT, along with using contractions, because that's how we speak and think! Thanks Molli! 

If your goal is to become published, I can help you~
    Although my clients write everything from Picture Books to Young Adult to Romance to Detective and every genre in between, they all have one thing in common. They've made the mental shift from "telling" to "selling" and switched into "sales" mode. This enabled them to create effective query letters that opened doors into the publishing world and launched their careers as authors.
    Love it or hate it, if you want to become traditionally published, you gotta' learn to write a productive query.
    This one-page-three-paragraph letter has one purpose: to "hook" the interest of the agent/editor/publisher so they'll request a manuscript submission.
    And yes, while it is true that you'll also have to write a one-page synopsis and a captivating manuscript first page, the query is where it all begins.(Even if you eventually decide to self-publish your book, once you know how to write a slam-dunk query and synopsis, you'll have these tools to use in your marketing efforts.)

Do you need help with your query or synopsis?
    Currently, I’m offering budget friendly "Jump-Start” consultation programs to help you learn how to apply selling techniques to your marketing documents (query, synopsis, first page). The program includes one-on-one phone time with me as well as written evaluation on three drafts of your document.
    Your consultation also can be devoted to evaluation of the first ten pages of your manuscript, pitch practice, and/or a discussion of the potentials and pitfalls of self-publishing. Your choice.

Click here for more information Writer's Services.

Hi there,
    I'm Molli Nickell. After spending 35-years in the publishing biz a Time-Life editor and researcher, publisher, and writing teacher at UCLA, I've become a publishing consultant with one goal in mind: to help you get published.
    Your primary key to achieve this goal is, of course, to write something people will want to read.
    And then, comes the big one. You need to shift gears from "telling" your story to "selling" it.
   How do you do this? By understanding what agents need to read, and then learning to address these as you write an effective query letter, one-page synopsis, and captivating manuscript first page.
    Helping you learn to write these three documents is what my website is all about.
    To make learning more fun, I offer frequent writing contests (with prizes yet). Who knows, you may win first prize: a free one-hour consultation with me to help you revise your query, synopsis, or first page--or whatever you need. Plus, the winning entry will be posted on this website. 
   Thanks for dropping by.
    I look forward to helping you get published. 
   Write on!
    Molli
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BTW: I'm offering a useful tool, my 39-page Query Sales Pitch e-workbook, absolutely FREE. Information and exercises in this workbook will help you understand more about the query letter and how to get started writing yours. Click Here for more information.

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Testimonials~
Now that Writer's Digest has published my book on writing picture books, I want to "thank you" for your encouragement and help. I couldn't have done it without you.
Ann Paul, children's book author

Molli does a great job with the query. Her changes on mine made a difference in the number of requests I received. AND, I’m now represented by one of the agents who responded to the query she helped me revise.
T.J. Bones, Producer/Writer

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How might I assist you in achieving your goals of agent/publisher/shelf space at Barnes and Noble? Contact me using the form below. below.