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A FREE AWESOME RESOURCE TO HELP WITH YOUR QUERY AND A GIVEAWAY OF POSSESSION

Today I’m going to talk about a super resource to help you with your query letters. Then I got a surprise in the mail a few weeks ago that I want to share too.

It all involves Elana Johnson, a wonderful friend and amazing writer I’ve gotten to know through her blog. First, about the query resource. Elana self–published a book about how to write a query letter called FROM THE QUERY TO THE CALL. I bought it when I started working on my query letter. And it gave me the courage to tackle it. Because even though I’m an attorney and have written thousands of persuasive letters in my career, the query letter is a whole other beast that terrified me. Okay I’m still a little scared of it.

Here’s what’s so helpful about Elana’s book. She literally explains every sentence you need in your query letter from your introduction to the pitch to your bio to the end. And she explains it using real live query examples—her own and ones she helped people with. For example, she’s got the query for THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker. So many people tell us what a query should say. But explaining it by showing numerous examples works so much better for me. And at the end of the book she has the completed queries.

The book came with an awesome query critique by Elana. Well to be honest, I spent over 40 hours on my query, got three critiques from Elana, a few from my critique group, and then Casey helped me. So I did need A LOT of help. But I couldn’t have done it without this book.

Now Elana is generously offering the book for FREE. She's not including a query critique so if you ever see a contest where she’s giving one away, enter it. You can download your copy of her book here. And if you don’t follow her blog, you should go here to follow it. It’s awesome.

I planned to talk more about queries because there are lots of other useful resources but then I got a totally awesome package containing an ARC of POSSESSION from Elana’s publisher! It’s my first one since I started blogging. Here’s a blurb of the story from Goodreads:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Doesn't it sound good? And the cover's gorgeous! I loved the book. Vi has a great distinctive voice and I wish I was as brave as her in breaking rules as a teenager. The plot is fast paced and Vi’s problems mount. Elana has created a rich world filled with its own unique technology. Without spoiling it by telling the ending, I will say that I would not have guessed it.

When I started reading this, my 14-year-old daughter was on spring break and needed a book to read. She knew nothing about the book, but likes dystopian stories. So I told her I would share it with her. The first day she was nice and let me read the book at night. But the second day, she did not share. When we were supposed to be watching TV as a family, she snuck read it. And then when she could go do what she wanted, instead of turning on the TV or computer like she usually does, she read. And read when she was supposed to be asleep until she finished it. So yes, it is an awesome book. And yes, I was controlled. But it was for a good cause.

I’m giving away my ARC of POSSESSION. All you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 23rd. I’ll announce the winner on April 25th. International entries are welcome. If you don’t win, be sure to come back on June 6th, when I celebrate Elana’s release of POSSESSION by interviewing her and HINT, HINT, there will be an awesome giveaway.

Stop by on Wednesday when I’ll be interviewing Anita Laydon Miller and giving away a copy of her e-book EARTHLING HERO. And on April 25th I’m interviewing Karen Mahoney and giving away a copy of THE IRON WITCH. I’m so excited!

46 comments:

mooderino said...

Thanks, very useful info.
cheers,
mood
Moody Writing

Judit said...

I'm so excited for the Possession from the moment I've learned about it's existence! :D
The synopsis totally caught my attention and the cover is just amazing.
Thank you, Natalie, for this article, (I haven't known anything about FROM THE QUERY TO THE CALL before) and also thank zou for the giveaway.
Fingers crossed!

I'm a follower

judittten at gmail dot com

Elanor Lawrence said...

Thank you for the the link to the free book on querying. I'm downloading it right now.

I never even heard about Possession... but it sounds so good! I love dystopias. And yes, I'm a follower. I would love to win the ARC.

Kate Evangelista said...

It's nice to know that someone wrote a book that can guide anyone through the query process. It can be daunting.

And please consider this comment as an entry for the giveaway. I would love to read Possession. :-)

Marta G. (A Bilingual Baby) said...

Hi! Thanks for the info! I'm a follower via GFC. I'd love a chance to win the giveaway! Thanks and Happy Easter!
Marta
martaplayita at gmail dot com

lena said...

Sounds like a great book. I'll be reading it even if I don't win it!

leeron94 said...

Is it sad that I can't wait to finish my WIP just so that I can write a query letter using the book?

Martina Boone said...

Elana is so incredibly generous in the writing community. She truly goes above and beyond in paying it forward. I'm so excited to read her book! I'd love to win it, but I agree with Peace, Lena, and Happiness, I'll buy it if I can't win it :)

Thanks for the great resource and contest!

Marissa
graffkidlit at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I loved that book. It seriously helped me when trying to create a query. Elana is fantastic and I can't wait for her book.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Hope those of you who haven't read From the Query to the Call find it as helpful as I did.

Melissa said...

From the Query to the Call is wonderful! I bought it last summer and it has been such a valuable tool. Not only did it help me write a good query (I got requests right away), it also helped me craft the right responses when I submitted requested material. It really gave me a confidence boost!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Her query book is fab!!

Tom M Franklin said...

i'm a follower and here is my comment!

Thanks for the contest!


-- Tom

Michael Di Gesu said...

Wow, sounds fantastic! And Thanks, Elana for the copy of From the query to call!

Have a great day... you've made mine.

Michael

Michael G-G said...

I second (third, and fourth) everyone's admiration for "From the Query to the Call." It is magnificent. Elana has a really sharp eye, and she's FUNNY!

I think it's great that your daughter couldn't stop reading Possession, Natalie. When a 14-year-old choose a book over a screen, it's high praise for the book indeed. (I have evidence; I have a 14-year-old too!)

Angie said...

Both books sound awesome. Going to download the Query to Call now. Thanks so much.

angie
adktd2bks@yahoo.com

Casey McCormick said...

You guys won't regret downloading From the Query to the Call. It's seriously helpful.

And POSESSION! Squee! Good luck to everyone who enters.

Unknown said...

Your recommendation on From the Query to the Call is excellent. I downloaded it recently and it is a really great resource for writers who are at the query stage. Elana is so awesome for making this resource free to other writers.
Can't wait until Possession comes out. Already on my Kindle wish list.

Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban said...

Thank you so much for the Query to the Call access.

I'd love to read Possession.

Lindsay Cummings author said...

wow this rocks!!

americangirlie1991 AT yahoo DOT com

Bidisha said...

Fantastic post.

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love t read POSSESSION.

Jenny Lundquist said...

Great post, seriously can't wait for this book to release!

Jenna Cooper said...

I went to Life, the Universe, and Everything and Elana Johnson was there and had a panel on pitching. It was really great and helpful, I'm sure this book will be as well! And I really want to read Possession. :)

Vivien said...

Fantastic post!!
follower
I cannot wait to read this book :)

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Eliza Tilton said...

I used FROM THE QUERY TO THE CALL to sort out my mess of a letter. It is an amazing resource and one I recommend to anyone struggling with their query.

Can't wait to read the book!

Regina said...

Two awesome books one fabulous author.:)I would love to have an opportunity to own this book. I read the ARC, but as part of the POSSESSION Love Tour and had to pass it on :(

regina.linton@gmail.com

Laila Knight said...

This is extremely helpful. Thank you.

Valia Lind said...

Thank you so much for posting this information! I'm about to tackle my query letter and Im so nervous! *bites nails*
And I would love to read Possession! Thank you so much for the chance! :)

valialind@@yahoo.com

WordLuster said...

Thanks for sharing this awesome info!! I'm getting ready to write my query letter; so, it's exactly what I need right now!

Now what I want right now is Possession!!! I have been trying so hard to get my hands on a copy of this book! Thanks for doing the giveaway! :-)

Sophia Chang said...

Thanks so much for the giveaway!

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

I just knew teens would love this book! Elana is amazing and so is POSSESSION.

Also, her query book is fantastic.A must-have for querying writers.

Unknown said...

This book sounds great! Thanks for the post and giveaway!

Steve MC said...

Thanks so much for cluing me into THE QUERY TO THE CALL.

I knew it'd be useful, but I didn't expect all the color and fonts and sections that make it so easy to read and navigate through. Add the personalized voice and humor, and what was snoozeville in some books becomes a delight of a guide.

Karen said...

I downloaded this a while ago and it was SO helpful. And I'm so excited to read POSSESSION!

Jeigh said...

I'm so excited to download Elana's query book! I also got an ARC of Possession and loved it. I had to pass it on, but I'm still thinking about it. Great voice, great writer. Thanks for the link!

Ishta Mercurio said...

Can I second your suggestion that people enter any contest in which Elana is offering a query critique? I won a query critique from her, and it was FANTASTIC. She found every little spot where I had work to do and she nailed the problem. She's a Query Ninja!

And I really want to read her book. POSSESSION, I mean. I think the other one would be good too, practically speaking, but POSSESSION is one I just WANT.

bfav said...

Thanks for the link to query ebook. I'm in the thick of writing my query right now. Fingers crossed for Possession. cheers.

Nicole Zoltack said...

Elana is just plain awesome!

Katharina Gerlach said...

I'm a long time follower, and I'd love to win the book.

Kelley said...

I would love to win. Writtled at gmail dot com. I really wanted to get her query book as well, but the site won't load for me. Guess I'll try a different computer...

Paula said...

POSSESSION has been on my TRL since I first read the blurb about it. Plus, I love Elana's blog so I knew her book HAD to be great.

THANK YOU, Elana, SO SO much for the free download. I rushed to download before even I finished reading the blog post, crazy I know. Thank you, thank you for your constant generosity.

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway! I can't wait to read Possession. It will be my first dystopian.

Chris Phillips said...

Great giveaway.

kellye said...

already am a follower! would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win Elena's book. Thanks, Shannon!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a chance to win the ARC!! (!) And, I have From Query to Call-gearing up for a new round of queries soon, soon and very glad Elana offered this book to us. (pretty darn awesome imo!)

TerryLynnJohnson said...

oooh! What a great contest! I would love to win the ARC! Elana is awesome!