While many publishing houses are closed to submissions, querying editors is still a possibility in some circumstances, and it can definitely lead to publication. Today we are celebrating Sub It Club member, Marcie Wessels and the release of her debut picture book! Marcie is here to tell us how she queried her editor directly and share her query letter for PIRATE’S LULLABY: MUTINY AT BEDTIME.
I began writing for children in Fall 2011. After taking a series of three classes at the University of California Extension, I attended SCBWI Editor’s Day in Orange County. One of the benefits of attending SCBWI events is the ability to submit a manuscript directly to an editor at a closed publishing house. After the conference, I decided to take a chance and submit a manuscript that felt like it might be a good match with one of the editors. Here is my query letter.
October 15, 2012
Frances Gilbert, Editorial Director
Doubleday Children’s Books
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
New York, NY XXXXX
Dear Frances,
It was a pleasure to meet you at the SCBWI Editor’s Day in Orange County. The revitalization of Doubleday’s children’s book list is exciting news!
Kids love pirates and characters like Captain Hook have captured the hearts and minds of generations of readers. Although there are a number of stories about pirates for older children, there are very few bedtime books about pirates for the 0-5 age group. My children’s picture book, A PIRATE LULLABY (180 words), fills this void in the children’s picture book market.
A PIRATE LULLABY is a lyrical bedtime tale in which young SLEEPYHEAD worries that he will miss out on fun filled swashbuckling adventures if he goes to sleep. PAPA PIRATE tucks him into bed and tries to reassure his son. The conversation between the two has a surprising result and pirate lovers young and old will delight in reading a twist on the classic bedtime routine.
Although I am a landlubber, I live near the ocean and come from seafaring stock; my grandparents lived on a lake and spent their days fishing while my parents owned a recreational sailboat. I am a former college professor and author of a Spanish language conversation textbook, Revista: conversación sin barreras (2nd edition, Vista Higher Learning, 2006), and several articles about Latin American film and literature. Currently, I am a stay-at-home mom who dedicates her time to writing for children. I am a member of SCBWI.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Marcie Wessels
Encl.
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Although this query letter did not land me an offer, I did receive a very nice (and detailed) feedback letter with the offer to revise and resubmit. I spent three months revising and resubmitted in January 2013. By March, I had an offer. My debut picture book, PIRATE’S LULLABY: MUTINY AT BEDTIME (Doubleday BFYR), illustrated by Tim Bowers, releases on August 25, 2015.
Well done Marcie! Thank you for sharing with us. We love being able to share your great news! To celebrate the release of her debut picture book Marcie is giving away an autographed copy right here on the Sub It Club blog! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. Feel free to tweet/facebook/share this post and let us know in your comment for extra entries. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Entries close Monday, August 31st and we’ll announce the winner soon after. Good luck mateys!
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Marcie Wessels received a B.A. in English and Spanish from John Carroll University, an M.A. in Spanish from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from Tulane University. Pirate’s Lullaby: Mutiny at Bedtime (Doubleday BFYR), illustrated by Tim Bowers, is her first children’s picture book. She lives with her husband and their two children in San Diego, California. Find out more about Marcie and link up with her at her website marciewessels.com.
Congratulations Marcie!
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Thanks, matey! All the best to you in your writing journey!
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Marcie, Thank you for sharing your query letter. It’s exciting to read about your success with an editor. And I agree that your pirate PB fills a void. Tweeting!
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Thanks for your kind words and the tweet! I appreciate your enthusiasm and support.
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I am a bit of a voyeur when it comes to houses and query letters…LOL! I love seeing what people do with theirs, and try to learn what to apply to my own. Thanks for sharing what works and congratulations on your debut book!
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How to Write Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Cool was helpful to me. Have you seen Pat Zietlow Miller’s query letter for Sophie’s Squash? A really great PB query letter example. http://carissamina.blogspot.com/2015/02/first-time-picture-book-author-cover.html
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I don’t think I’ve seen Pat’s letter, so thank you for the link, Marcie! Embarrassingly, I think I have Lisa Cool’s book, but I thought it was for magazine queries so I’ve not looked at it in years (since the days when I submitted stuff to magazines). Thank you, also, for the reminder to check out that book again!
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You are correct about Cool’s book but it helped me with developing my pitch. Pat’s letter is even better if you write PBs. 🙂
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I found my copy of Cool’s book after reading your reply! 🙂 Will study that and Pat’s letter…and crossing my fingers. LOL! Thanks again!
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Excellent PB, thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful query letter. Best of luck.
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Thanks so much! All the best to you in your writing journey, too, matey!
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Thank you for sharing your query and congratulations on your book!!! As an aside, I received my M.A. in French from Bowling Green State University! (small world) 😉
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Really? That’s great. I was there from 94-96. And you?
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I was there from 91-98, undergrad and graduate school, with some time in between living in France.
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Congratumations on this book! Looks like a great read for my little pirate!
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Thank you! I hope your wee mutineer loves it! It was inspired by son and is loosely based on my daughter’s bedtime shenanigans.
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Kids afore pirates and will love your book. The art is amazing. Thanks for sharing Marcie.
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Thanks, Keila! I feel so lucky to have been paired with the incredibly talented Tim Bowers. He did such an amazing job. He really captured the loving father and son relationship, the mischievous personality of Ned and included all sorts of wonderful little details that I’m sure kids and parents will enjoy.
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Thank you for Sharing with us Marcie 🙂 I always feel intimidated when I sit down to write one. Congratulations!
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I know! Me too. That’s why I appreciate Sub It Club so much. Everyone is so generous with their advice and help. Keep going, Charlotte!
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Love it! 😀 Thanks so much. And it’s releasing TOMORROW!!! Can’t wait to have a book doing that. The picture book I have sold is still awaiting an illustrator, so I’m not holding my breath about when I get to hold my book. So, tomorrow, I must go find your book.
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Congrats to you, Verlie! That’s wonderful news! Waiting is the hardest part (that and the whole writing thing). I think it took a year and a half from receiving the offer to seeing sketches (and I think that was an incredibly fast turn around time). But just wait, it’s such a wonderful and moving moment when you finally see the art.
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Can’t wait to read this to my boys! Thanks for your inspirational story.
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I hope your wee mutineers love it! Thanks for your enthusiasm and support!
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Thanks for sharing your letter and how you landed a contract. Cute book!
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Thanks! I hope you like the book. So many things could have gone wrong in the process. It really was a combination of luck and hard, hard work.
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Congratulations Marcie! This sounds like a wonderful bedtime story to add to my “gifting” list. Thank you so much for sharing your letter and your inspiring publishing story.
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Thank you, Mary! So thoughtful of you to add my book to your go to list of gifts. I’m honored. Thank you for your enthusiasm and support!
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Thanks for sharing, Marcie! Your book looks so great I’ve added the pre-order to my Amazon cart. 🙂
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Shiver me timbers, Ruth! Thank you! I hope you love it!
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Congrats! Very effective way to find out if an idea will resonate.
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I really was so very lucky. I could have received a form rejection. I’m so grateful to my editor for her keen eyes. She saw potential in the manuscript and gave me feedback. The magic really happened in revision. BTW, I’m a big fan of your work. Such great expression and humor. My nine year old and I are reading Earthling! right now.
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Congrats, Marcie! Looks like a great read. Love the title!
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Thank you! Hope you enjoy it!
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This is such a great interview. Well done, Marcie on the letter, your revision and your success! Looking forward to reading the book.
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The letter was only the second I had ever written. I’m a bit embarrassed by it but thought that it was worth sharing with the world. I give myself an A for personalizing but I could have polished my pitch and bio a bit more.
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The book sounds like a lot of fun!
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Thanks, Sue. I hope you enjoy it!
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Great interview Marcie. Thanks for sharing your query letter. The book sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to read it.
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Thank you, Wendy! Hope the query letter is helpful and I hope you enjoy the book!
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Congratulations! Can’t wait to read your book. 🙂
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Thank you, Beth! Hope you enjoy…if not, you’ll have to walk the plank! Just kidding! 😉
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I’m excited to read this book. Congrats!
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Thank you! Enjoy!
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This looks like an adorable book!
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Thank you, matey! Hope you enjoy it.
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Your book looks like great fun and what an inviting book cover!
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Thank you! I agree. Tim Bowers did an amazing job with the artwork. He’s so incredibly talented.
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This is brilliant, Marcie! Thank you so much for sharing your good news, as well as your journey to publication…so inspiring! You’ve laid out a common sense plan for all of us. 😉
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Thanks for the kind words, matey! Cheering you on in your writing journey!
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I love pirate picture books and this one is adorable. “Argh, me hearty. I want it!”
Thanks for sharing your road to success. 🙂
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Shiver me timbers. Ye’d make a fine pirate! All the best to you!
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Love those success stories. Your book sounds like a real treasure.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Sherri! All the best to you in your writing journey!
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Oh I love reading about these queries that worked! Going to share on twitter too.
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Thank you for sharing on Twitter! The query opened the door but a lot of elbow grease (revision) landed me the deal. All the best to you!
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Just goes to show perseverance pays off. Great cover. I would love to review it for you at Kid lit Reviews!
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Thank you! A copy should be on your way soon, matey!
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This sounds like a great story. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Thank you! All the best to you in your writing journey.
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I did a random number generation and we have a winner:
Congratulations WENDY ENGELMAN, you get the treasure! The autographed copy of PIRATE’S LULLABY: MUTINY AT BEDTIME is yours!
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