Christine Kelly Reads and Writes

This is my own query I used to get an agent. This was featured on TSNOTYAW Books With Hooks segment where Emmy Nordstrom Higdon critiqued it. You can listen here.

Here it is:

Dear Megan,

Our reading interests seem similar. I also love Emily Henry, Talia Hibbert, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. I hope our interests continue to align with DANIELLE AND THE NINE DATES FROM HELL.

I am seeking representation for DANIELLE AND THE NINE DATES FROM HELL, a contemporary romance novel that is loosely inspired by the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Complete at 83,000 words, this story is for readers who enjoyed Exes and O’s by Amy Lea, stars a goal oriented MC similar to Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert.

Danielle Rogers has a mountain of debt, an unrequited crush on her coworker, with a knack for falling for the wrong guy. The solution to her problems comes when her roommates propose a bet: go on nine dates and they’ll cover her rent for a month.

Danielle figures the bet will be an easy win, but her first few dates flop in hellish fashion, and a complication appears in the form of Dr. Michael Proctor. He’s intelligent, handsome and always appears in the right place at the right time, rescuing Danielle date after date. Soon, Danielle begins to seek out Michael in the name of safety, threatening her chance to win the bet and Michael is all too willing to be her savior.

But Micheal has demons of his own, and when traumatic events from his past get in the way of their blossoming relationship, Danielle is left to fend off the remaining dates on her own. Love can be hell and Danielle has to figure out if Michael is the man of her dreams or just another bad date.

CW: Each of Danielle’s dates are a loose representation of each circle of hell. The more significant sins are reflected in a less serious manner due to their severity and out of date interpretation initially intended by Dante. This story includes talk of date rape drug, drugs and violence. 

I am a mother of two young boys. I work on my family’s vineyard in Michigan. When I’m not writing my next novel or making wine, I can be found drinking or reading (many times together!). 

Can I send you my completed manuscript?

Thank you for your consideration,

Christine Kelly

** Please note that there are some instances where CWs can be saved for the synopsis if you’d rather put it there, and the call to action at the end (Can I send you my completed manuscript?) are not mandatory and up to you whether to include.