Query letter update: With my revision done (yay!), I’m back to working on my query letter story pitch. So far, I’ve got 17 versions, some similar with minor tweaks, some with more major differences. This is a process I started a couple weeks ago, and I did maybe four or five versions yesterday. Good news is, I think I’m finally in the right direction. A few more tweaks and I think I’ll be there. Fingers crossed.
Publishers Weekly put up a great article this week giving sales numbers of the biggest titles from 2009. (Thanks to Gregory for the link.) PW says series are still the biggest sellers, and all the usual suspects are there topping the list, Twilight, Percy Jackson, Wimpy Kid.
What’s wonderful is to see Aprilynne Pike’s Wings in the 100,000 copies on hardcover sold. Wings is her debut novel, and it’s great to see a debut novel do so well. Encouraging too. It’s also the first in a series, so expect to keep seeing them on this list.
The other intersting thing is in the hardcover backlist titles, which are mostly the older classics, like the Dr. Seuss titles and Golden Books’ everlasting The Poky Little Puppy. It’s wonderful that these books are still being celebrated in new generations. It’s something we should strive for with our own titles.
If you’re looking for books to read, this is a great way to find them.
Write On!
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Thanks for the interesting link!
I liked Wings. I read quite a few YA paranormal titles in the last year, but that one really stuck with me. Of the books I read, Wings had the only MC who seemed to really question the odd things that were happening to her. I’m surprised I haven’t run across more MCs doing that.
Thanks for the input, Amy. I haven’t read Wings yet, but it sounds great. It’s on my to-read list, but because I’ve been writing middle grade, I’ve been mostly reading middle grade, with the exception of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series, with which I’m addicted.
Glad to know Wings lives up to my expectations.