How to use this Page

Are you brave enough to face the Query Shark? Have you mastered the art of the query letter? That's the one you write to ask an agent or publisher if they'd consider your masterpiece. In America there are a number of great blogs run by agents or editors that let people send their's in for assessment. Among the ones I regularly check out are those by Nathan Bransford, Editorial Anonymous and Query Shark. They aren't just full of fantastic advice but they're also very entertaining and it's fascinating reading what proposals people have put out there. My favourite is Query Shark and for a while now I've been toying with the idea of sending my query letter to her. I'm fairly happy with the letters I have sent out in the past, and generally they prompt a request for sample chapters, but I know they could be improved. Hopefully she won't rip me to shreds if she opts to post my query! * Query Shark is run by Janet Reid, a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management based in New York City, who specialises in crime fiction - but looks at all kinds of genres. On her blog she says: "I'll be glad to receive a query letter from you; guidelines to help you decide if I'm looking for what you write are below. There are several posts labelled "query pitfalls" and "annoy me" that may help you avoid some common mistakes when querying." How Query Shark Works You can send a query letter to the Shark. It might get posted and critiqued. It might not. You'll know either way. You can send a revised query letter after the critique. You MUST include the post number for it to be posted and critiqued as well. To send work to the shark: email your query letter to [email protected] You MUST put Query Shark in the subject line to have it be considered for the blog. Not all queries will be critiqued - I'll let you know if mine is. http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ She has another blog too at http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

Adults face many challenges when helping children understand the world around them. Some choose to pretend that the world is without its struggles and rush their children past the realities of their communities. When it’s difficult to accept the world the way it is as an adult, it’s pretty much impossible to explain it to the next generation, the one that may be able to make things better.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with social worker and children’s book author and illustrator Tim Huff about his book The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge. They talk about the struggles Tim faced in getting his book published and how adults can help children understand homeless people.

Books and resources discussed:

• The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge
  
• Light Patrol (street outreach program)