I know you may be tired of me, but any last commen

[Reece Manley]

In re: Crossing Twice: Answers from the Source [Non-Fiction, 49,000 words]

The ripping pain of the first rape haunted me, the horrible stench and the suffering as his heavy arms pinned me to the ground. Eight years old and I was learning life was never going to be easy. This was confirmed when twenty years later, a surgeon's mistake sent thousands of nerve bundles to their death, resulting in more crippling misery and permanent disability. It is no wonder I welcomed death when it found me.

Crossing Twice: Answers from the Source is an account of my death, transformation, and return – but more, it is a how-to manual offering a direct path to feeling better and performing more effectively right now, right here on Earth.

I was devastated when I was sent back to this life, and soon consumed with depression. I hadn’t yet recognized the gift I’d been given. It would take rehab and a complete re-examination of my principles as a helping professional to bring that gift out—the Horizons Approach, a counseling theory based on the “DNA” of God and our own spiritual selves. In my role as a pastoral counselor, I have been incorporating my new insights shared in Crossing Twice with my clients. The response has been amazing.

My message respects every faith path, but challenges current practices of counseling psychology. The book Crossing Twice supports my multimedia platforms which includes websites, podcasts, and live speaking engagements, through which I offer my message of hope, inspiration, inclusion and compassion.

I have worked as a helping professional for over 15 years. I now own and operate Horizons Counseling. I have a background that includes advanced degrees in psychology, counseling, divinity and human development. I am blessed to be bringing my approach to hundreds of people everyday through my blog, website, newsletters, direct sessions, and public speaking.

As a writer, I am featured on the online magazine Suite101.com. I oversee and contribute to the Parenting Teens section. Online I enjoy a readership of over 3,000 per day.

A proposal for Crossing Twice awaits your review. I look forward to answering any questions you may have about my background and ability to produce a compelling, inspirational nonfiction narrative.

Warm regards,

Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM®
reece@manley.net * H 214-206-1607 * Mobile 214-862-3675

[Cindy Kay]

Reece,

I'll give a more thorough critique in a bit, but wanted to quickly congradulate you on suceeding to get the self agrandising feel out of this query. I'm sure it was tough, but you've done it.

There are still lots of ways to make this better, but that one was your biggest hurdle and you've jumped it. Goog job.

[Reece Manley]

Thanks, Cindy. I appreciate your time and attention.

Reece

[Cindy Kay]

Reece,

Are your trying for an agent who sells mostly to the big, mainstream publishers? Or an agent that specializes in alternative presses?

I ask because, to me at least, this query assumes too much for mainstream publishers and needs an overhaul. If you're interested in an alternative type publisher then I think you're just looking at some tweaks.

Would help to know what you're striving for here.

[Chuck Shaw]

To go a little beyond Cindy, have you looked at the agent’s websites on Predators & Editors at http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm. This gives a fair cross section of agents and many of the websites have blogs for the individual agent. These blogs tell what each individual agent is looking for, what they have sold and what they want a query to contain.

IMHO one well written query sent to an agent who has sold works in the same genre and composed to match the agent's expectation is worth a couple of dozen generic queries shot gunned into cyberspace.

Best of all, this isn't an either/or decision. You can always shotgun a generic query. I recommend spending a little time selecting agents most likely to be interested in your work. Make a serious effort to build what they want in a query.

After doing a half dozen tailored queries, the generic ones will be much easier, because you will have looked at the many different ways to skin the agent...err cat.

If the agent is willing to take the time, and many have, to tell you how to write a query to them, why not take the free seminar?

To be more specific, your queries all seem to lack “grab”

I would recommend starting the query as you would start a manuscript-short sharp action sentences to hook the reader.

Something like; "I was raped when I was eight. I was crippled when I was twenty. I was ready, no anxious, to give up on life....." If you can’t catch the agent’s interest, nothing is possible. If you can, all things are possible. IMHO your starts are too loaded with description. They don’t move fast enough to grab attention.

I also suspect that such graphic prose without any preparatory build-up will put a few (maybe a lot) of agents off. It makes them think you are trying to substitute shock value for good writing. That works for short segments, but you’re trying to sell a manuscript, not a flash or short story.

This is one person’s opinion. Please balance it against all the others you have recieved, many by persons I am sure have more experience than I.

CS

[Reece Manley]

Hi Chuck,

What incredibly helpful input! Thank you for the links as well. I appreciate it very much. Have a great one!

R

[Reece Manley]

Hi Cindy,
Thanks for the question. Yes, I'm more an alternative/holistic touchy feely grab the gusto for the spiritual side kind of guy and so is my work.

So, I would set myself 1/3 off the mainstream!

R

[Cindy Kay]

Reece,

I wasn't asking about what kind of guy you are. I was asking what kind of publication you're looking for. The kind of query you'll want to interest an agent who works with mainstream presses is very different from teh query you'll want for an agent who often works with alternative presses.

[Gary Kessler]

You might try Hampton Roads Publishing Company (assuming they are still in business; they've recently moved their offices, and I haven't bothered to track them down).

They are a reputable medium-sized publisher in your topic area. (I edited one of the best-selling Neale Donald Walsch "Conversations with God" books for them). <http://www.hamptonroadspub.com/index.php>

[Greg Kosson]

I think the graphic language may put a lot of people off. Remember that they're looking for a reason to get your query off your desk (they've got hundred to read through) and if they think "ugh" for a split second, that's all they need.

It might capture certain people's attention, but I think it will cost you more than it helps you.