From Michael Stearns of Firebrand Literary
(agent interview)

The ability to write an amazing first chapter is a much more important skill, as a novelist, than the ability to write a good query letter. So as a gift for the holidays, we've decided to skip the query stage.

That's why we're announcing the first annual Firebrand Query Holiday-—to support authors who want to spend their time and energy perfecting their manuscripts and not just polishing their sales skills.

We want to read your first chapter.

Our usual, query-based submission system will be closed for a short period (don't worry, any query that was already in our system will be answered even while the system is "down"). And then--beginning on Dec. 15 and ending on Jan. 15—-we will be accepting sample chapters via a unique email address: queryholiday@gmail.com.

We pledge to review all samples by the end of January, and will respond to those that we are interested in no later than Feb. 1.

Who should submit?

We're looking for talented authors--with completed books--who are interested in working closely with an agent before and after a publishing deal is done. If you're interested in revising your manuscript, partnering with an agent, and marketing your book—you've come to the right place.

It doesn't matter if you've queried Firebrand before—-all that matters is that you are ready to submit the best material you have to offer.

Instructions on What and How to Submit

1. Paste the first chapter/twenty pages of your most polished work into a new word document. On a cover page provide the title of your work, the market, the word count of the entire manuscript, and your name, phone number, and email address.

2. Email this material as a word document attachment to: queryholiday@gmail.com between Dec. 15 and midnight Jan. 15.

3. If we like what we read, you will hear from us by February 1.

If you don't hear from us, we are sorry to say that have we passed on your manuscript. You should feel free to query us after Query Holiday with other works, through our normal website submission system guidelines.

Happy holidays!

Read a Cynsations interview with Michael.