QueryTracker.net Weekly Round-Up 1/16/09

Well, this wraps up another week for the QueryTracker.net blog gang! A lot of awesome stuff going on in the past few days, so here are the current highlights:

Through the Booking Glass...

In publishing tidbits... several cool things to check out on industry blogs this week:

• First, you might like to check out guest blogger Patricia Rockwell's discussion of liar behavior on Mysterious Matters.

• Also, the editors over at Redlines and Deadlines posted about using online genealogy websites to help keep track of your characters' relationships.

• And if you haven't been over there already, head over to agent Rachelle Gardner's blog to read her list of 10 ways to jump-start your writing.

House of (Literary) Representatives...

In agenting news:

• Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, formerly with FinePrint Lit, has now joined Nancy Coffey. You can read an interview with Joanna regarding the move on Colleen Lindsay's blog.

• And somehow in the midst of slogging through over 3000 submissions to the Firebrand Query Holiday, agent Nadia Cornier found the time to build her own website, which you may want to keep an eye on.

In It to Win It...

In contest news:

• First, a hearty congratulations to this week's winner of the QueryTracker.net Link Lotto!

Amy Simonson

Check out her blog at amy-thewriterscloset.blogspot.com.

Amy has won a year of free QueryTracker.net Premium Membership

• On Wednesday, Archetype touched on the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The contest starts in just a couple of weeks, so if you're planning on entering it's a good idea to get started on your pitch and decide where (between 3000 and 5000 words) to end your opening excerpt.

There are several videos available through CreateSpace regarding the ABNA.

1. For basic planning information
2. For publishing tips
3. For creating online previews

• Colleen Lindsay's 140 character query contest is closed to new entries, but the ones already posted are definitely worth a read!

• Finally, on Miss Snark's First Victim, the current Secret Agent edition of Are You Hooked? is in full editing swing. Be sure to stop by and read the entries as well as the feedback. And remember to tune in on Monday when the Secret Agent's identity and the winners will be revealed!

QT Success Stories!!

In my opinion, there is no greater resource for finding a literary agent than QueryTracker.net. And, as proof, I present THREE new success stories from recently agented authors!

• Deidra Kerce recently signed with agent Albert Longden of Albert T. Longden Agency. You can read her interview and see her successful query letter here.

• Kiki Anika recently signed with agent Maya Rock of Writers House. You can see read her interview and see her successful query letter here.

• Inez Kelley recently signed with agent Jamie Brenner of Artists and Artisans Inc. You can read her interview here.

Have a great weekend, QT's! I'll be back Monday with an in-depth look at the query stats features of QueryTracker.net.