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Back to the Forum 2006
Archives Last week, in my essay about a fellow writer I promised to post my author's agent query letter. This is that letter. So far, with 20 queries out it has been completely ineffective.
March 17, 2006 Another Literary Agency
Dear Agent: I would like to send you a copy of my most recent book. The title is, "Will-Yam in the Land of Giants." The subtitle is "Interrupting child abuse and nurturing the genius." I would like you to consider representing this book to your publisher clients. It is, by far, the most important work I have ever done. I sincerely believe it could make an important contribution to our culture. At my own expense I have manufactured 500 copies of the book some of which I will be sending to people whom I hope will see the value in it. My goal is to give the book the exposure I believe it deserves. With that exposure I also hope to convince a large publisher to manufacture and distribute it in large quantities. I do not have the resources to do that. Besides, although I have played at book publishing for several years I must face the fact that I am no good at all at marketing. Hence, I hope to interest someone who is good and does have clout in the publishing industry. Although I am a writer and not a speaker , I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to promote this book. To that end, I can give you more details about myself, my mission, and this book. I think the most important thing about me is I am a 75 year old man who has not lost his interest in life, our country, or its people. Some may call me an old fool, but my mission and goal remains the creation of the good society. By that, I mean the society visualized by the great humanist thinkers like Rogers and Maslow. To promote that goal I am producing a series of five books which will be a critical analysis of Western culture from a historical perspective with emphasis on America. This is the first book of that series. In this book, I examine the issues of child abuse and nurturing in America, emphasizing the debilitating effect of child abuse on our culture. I insist that the key to America's return to greatness lies in the liberation of our children. I think the most important thing we can do to enable the liberation of our kids is to reevaluate and radically change our methods and tools of education. In part five of this book, I outline a plan for doing just that. In other parts of the book I deal with abuse and nurturing in the home, the school, and the community. I also take a look at previous efforts in child liberation and education. I hope you will give my book serious attention and will find it of interest and value. Although books of this type rarely become runaway best sellers, I do believe this one has a solid audience among parents and thoughtful people. I also believe it could penetrate the English speaking international market. At your request, I can provide additional copies for your publisher clients. I also look forward to the opportunity to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you:
William E. Steinman
Here is what Midwest Book Review had to say about this book: Philosopher and abuse survivor William Steinman shares his
deepest concerns and calls readers to action in Will-Yam in the
Land of Giants: Interrupting Child Abuse and Nurturing the Genius,
a discussion of the ills afflicting children today and what is
needed to stop the maltreatment and nurture children to their
fullest potential. At times emotional or sharp-tongued, Will-Yam
in the Land of Giants stresses very real social problems including
a stifling educational system that focuses too heavily on the
kids most in trouble, child sexual abuse, exploitation, the greed
of athletic companies in dictating the futures of sports players
too young to make life-changing decisions, and much more. The
testimony of Steinman's own childhood experiences - mild compared
to some yet so severely terrible they left permanent scars on
his life - drives home his call for reform. Some of his prospective
ideas may be controversial, such as completely eliminating competitive
sports and their accompanying elitism or big-company exploitation
from schools, and adopting a twelve-month school year as well
as a federal-only educational funding plan. Yet the very real
need to improve quality of life and opportunity for young people
who cannot speak up or vote for themselves is beyond dispute.
Highly recommended.
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