Query Tracker: How long have you been writing?

Colleen Rowan Kosinski: I started writing about seven years ago. I was trained as a fine artist, and I'd worked on private commissions for over fifteen years before picking up a writing pen.

QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?

CRK: Of course! I think practically everyone who works in the arts (writers, artists, dancers, musicians, actors) have doubted whether they would ever succeed. My wonderful beta critiquers, especially Lisa Amowitz, could always convince me to go on. Also, my husband is very supportive and encouraged me to keep trying.

QT: Is this your first book?

CRK: No. I've written four picture books, seven novels, and my current project (which is technically non-fiction, but deals with faery lore).

QT: How long have you been working on this book?

CRK: After visiting Ireland last year, I had the idea for this book and worked on it for a few months. I put it away, and wrote two more novels. I pulled it out of the drawer about a month ago.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

CRK: No, yet I always enjoyed my college writing classes.

QT: Do you follow a writing "routine" or schedule?

CRK: Pretty much (three boys at home sometimes make me alter my intended plans). I usually sit down at my desk at 8:30 am, and stop around five pm. Half hour lunch break at 12pm. Of course, even though I'm at my computer I may not be actually writing. I may visit a few blogs, write an entry in my own blog, check out facebook, or work on research.

QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?

CRK: Since this book is non-fiction, I submitted a proposal. The entire book has not been written yet. My novels always go through many revisions!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

CRK: Yes. Sarah Pinneo played a huge part in helping me with this book. My novels have been read by Lisa Amowitz, Leah Clifford, and Jessica Verday--all query tracker members. I also have two other very talented writer friends who exchange with me--Jenn Hubbard (her fantastic book, The Secret Year comes out soon), and Keri Mikulski (author of Screwball and Change Up).

QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?

CRK: This book is outlined. My novels are usually loosely outlined.

QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?

CRK: I sent out my first query June 23, 2009. Had three offers by the end of the month.

I queried agents for my first novel in July of '06.

Funny story about my picture books. I had written a story for a picture book illustration class in college. Years later, bored with painting, I thought I'd get an agent, and have that book published. Just like that, right. Can you believe I received an offer of representation after only querying two agents! How easy, I thought (ha!) I signed with him in 2002. We worked on a couple of projects, but before he was able to sell any of them, he decided that he wasn't happy working as an agent anymore. I was disappointed, but decided I wanted to write novels anyway. I finished my first novel, queried agents, and had a few people ask for fulls and partials. Nobody offered representation. How could that be? It only took two queries last time. I quickly learned that my first experience had been a crazy fluke.

QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?

CRK: I sent out twenty-three email queries. The agents that offered representation contacted me the next day.

QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?

CRK: I used the wonderful querytracker agent search tool. I wanted an agent that represented cookbooks (I'd describe this book as a faery book with recipes), and YA fiction.

QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?

CRK: I mentioned to one agent that I knew one of her clients, and she spoke very highly of her agency. The rest received the basic query. The agent with the tailored letter is the one I went with, but I've always been a fan of this agent (Rosemary Stimola).

QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?

CRK:
Find critique partners that tell you the truth--no sugar-coating.

Finish your novel. Revise (many times). Polish. Research agents. Send a few queries. No takers? Tweak query, and try again. While waiting for responses, start your next novel. Repeat previous steps.

Don't give up. If writing is your passion, you won't be able to stop. Oh, try to attend conferences, and read, read, read. I try to read at least one book (in my genre) every week.

Also, be a beta reader, you really do learn from other people's mistakes.

QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?

Dear Agent X,

I am writing you today with my cookbook proposal for BAKING FOR THE FEY: HOW TO PLACATE FAERIES AND IMPROVE YOUR LUCK

Across the emerald green glens of Ireland, faeries flit across grassy fields and frolic in ancient forests. Some may call the belief in their existence fanciful folklore, but to others faeries are as real as the butterflies and bees that visit their well-tended gardens.

For centuries, the magical world of faeries has held an alluring appeal. On the remote farms and in the local pubs of The Emerald Isle, stories of the fey abound. On a recent trip, far from the tourist areas, the local legend sparked both my culinary and folkloric imagination.

Faeries are believed to love sweets—and as an attempt to remain on good terms with them, portions of treats are left at night in the garden – the faeries’ favorite haunt. In return for the homeowner’s kindness, faeries watch over the house and the family’s well-being. To this day, many Irish folk still pay tribute to faeries by leaving treats for them in their gardens.

The villagers also believe that if you deny the local faeries the sweets they crave, the fey (also called wee-folk) will become angry and create chaos in their life. The faeries may even go as far as to curse the home.

One of the most important ingredients in baking for faeries is the cook’s mindset during the baking process. Faeries only ingest the positive essences contained in food. They don’t eat the physical food (unless they take an animal form and consume it). The next morning any leftovers are thrown away -- since the fey have already gobbled up the good feelings.

Along with recipes, Baking for the Fey will include traditional faerie lore, a copy of the Ogham (thought to be a form of writing understood by faeries), photographs of the finished baked product, and illustrations.

The recipes contained in this book are based on traditional Irish desserts that I’ve tested and tweaked. Because the baker is to bake while in a happy and unstressed mood, the recipes are not very complicated. The cookbook aims to promote a positive state of mind along with allowing the reader to bake delicious desserts.

Buyers of this book will include those who have a love for faery related products, and also, those looking for a fun book on the subject of baking. I would like this book not only to be a recipe book, but also a beautiful piece of art (in the vein of Brian Froud’s books). As I am an artist, I have illustrations which are available for inclusion (but it is fine with me if an editor feels another artist would be better suited for the project.)

On the following pages I have provided:

1. Marketing information illustrating the tremendous public interest in faerie lore

2. An outline of BAKING FOR THE FEY

3. Sample recipes. I anticipate that the final draft will contain between 50-70 recipes.

4. My biography

 

Sincerely,

Colleen Rowan Kosinski