Cole Gibsen has recently signed with agent Chris Richman of Firebrand Literary Agency. I am always happy to see a QueryTracker member succeed, but there is a small group of writers who have been part of QT and the QT forum from almost the beginning, and it has been my pleasure to get to know them personally. So when one of them lands an agent, it is extra special because they are my friends.  Cole is one of those I am proud to call a friend.  Congratulations Cole, and good luck.


QueryTracker: How long have you been writing?

Cole Gibsen: I discovered my love of writing in Mrs. Lochman’s 6th grade class after receiving a year-long assignment to write a novel.

I continued to write short stories up until high school when teenage angst and hormones turned my tastes to poetry.

College brought about another change for me. When I discovered that I would need money to eat, I was able to obtain monetary compensation for my writing in the only avenue I found open: I put my poetry to music and joined a band.

Luckily for me, (and people who love music), I quit the band a few years later and decided to devote my time to my true love – Paranormal Fiction.



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

CG: Um…CONSTANTLY!!! I think being bi-polar and a writer comes hand-in-hand. I was nano-seconds away from scrapping the project that landed me an agent, but my awesome and very dear friends that I made through QT talked me down from the ledge. I would not be here if it weren’t for them.



QT: Is this your first book?

CG: Thankfully, my sixth grade masterpiece – a riveting tale about a high school girl dealing with her abusive boyfriend, addiction to drugs, and brain tumor – is shelved indefinitely.

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

CG: I rewrote the last version in seven months.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

CG: In college I studied abnormal psychology – does that count?

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

CG: I currently work full time, so I often need to write on my lunch breaks which can be really difficult.

Here’s what I wish would happen:

I grab my laptop and head into the break room, but not before I call Bruno (my hired muscle) on my cell phone. Bruno meets me in the break room and stands behind me and gently tapping his crowbar against his hand while I type. If anyone approaches me for small talk or with a work-related question, Bruno lets out a growl and then asks, “Is this really worth a shattered knee cap?” It never is.

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

CG: KATANA was rewritten four times, and changed genres once.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

CG: I belong to two local crit groups and a cyber crit group. The fourth group wouldn’t have me.

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

CG: I tried to outline, but my MC beat me into submission until I let her have her way.

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

CG: I queried in the wrong genre for over a year with 100+ rejections. Once I got the genre right, it only took three months.

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

CG: I looked for an agent I could relate too. In one particular case, I queried an agent just because she was obsessed with a certain RPG video game.

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

CG: I always tried to include a sentence or two as to why I chose them.

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

CG: Don’t do alone! Join a critique group or an online forum (such as the one on Query Tracker). I never would have made it as far as I have without the support and help of my friends.

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

Agent X

Address

Dear Agent X,

Your agency appeals to me because of your interest in young adult novels and for the reputation you’ve established for representing authors who have a passion for excellence and commitment.

Seventeen-year-old Rileigh Martin wanted to spend her summer vacation working in a beauty salon. Unfortunately, fighting ninja is a full time job in itself. After thwarting a mugging in the parking lot, Rileigh awakens the spirit of an ancient samurai warrior inside of her. As Rileigh fights to keep the spirit from taking her over completely, the appearance of a mysterious martial arts instructor as well as an unknown enemy only increase her problems.

KATANA is a young adult urban fantasy with elements of romance and comedy, complete at 70,000 words.

I would be happy to submit sample pages of KATANA upon your request.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cole Gibsen

QT: And check out Cole's website for more: www.colegibsen.com/