Getting Pitch Ready Day Twelve: Reaching Out to Your Editor

 

Let's say that your publisher is one of those publishers that only likes to work with agents: By now you know the editor at that publishing house, you know what books they have worked on, and that your book would fit on their list. And that editor has become a little familiar with your name from liking and commenting on their Facebook posts or Instagram posts. You can send a friendly short email to the editor complimenting them on the books of theirs you like and that you have a project if they would like to take a look. They will often say yes, send it along. In this case, I send an email with a pdf of my book dummy. 

 

 

Here is an example of an email that I wrote:

 

 

Hi Editor's name,

 

I saw (name of the book they edited) in the Original Art Show last night. Congrats on that award! It's such a beauty! I have a book project called The River I'd like to share with you. I've just returned from a two-week artist's residency in Mexico where I worked on this book and I have plans to return there to finish it. Let me know if you would like to take a look.

 

 

My best,

 

Kristen Balouch

www.kristenbalouch.com

 

Note:

 

I often will attach a small jpeg illustration (so that it looks like a little thumbnail) from the project to help entice the editor.