HOOKED: Example of a BOOK Proposal That Did! 5 day KDP FREE4Writers ebook

HOOKED: Example of a BOOK Proposal That Did!

For nonfiction writers crafting book proposals Kindle Edition

Free ebook on KDP, 5/12-5/16/2025 click here

In 2005, I crafted a book proposal that the editor at St Martin’s liked enough to want to sell provided I offered two sample chapters of query letters that turned into books.

I had included one sample chapter and eagerly set out to add the second sample chapter.
Here’s where this nonfiction writer I hit a brick wall.
The industry was changing far faster than I appreciated. The sample chapter I included came from an agent I knew well. As I pitched to agents on my wishlist, no one- not one-could offer a query letter that sold the project. Of the twenty or so I pitched my request to, most did not rely. Of those who did, ALL said they could not offer a letter because the majority of their authors were referrals and query letters were not part of that process.
I learned something through this MANY month long process ,or time dump, depending on my mood when I think about it. Either the St Martin’s editor learned something too or she suspected what I had to learn the hard way: Most books don’t begin with query letters.