Query #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


I need to create a new query letter. 
Here's the latest (without a personal info paragraph, obviously). I'll be revising this story. Please help!

One comment I got from an agent asked Lenore's dad's thoughts and feelings on moving her to another school, especially with the danger to her.

I know the answer.

It isn't in the book.

It NEVER comes up.

I do know.

Why would include something in the query that isn't in the book???

Some have disliked Lenore's anxiety and neurodivergence. 

Okay... but... 

Some people don't like neurodivergent people. Sorry to upset the Boomers, but the Young Adult audiences I'm aiming toward are more tolerant. Maybe I need to work the words "liberal left-wing" into the description?? Are we there? 

"This book will absolutely be banned from Florida."

Maybe I need that disclaimer upfront? 

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Otis the Cow Bull

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


This is a short conversation Lenore has early on, before going on Teen Writer Season 3. It shows how she interacts with peers.

"An udder is an organ formed of two or four mammary glands on the females of dairy animals and ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep."

https://barnyard.fandom.com/wiki/Otis

Barnyard movie DVD on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VZtAcD

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

No Money #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


This is a scene where Lenore is aware of the lack of money her father has.

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Muffin #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Muffin is the name of Lenore's roommate. She prefers to be called Contessa. 

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Lenore #AtoZChallenge Main Character

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Lenore is the main character. Knowing as much as possible about her helps craft the story. A character sheet is normally only seen by the author, but I'll share this private look:

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Kiss #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Here's the scene where Lenore and Geoff, hiding (fully-clothed) in an empty bathtub, almost kiss. Geoff is especially cheesy with his lines.



Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Jainism #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Jainism is the religion of a contestant in Lenore's group. This scene takes place on family day.



Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Ideals #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Ideals.

Why does winning Teen Writer Season 3 mean so much to Lenore right now?

What does she fundamentally want and most believe in, that which fuels her life goals and principles?

Her family wants her ideal to be: (especially her abuela/ grandmother)

"Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld."

Lenore wants her ideal to be:

"Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."

But currently, she's dominated by the ideal of:

"Certainity of home." She's afraid she and her father will lose their home. And she's afraid because he plans to sell their house and move them to an apartment in another school district-- the one where the girl her mother killed had attended school. He sees it as a way to save money. She sees a school full of students who hate her even more than the ones at her current school. (Hated for her mother's crime.)

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Hello Harvard Housekeeper #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Three "h" words in this excerpt are Hello, Harvard, and Housekeeper. Together, they make a kind of catchy title. 

Once Lenore "accepts the call" as they say in the Hero's Journey format, she goes to the set of Teen Writer Season 3. It's set in an actual private school, part of which is being renovated. The contestants are being shown around and stuff. It's basically "B roll," mostly just establishing the setting quickly. 

Not much is revealed about Lenore here, other than perhaps establishing her economic background. 



Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Geoff #AtoZchallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Geoff.

I can't bring myself to call this character the "romantic interest." 

Something does happen between him and Lenore. But he lies about it and creates a rumor about doing intimate actions with Lenore. I see him as pond scum. She may be more forgiving and tolerant than I am.

Many days later, family day happens. And Geoff fakes a relationship with Lenore. But Lenore's roommate calls him out.



Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

E F #AtoZChallenge Ephraim and Franco

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


I fell behind because my wrist isn't cooperating with my typing desire.

Ephraim and Franco.

Ephraim is Muffin's stepfather, or "bonus parent" as they say in her family.

Franco is Lenore, the protagonist's, surname. 

This scene is after Lenore has a negative experience with a guy, a fellow Teen Writer contestant. Muffin references Lenore's dad's former football career. 🏈 And how Lenore's mother had a hit-and-run that killed a girl Lenore's age, though the cause was related to saving a life. 

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Drishyana #AtoZchallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Drishyana is one of the Teen Writer contestants. Lenore realizes how much she doesn't know about cultures and that she even excludes her own culture. This will help her broaden her horizons as the story goes on,



Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Contessa #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Lenore has a roommate at the summer tv reality show. Muffin goes by the nickname Contessa.

There's tension almost immediately. 

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

🖱https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

I just joined this group today. I guess I was blogging back in the late 90s, but that was just rambles. Did MySpace count? I think I had a blog there.

Anyway. I married my husband in 2007. And I get along really well with his family. Even really extended members, like an adopted cousin. J Lenni Dorner. 

And he talked me into A to Z.

I'm also besties with Jayden, who does the forms and spreadsheets. 

Okay, so, Im getting insecure because this YA manuscript keeps getting rejected. Why can't someone be older before celebrating their 15th birthday? 

"Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love (previously known as The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia) is the latest show to be canceled by Netflix, with the series created by Mario Lopez coming to an end after 15 episodes." Yeah, I know they had her celebrate two birthdays at once on that show, her 15 and 16. But that was a cheesy tv copout. (And on a show with decent writing otherwise!) 

But I believe there are 14yo latina readers. And younger!

I believe there is an audience. 

Hopefully this month will help me polish enough to find it.

Beginning #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


Lenore comes off as either unlikable or easy to identify with-- depending on how the reader did in school and how often they had to "carry" a group or suffer a lower grade.  


Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗

Aramingo character #AtoZChallenge

My April 2024 A to Z Challenge blogging theme is to revise a YA novel I've been working on for almost a decade and then generate a new and better query letter to send in the hopes of traditional publication.
I want to publish that way because I believe it will give the book the best distribution, especially in libraries where underrepresented young people could borrow it. The target audience is teenagers who have an incarcerated family member, teens who are treated as outcasts for situations beyond their control, and Latinas preparing for their quinceañera.
Read more in my theme reveal post: https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-2024-atozchallenge-and-wep.html


It seems like an odd place to start because this character isn't really a primary one. She's mostly important in Act 1, to establish Lenore's character. But, the alphabet is part of the challenge! 

Aramingo is Lenore's best friend. Here's a scene that reveals she's the kind of teenager who tries to do the right thing, but gets burned for it.

In this scene, the girls are in a graveyard with Aramingo's family, cleaning the tombstones of relatives and leaving flowers and such. This is where Aramingo creates the goal for Lenore to get a boyfriend, or at least meet someone she could ask on a date.

Despite being the same age, Aramigo is a mentor to Lenore in some ways. She's very laid back and relaxed. She really wants her best friend to be happy. 

Her role is fairly minor, as the majority of the story will take place in the summer, when the girls will be apart. Sure, they keep in touch, but it isn't the same. 

There's no reason she'd be mentioned in the query letter.

Feedback is needed! I'm revising, so please make suggestions if you have any. 💗