Sample Book Proposal Query: Sick and Tired

Okay, for those of you who are considering the idea of sending a book query/proposal out into the great beyond, here's a sample to take a look at.  It feels rather overwhelming to me--all the information that had to go into one letter, but I tried to keep it compact so it didn't just run on and on.

This will be it for awhile. I'm taking the rest of the week off to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family (and have an exercise in discipline--forcing myself not to open this computer for 4-5 days!).

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Kimberly Rae

mailing address here

e-mail address here

Barbara Scott

WordServe Literary Agency

November 15, 2011

Dear Ms. Scott,

With nearly 1 out of 2 people in the US suffering some kind of chronic health condition (58% between the ages of 18 and 64), there are few topics more marketable than the topic of health.  Unfortunately, however, many books are specialized (diabetes, cancer, etc.) and/or written by people who themselves are not suffering the particular malady of which they write.

Where is the book about how it feels to realize and try to accept that you are now a person with chronic health problems? There is more to deal with than just getting the physical issues under control, including grief over giving up favorite activities, the difficulty accepting the idea of forever, the frustration over hearing, “But you don’t look sick!”

As a writer (published over 100 times in books, magazines, curriculum, guest blogs; work in 5 languages), spokesperson on human trafficking (interviewed in newspapers, radio shows, blogs, and once on TV, see www.stolenwoman.org) and a woman with 5 different health conditions (including Addison’s disease, asthma, and a brain cyst), I feel uniquely qualified to write a book titled SICK AND TIRED: HOW TO LIVE GRACIOUSLY WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS WHEN YOU’D RATHER JUST KICK SOMETHING!  I enjoy helping others not only gain practical insight on how to live with their condition, but also remind them that the joy of the Lord gives us strength every day as we struggle to not only survive, but thrive.

SICK AND TIRED will be highly marketable for several reasons:

1.      Sick people don’t get out much; they need to get their encouragement in ways that do not require personal interaction.

2.      People with chronic illness love to help other people with chronic illness—if one person likes the book, they’ll spread the word.

3.      There are few resources in the Christian world on living with chronic health issues. I personally have found that discouraging because the books I do find do not give me spiritual help.

4.      I don’t want to read a book on health problems that’s heavy and weighs me down. I want something that gives practical advice, and makes me laugh. I can’t find that book, so I’m writing it.

5.      The book could easily lead to a forum of people with chronic health issues (I would intend to create a blog, forum, or even a website for readers to connect and help each other), which would also be more free marketing, as well as good material for a following book (or two!).

6.      With 1 out of 2 people suffering from chronic health issues, it seems safe to say that nearly everyone in our country either has a health problem or loves someone who has a health problem. My book would be a great gift for either party. And when a health crisis hits, people want help and encouragement right away. My book would provide both.

SICK AND TIRED will contain 6 categories, including:

            You and Your Unhealthy Body

            Family, Friends, and a Few Nosey Strangers

            God . . . and Lesser Physicians

With fun and/or helpful chapter topics including:

            I Want a Day Off

            Doctors are just People at Work

            When You Love Someone with a Chronic Condition

            The I-Can’t-Help-It Syndrome

            Holidays and Other Family Affairs

            Chronic Illness and your Personal Temperament

            Food, Glorious, Annoying Food

            When Chicken Soup for the Soul Makes You Want to Gag

            Am I Allowed to be Crabby Today?

Each chapter will start with a quote (such as "Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away." Robert Orben), and end with a comic about health (I have contacted John MacPherson of MacPherson comics, and he is excited about the idea of being involved!).

Competing titles within the Christian market include:

After the Diagnosis: Transcending Chronic Illness by Julian Seifter, Simon & Schuster Trade Sales / 2010

Doing Well at Being Sick: Living with Chronic and Acute Illness by Wendy Wallace, Discovery House Publishers / 2010

Coping with Chronic Illness by H. Norman Wright, Lynn Ellis, Harvest House Publishers / 2010

I believe SICK AND TIRED will have a completely different collection of readers because of its focus on empathy, practical advice, and laughter--like hanging out with a bunch of friends, without having to go out and get exhausted!

A complete proposal is available. SICK AND TIRED will have 25 to 35 short chapters, and run anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 words, depending on publisher desire. Projected completion date is late July, 2012.
 

Would you be interested in partnering with me to get this highly-marketable message out to those who need it?  I enjoy personal marketing, especially through social media, and would be committed to marketing this book myself regardless which publisher chooses it.  I believe strongly that this book will help people and will sell well—a good combination!

Thank you for your time.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Rae

www.stolenwoman.org

www.stolenwoman.blogspot.com

FB: Human Trafficking Stolen Woman

SAMPLE CHAPTER SICK AND TIRED

Chapter 1

THE FREAK SIGN

“Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.” 

Mark Twain

            Sometimes