SAMPLE QUERY LETTER

A query letter tells the editor about the book you would like to write. It should be well written and make the editor want to know more about your idea.

Dear Editor,

If you are interested in ships and the sea, half-hulls will inspire you with the nautical heritage of years gone by. Every major shipyard of the 1800s employed a model maker. They held a very special place in the shipyards and in the shipbuilding industry as a whole. Their half-hull models of ships were used to make all the determinations that were vital to the construction of the hull: lines, ballasts, plates, framing, and so on. In essence, the model makers were the first naval architects.

The half-hulls of today are the revival of this working art form. The shipbuilder's skills are being rediscovered by the woodworker as he works to reproduce accurate models of famous vessels. The finished models are taking their places on the walls of offices and homes much as they did in the earlier days, savoring and preserving some of our nautical heritage.

As a professional woodcarver and creator of half-hulls, I am inspired by the vessels I create. I want to bring out the natural beauty of the wood and the best overall design in the half-hull vessels I carve. This art form is a part of our history, and in today's hi-tech society, being aware of our heritage is most important. I want to share this knowledge through my skill with chisels, blades and sanders.

The book I am proposing will appeal to both beginning and advanced woodcarvers who are looking for a new challenge. I will cover all of the basic information about the art form, including wood choice, tools and mountings. I will show the reader how to carve half-hull ships in step-by-step photos of the process from beginning to end. I will also include patterns for two dozen of the best-known ships to have sailed the seas, including the Titanic and the Queen Anne. A history of half-hull ships will serve as an introduction to the book.

Enclosed please find an outline of my book idea, two sample patterns and photographs of my work. In addition, you may also like to visit my website.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

See Book Query FAQs

See Sample Outline