I have decided to start querying agents again despite the harrowing task of trying to figure out exactly what it is any of them are looking for. Sadly, none of them appear to be looking for any one particular thing. I have reviewed templates for the perfect query letter from one agent but quickly discovered on another’s blog that any such template would be a waste of their time and they are looking for exactly the opposite of said exercise.

I continue to find examples of best-selling authors who have written for parents, for mothers, using humour, about their children, about trying to balance being a parent and being a….human. Isn’t that exactly what I’m doing? Why can’t I figure this process out?

I am seeing an unprecedented number of agents who are accepting “vampire lit” manuscripts. Apparently, that is what is selling right now, a fad that will soon pass, unlike living with children, timeless classic written all over it. I’m thinking this notion of humans falling in love with vampires can only have legs for so long and yet, there are trails of blood seeping from every display case in every bookstore.

I have considered changing all of the references to my children to “bats” and any use of the pronoun “I” to “vampire” and seeing if that turns any heads. My husband claims it’s as easy as an F2 button on the keyboard which will take some formula and quickly change my manuscript, if in fact that is what this is and re-define this mom-lit, women’s commercial narrative, non-fiction, parenting, publication and turn it immediately into a YA fantasy, vampire-lit, fiction novel and voila! Best seller.