Another baby step has been taken...

For nearly a year I've worked on a query letter to send to agents.  I've written and re-written every word at least a million times, striving for perfection.  With a fifteen-second (or less) chance to make an impression, my one page must say exactly what I mean in order to hook an agent into selling my idea.  Last night,  I made my last change.  Today, I sent hard copies to three agents on my list who prefer to receive query letters by snail mail. On Wednesday night, I will email seven more letters to the rest of my initial contact list.

And then I wait. Contrary to popular believe, no news is not good news.

I personalized each letter for the individual agent.  I sent this letter to an agent who went to Va Tech and VCU...a homeboy, so to speak!

Dear Mr. McGuigan,


Because Adam Lambert’s vocal range and stage presence rival those of the most legendary performers in music history, many believe these define his talent. The people who knew him before American Idol, as well as those who have come to know him since, maintain that his resilience and fearless authenticity are the gifts that set him apart from other entertainers. It’s the well-spoken, brave, and honest spirit inside the rock star that this authorized biography, MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY VOICE: ADAM LAMBERT FROM THE INSIDE OUT, begs to reveal.

While anyone can compare Adam’s past to his present, only he can share how his response to the significant moments in his life shaped the man we see today. A self-proclaimed open book, Adam refuses to apologize for who he is and believes it’s more respectful to be candid and disliked than pretend to be someone he’s not. It’s exactly this frankness, coupled with his intelligence and wit, which will provide a rich backdrop for the story of his evolution from the weird kid in school to an international celebrity and Grammy nominee. Adam embraced his differences to uncover the person he was born to be and unintentionally became a source of encouragement for many. With the rise in suicide among gay teens and young adults, the world needs his empowering message of optimism, tolerance, and love more than ever.

My serious, concentrated effort to be an author began with a revelation: the way Adam Lambert communicates inspires me so much that I have to write about him. As his fame grows, so does the misrepresentation of his words and actions. Untwisting the truth gives new purpose to my goal of being Adam’s biographer and will utilize my intuitive skills as well as my expertise as a family mediator. Receptive to how others feel, I verbalize what they sense but can’t identify. I show people that a subtle shift of perspective from negative to positive not only widens their point of view, but closes the gap between opposing beliefs so they recognize the common ground they stand on. With a passion that thrills me, I’ve devoted the last two years to learning the craft; I’ve attended conferences, workshops, and classes as well as read biographies, memoirs, and books on writing. I’m a member of the Adam Lambert Fan Club, Adam Official, Bio (Biographer’s International Organization), James River Writers, and a local critique group.

I look forward to working with an agent who respects Adam Lambert as much as I do and envisions the powerful influence of his biography. With your interest in provocative, controversial subjects and experience working with new authors, I hope that agent is you. Please don’t let my B.A. from UVA fool you. I’m surrounded by a family full of Hokies.

Sincerely,

Jody B. Hedstrom

PS
I forgot about this draft post! It's been in limbo since March. I sent the letters as planned and so far have received four written rejections!  In the meantime, I changed the query  to fit the format required for the biography conference I just attended:

More Than just a Pretty Voice: Adam Lambert From the Inside Out

Because Adam Lambert’s vocal range and stage presence rival those of the most legendary performers in music history, many believe these skills define his talent. The people who knew him before American Idol, as well as those who have come to know him since, praise Adam’s resilience and fearless authenticity as rare gifts that set him apart from other entertainers. While anyone can compare Adam’s past to his present, only he can reveal, in this authorized biography, how his response to significant moments in his life shaped the man he is today. A self-proclaimed open book, Adam refuses to apologize for being himself and believes it’s more respectful to be candid and disliked than pretend to be someone he’s not. It’s exactly this frankness, coupled with intelligence and wit, which will provide a rich backdrop for the story of his evolution from the weird kid in school to an international celebrity and Grammy nominee. Adam embraced his differences to discover the person he was born to be and unintentionally became a source of encouragement for many. With the rise in suicide among gay teens and young adults, the world needs his empowering message of optimism, tolerance, and love more than ever.

The story behind the story, from anyone willing to share their first-hand account with me, fuels my love for biography. It's the inside-out version of a life, the how and the why, that intrigues me. With a newly empty nest, my training as a Certified Family Mediator as well as a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communication Studies from UVA join forces with my well-developed intuition as I write about the people who fascinate me the most.

Choice? My Ass!

After a six-month hiatus and a nudge from my critique group, I am posting an update to this blog. It’s not that I stopped writing; I’ve written plenty, just nothing I wanted to share. My last post revealed my deepest, darkest secret and received the feedback I dreaded the most, from the source I respected the most, my writing teacher.


She said, “Wow, your Adam obsession reminds me so much of my Wes Studi era…We both know that the chances of these famous people launching our own artistic dreams are very slim.”

Yes, of course I know.

“…but go ahead and write that novel about a young man who becomes a singer. Or have fun on your blog and explore your dreams and obsession.”

No way. I will write his biography or die trying.

I knew telling the truth would open myself up to ridicule, or worse, pity that I actually believe I will succeed. I know logically it is an unrealistic dream. Please don’t remind me. I know. I do. But try telling that to my heart and soul because they don’t fucking care about realism and logic. They care about what rings true inside.

The idea for this book hit me like a kick to the stomach…literally. When I thought “I want to write Adam's bio from the inside out,” I felt in my gut that I would. I’m not talking about a sweet little fantasy about how it would feel. I physically reacted as if I were actually writing it right then.  I was nervous, excited, determined and sure. I felt overwhelmed as if someone had just called to tell me my proposal had been accepted and I would be writing this book.

Besides stating the obvious, that my chances are slim, the comment that struck the deepest nerve rears its head each time I sit down to write, begging me to set the record straight, so that's what I'm going to do.  I love my teacher and her classes, so I do not mean to be ugly in any way. Her misunderstanding, reflected in the following words, showed me that I have not adequately explained my inner relationship with Adam Lambert: “…explore what Adam has that you want. What about him grabbed you? There are many magnetic, famous people. You chose him. Go inside and own the things you love about him that are already yours. Use it to fuel yourself and give you courage as an artist. Good luck!”

My turn to say wow.

I did not choose Adam Lambert, I promise. And no, he didn’t choose me, either. I did not consciously say to myself, "Oh, hey, why don't I become so interested in an American Idol contestant this season that people will think I'm nuts.  That should be fun!"

My attraction or obsession or devotion or interest or whatever the hell you want to call it just is. The only choice I’ve made regarding Adam is admitting out loud how invested I am. (to be continued)