How to Craft a Query Letter Agents Can’t Ignore with Sam Hiyate | Ep. 61

Author's Edge: Smart strategies for book marketing, publishing, and visibility that actually work

What makes a literary agent say “yes” to your book pitch in under 30 seconds?

Allison Lane sits with Sam Hiyate, founder of The Rights Factory, to demystify how to write a compelling query letter, position your book in today’s market, and avoid the most common author mistakes.

If you've been wondering how to land an agent or make your book proposal unskippable, this is your masterclass in reverse engineering your author marketing. Hit play now because the publishing game is changing, and this episode helps you change with it.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to tailor your query letter to grab an agent’s attention fast.
• The role of market positioning, comparables, and agent fit in getting published.
• What makes agents say no and how to avoid that response.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Rights Factory: https://www.therightsfactory.com/
• Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samhiyate/
• Research Tool: Publishers Marketplace https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/
• Book Recommendation:
  • How to Survive a Bear Attack - A Memoir by Claire Cameron: https://bookshop.org/a/55773/9781039056350
  • Detective Aunty - A Novel by Uzma Jalaluddin: https://bookshop.org/a/55773/9780063434875

Timestamps:

• [02:00] What agents scan for in a pitch beyond the writing.
• [06:00] The real purpose of comparables in your proposal.
• [17:00] How to know if an agent relationship is the right fit.
• [26:00] Why your agent is not your marketing director.
• [44:00] The truth about manuscript quality before pitching.

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Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXNdz1Dh0ms

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