Query Submission

Send a query to Molly O'Neill at Root Literary

Hello! Thank you for thinking of me for your work. Please note:

1. My response time ranges anywhere from a few days to around 3 months, and I do not always review queries in linear order. This regrettably makes my QueryTracker stats tricky to decipher from the outside looking-in; I apologize in advance!

2. If you are querying a picture book: unfortunately, I am NOT currently seeking authors who only write picture book texts at this time. If you are both writer AND illustrator, or part of an author-illustrator creative team, then I welcome you to query.

3. Illustrators/Cartoonists: if you are submitting art/portfolio samples only, write ART SUBMISSION where it asks for a book title, enter 0 in the word count field, and write n/a for any sections (like sample, pitch, etc) that do not apply to your work. If you're sharing a graphic novel sample/partial, please upload a synopsis for the remainder of the book in the "sample pages" section. If your illustrated materials are too large for the QM file size, please host them on your website and include the relevant link/password in Step 3 of the form below.

4. If you're unable to use Query Manager for any reason, please send your query to submissions@rootliterary.com with my name in the subject line.

5. Please do not query multiple agents at Root Literary at the same time. We kindly ask that you submit your query for consideration to one agent at a time.

Step 1. Tell us about the author

Fill in these author-related fields.

First Name: (required)

Last Name: (required)

E-Mail Address: (required)

Biography: Tell us a little about yourself and any writing credentials you may have.

Website Address: (if you have one)

Have you previously published other books? Yes No

Have you ever been represented by a literary agent before? Yes No

If this query is a referral, who referred you?

Have we met previously (online or in real life)?

Please include any links to your social media that you want to share:

Step 2. Tell us about the book

Fill in these book-related fields.

Title: (required)

Genre: (required) This agent only represents the genres shown in this list. Selecting an inaccurate genre will result in a rejection. If your book's genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker for a list of agents who do represent your genre.

Word Count: (required) Enter the approximate WORD count of your book. Enter numbers only. Do not include any letters or special characters.

Is this book currently published or has it ever been published before? Yes No

Query Letter: Tips for formatting and pasting text Enter your query letter for this book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

Synopsis: Tips for formatting and pasting text Enter a short synopsis of your book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

The First 10 Pages of Your Book (or full book proposal if non-fiction):
(If your book is shorter than this (such as a picture book) please include the entire text.) Tips for formatting and pasting text Paste in the first 10 pages of your book, or your full book proposal if your book is non-fiction. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

Describe the Potential Target Audience for Your Book: Who will want to read your book. For example, girls under 12, fans of John Grisham, etc. (500 characters or less)

Step 3. For Artists and Illustrators

Provide illustrations or art samples, if applicable.

Link to online art samples or portfolio: (if you have one)

Upload Sample Artwork or Illustrations

Acceptable file formats: doc, docx, pdf.
File Size Limit: 2 MB (same as 2,000 KB) (Get help for large files)

Optional: Sign into QueryTracker

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Or join QueryTracker, a free service that helps authors find agents and keep track of queries.

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Your QueryTracker Username or Email Address: Your QueryTracker Password:

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Final Step: Submit Your Query

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Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query's status.

If the recipient of your query would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.