u/Googanwrites

Hi Everyone,

I live in Ireland and have submitted to about ten agents now, 1 boiler plate rejection so far, but have heard nothing else back after 7 months. Looking for honest feedback which would be gratefully received. It's my first time on this forum, so if there is etiquette in terms of returning the favour, I am happy to oblige!

Dear [Agent], 

I am seeking representation for my debut novel, SENSELESS, a multi-POV psychological thriller complete at 86,000 words. Having read a substantial amount of {Agent's client's} work, I believe it would be a great fit for your portfolio. Laced with acerbic wit, SENSELESS has a strong sense of place, similar to M.W. Craven’s The Mercy Chair. The reader is exposed to the mind of a sadist as seen in Chris Carter’s The Death Watcher, whilst also exploring the familial grief tragedy leaves behind.

When Ellie Forde awakens confused and terrified in total darkness, she struggles to piece together what has happened. It is not long before her captor reveals himself and her systematic torture begins. With each visitation, Ellie is tormented through a new sense - a cruel mirroring of the grounding technique she has used all her life to cope with panic attacks. Losing hope, Ellie decides that rescue may not be coming and she must plot her own way to freedom. As Ellie’s ordeals begin to unearth past trauma, she understands that this is not the first time her captor has targeted her. Battling torture, trauma and her own treacherous mind, when an opportunity presents itself, will Ellie be ready to escape? Will she be ready to kill? 

Detective Leanne Cosgrave is investigating the disappearance of teenager Ellie Forde when she is called to the scene of a suicide - that of Ellie’s brother. With the suicide appearing to be nothing more than a terrible tragedy, Leanne pursues other, ultimately unfruitful, lines of investigation. Grappling with the fear of failure, Leanne arrives home one evening to find her boyfriend, Eoin, beaten and unconscious on their kitchen floor. What appears to be a revenge attack from Leanne’s past leads Gardaí to find evidence linking Eoin to Ellie’s disappearance. Leanne is suspended from the case due to conflict of interest. Her boyfriend fighting for his life, Leanne undertakes the role of vigilante in order to prove Eoin’s innocence and ultimately save Ellie. Every detective has that case. Is this to be Leanne’s?

I live in Ireland with my partner, having spent over two years travelling New Zealand and South America, gathering stories from different cultures for inspiration along the way. Accounts of previous travels have been published in local annuals. When not writing, I can be found playing soccer, Gaelic football, attending Parkruns around Ireland, or reading - a cup of tea never far from reach. I am currently drafting my second novel and have no plans to stop there.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best Regards,