Hey all,

Just making the rounds on this as I finished my rewrite. Hoping for some advice on where I'm missing the mark so I can hone in a bit. Appreciate the helpful community here.

Hello [AGENT]

I am currently seeking representation for my YA fantasy novel, TINTO AND THE GOLDEN GALIVAST. [personalized preamble]

Tinto, a self-proclaimed Houdini-in-the-making, spent his youth learning card tricks and ditching class at Miss Figglethorn’s School for the Societally Deranged. On the anniversary of his brother’s death, he uses his skills as an illusionist to break free from the school once and for all. As Figglethorn herself foils the escape, he has no choice but to follow a curious floating lantern through a secret passageway to a fantastic new world—Alderon.

A fish-out-of-water, Tinto finds himself immersed in a world with real magic and real consequences. A world divided by magical creatures and the humans who'll do anything to take control. Along his travels, Tinto befriends Bolel Rocteroc, a Dwarven bounty hunter stuck hunting his own kind for money, and Asha Buhari, a spiteful noble girl who'll do anything to explore the world outside of her paternalistic family. Outcast and on the run, Tinto receives a fantastic vision of an ancient beast across the sea—the Golden Galivast. One feather from the tail of the Galivast is powerful enough to bring riches, glory, and even raise the dead.

With the memory of his brother fresh in mind, Tinto and the group embark on an epic journey through haunted forests, pirate-infested waters and an island guarded by none other than the Galivast itself.

TINTO AND THE GOLDEN GALIVAST is a 67,000 word Young Adult Fantasy geared for ages 12-16. It is the first in a trilogy of works.

I’ve worked as a copywriter in advertising and marketing for the past eight years. Aside from my ad-writing career, I’ve had several short stories published in Periphery Journal and have a BA in writing from Drake University—where I was awarded with Drake University’s Thomas Dunn Scholarship Award for excellence in writing.

Cheers and hope to hear back from you soon,