Follower Love Month: Agent Query Critique CONTEST!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! 

We here at Operation Awesome have so much love to spread, and we decided to give it to the fine folks who make this blog awesome: YOU! In honor of reaching 300+ followers, we're throwing yet another contest to celebrate. *fist pump*

Ladies and gents, welcome to our Query Critique Contest!

Not only are we going to offer critiques, but we found TWO AMAZING AGENTS to help us out. 

The amazing agents are...

Natalie M. Fischer is an Assistant Agent at the Bradford Literary Agency. An honors graduate of the University of San Diego, California, Natalie holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing. She started as an intern at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency in 2007, after which time she left to write author profiles and book reviews for the San Diego Union Tribune. Finding that journalism was just not for her, she returned to work full-time at the Dijkstra Agency in April 2009, and started building her own client list in September of that same year. She made her move to the Bradford Agency in February of 2011. Natalie's interests include talented, hard-working new authors with a fresh, unique voice and hook. Her specialty is commercial fiction, with an emphasis in children’s literature (from picture book-YA/Teen), romance (contemporary and historical), historical fiction, multi-cultural fiction, paranormal, sci-fi/fantasy in YA or romance only, fairy-tale/legend spin-offs, and “beautiful dark” novels. She will also consider select nonfiction (has to have a fantastic hook and an even more fantastic author platform) and that amazing project she never even knew she was looking for! She is always drawn to an open and positive attitude in an author, good grammar, and fantastical, engaging and sexy plots. 

and...

Josh Getzler of Russell & Volkening, Inc.!!! (remember our interview with Authoress Anon? Yep, he's her agent). From his Publishers Marketplace page: After almost three fascinating and productive years reacquainting myself with the world of publishing at Writers House, I joined Russell and Volkening, Inc. as a (mostly) fiction and young adult/middle grade agent and their director of Film/Television rights in November of 2009. I represent fiction and nonfiction (mostly fiction, more than half of which is crime-related (mystery, thriller, creepy...)), adult, and YA/middle grade (though not picture books).  I am particularly into foreign and historical thrillers and mysteries, so send me your ruthless doges and impious cardinals... and your farmhouse cozies! Give me atmosphere, let me learn something about another time or another place (or both), and kill off nasty Uncle Mortimer in the process--I'll be yours! I take middle grade or YA adventure series, but not so much fantasy, and definitely not picture books. (There are many others who specialize in these books). And please don't send religious fiction--I don't have contacts in the Christian book market. 

Both these amazing agents will critique one query each. AND us over here at OA will be offering the following prizes:

A first chapter critique by Kristal
A first chapter critique by Angie

A query critique by Lindsay

A query critique by Katrina

A query critique by Michelle

A query critique by Kelly

AND yet another query critique by me :)

The rules to enter the contest are:

1) Be a follower

and

2) Leave a comment on this post with your manuscript's genre (no one-line pitches necessary)

The nine (yes, nine!) winners will be chosen randomly and announced one week from today, so make sure you get your entry in before then. 

Thanks for all your incredible support, and we hope you have an awesome day!!