Host & Guest
Guest
Leslie Lehr
Host
Kathleen Kaiser &
Adanna Moriarty
About This Episode
On Mastering Query Letters
In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Leslie Lehr, an experienced author and writing consultant, to demystify the art of crafting effective query letters. Leslie, a successful author with a diverse career journey, shares her insights and experiences, from novel and screenwriting to becoming a well-known expert in developing compelling query letters that capture the attention of literary agents.
She discusses the importance of understanding the structure of a query letter, the critical components that make a query letter stand out, and the evolving nature of the publishing industry. Leslie also previews her upcoming webinar, where she will dive deeper into the techniques and strategies for writing successful query letters, providing invaluable insights for new and seasoned writers. She will give more in-depth information on September 14 with Unlock the Secrets to a Killer Query Letter. (more information here)
Listeners will learn about the essential elements of a query letter, the differences between fiction and nonfiction writing, and the common mistakes to avoid. Leslie emphasizes the practicality of understanding your book’s unique selling points and how to convey them succinctly in a query letter. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to take their manuscript to the next level and break into traditional publishing.
About our guest
Leslie Lehr
Leslie Lehr, a private book coach and Novel Consultant for Truby’s Writers’s Studio is renowned for her Xray vision and focus on story structure as a developmental editor. The prize-winning author of seven books, her recent memoir A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me… and You, was called a “must-read” by Good Morning America, listed in “Best New Books” by People Magazine and Glamour, optioned by HBOMax Comedy the week it hit #1 on Amazon and was a 2023 Women’s Nat’l Book Association “Great Group Read.” Katie Couric narrated Leslie’s New York Times Modern Love essay on NPR; other essays are in Time Magazine, Newsweek, Writers Digest, and anthologies such as Mommy Wars, The Honeymoon’s Over, and Huffington Post.
Her debut novel, 66 Laps, won the Pirates Alley Faulkner Prize and was followed by Wife Goes On and What a Mother Knows, a Target Recommended Read. Her nonfiction books have been excerpted on FisherPrice.com and featured on Oprah. A produced screenwriter, Leslie won a student Emmy while attending USC School of Cinematic Arts and has an MFA from Antioch University. She’s taught in the Writers Program at UCLA, Story Expo, for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and conferences around the country. Leslie is a member of Women in Film, PEN, The Authors Guild, and The Women’s Leadership Council of L.A.
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