A few more questions...

[lovinlife83]

If their website says they want a cover letter and brief synopsis what exactly do they mean by cover letter? Is that the query letter? Sometimes it seems like by synopsis they mean the query letter. And when they say they want an author bio does that just mean for authors who've been published or have some sort of credentials? Not sure what they want with that.

Also wondering...if you can submit via email or their online form, do you know if they have a preference?

Thanks for the help. 

[ClaireM]

Hi! A lot of UK agents ask for cover letter, synopsis and sometimes bio. The cover letter is pretty similar to query letter, but I think you can really cut down 'the pitch'. i.e. I'd keep it to a paragraph rather than 250/300 words. Always a good idea to see if agent has a website or blog, as they're often specific about what they want. Some, for example, ask for the cover letter to include a couple of sentences about your book, your writing background and why you think that agent might be appropriate. The biography is not just for published authors. They want to know a bit about you -- a couple of paragraphs, even if it hasn't got much to do with writing.

Again as to preference for email or online form check their webite.

If in doubt, check out the guidelines agent puts on their website!!

GOOD LUCK!

[LisaAnn]

And when they say they want an author bio does that just mean for authors who've been published or have some sort of credentials? Not sure what they want with that.

If you have never been published before (like me!), I wouldn't worry too much about the author bio.  I would just (quickly) list your writing background if you have one (degree, etc.), and I would instead concentrate on all the reasons why you are the only person who can possibly tell your story.  (For instance, if you an expert in your subject matter--like a doctor-turned-writer-of-medical-thrillers--you definitely want to mention that.)  Otherwise, I would simply keep your bio as short as possible, and let your writing speak for itself.

Best of luck!!

[vivalamama]

This one baffled me for a while too, so I did some research (including agent blogs) to find out.  Silly me, I had thought the query was a cover letter!  By cover letter they mean just that, a standard cover letter with only a quick blurb about your book.  From what I've read (sorry, don't have all the links on this PC) the first paragraph is typically why you're contacting them; if you met them at a conference, read an interview, etc.  The second paragraph is the blurb about your work and the third is your bio.  And I would follow LisaAnn's advice on this as well, I'm in the same boat and that's what I do.  Sometimes I will simply say how my writing style (not the book itself) is similar to so-and-so or the like.  I also found this information, be sure to include it "Start the email by writing your contact information in the top left corner: Real name, address, phone, email address, title of the work, pen name if any, genre or category, and the word count of your manuscript according to MS Word. Don't round, and don't use "approximately 55,000 words." Please use the actual word count"  By the end, it will look like a standard cover letter, and that's what they mean. 

If they ask only for a brief synopsis, make sure its one page or a little less.  It's been my experience with submission guidelines like that, that just adding a paragraph at the end of what is normally my letter query (how the book ends) does the trick and gets my foot in the door.  I hope this helps, and makes sense lol, I don't have caffeine in my system yet!