FQ: 4 February, 2023
QR: 6 February, 2023

polite form rejection letter

adult 77k LitFic

FQ: 5 Feb 2023
Commercial Women's Historical Fiction 99k
Form rejection: merely a pass without even a vague reason.

Profile Update: Open to queries. Genres updated.

Rejection after a full request. Quick response time (about a month or so) all around, but part of her reasoning for passing was based on social media numbers which I thought was a bit odd and off-putting when seeing similar "Twitter numbers" for authors she represented.

Profile Update: Closed to queries.

EQ: 6/6/22
PR: 6/7/22
ER: 6/13/22

Her rejection was personalized, but I wasn't impressed like others were below. Her feedback was strange: she gave my project a pass, but didn't say why, and then she added a comment that was way off from what other agents have said and she sounded presumptuous for someone who clearly didn't read past my pitch. I sent her three chapters and a synopsis, but she clearly didn't read them as she made no mention of my writing, or anything related to them. Even if she had indicated that she read my pages, you can't really gauge all that she said by only reading three chapters. Plus, she spelled my MC's name wrong lol. If she can't even get my MC's name right (and it's not even a hard name to spell...), then clearly, she's not the right agent for this book or for me.

Also, since others below have questioned whether or not she reps LGBT fiction, she seems open minded to at least reading them, but just by my impressions from this experience, I don't think she'd be the best reader and agent for LGBT projects. She comes across as really clunky and awkward in this avenue.

LGBT Literary Fiction

Note: Her PR request is the same form as someone posted below.

I have received your query letter and would like to know more about ____. Please follow the instructions below to submit the synopsis and first three chapters. I will read your work with an eye toward asking to see the complete manuscript; you can expect to hear back from me within four to six weeks.

FQ 5/13/22
PR 5/16/22
"I have received your query letter and would like to know more about TITLE. Please follow the instructions below to submit the synopsis and first three chapters. I will read your work with an eye toward asking to see the complete manuscript; you can expect to hear back from me within four to six weeks"

Rejection 5/26/22 (didn't receive a notification, probably due to recent QM glitches)

Adult historical romance, 85k

@Chuck_Paone,
She selected the genres listed here herself, via her QueryManager form.

Barbara states that she's interested in romance and women's fiction - no other type of fiction.

The genres listed here are misleading.

FQ 6/5
FR 9/5 (After prompt due to FR from another agent)

Swift reply was much appreciated and semi-personal polite rejection

FQ: 4/29/22
Form rejection: 4/29/22
89K sweet rom-com

Query send on April 18, 2022 - 80K-word historical fiction
Kind but standard rejection received later the same day

Query sent March 31, 2022 - 75,000-word suspense romance
Standard rejection received April 5, 2022
Quick response time, kind rejection

query sent March 12, 2022 - contemporary romance
partial request received March 14, 2022
Submission sent March 21, 2022
standard Rejection March 23, 2022

Form query sent 02/23/22
Standard rejection letter 02/25/22
NF Narrative 52k