Michael Gettel-Gilmartin's Current Query

Today and tomorrow I'm going to be trying to help my buddy, Michael G-G, with his query. Today is just for introductions, so before we get started, please visit Michael's writing blog: The Year of Writing Dangerously, and his Middle Grade blog: Middle Grade Mafioso, follow them both, and then come back.

. . .

I'm serious. Go do it.

Now that you're back, here's Mike's query:

Dear (Name of Agent),

A ghost is on the loose. That’s twelve-year-old Jared Hearne’s explanation for the recent feeling that invisible eyes are boring into the back of his skull. But when he tries to snare the spook, he surprises a glamorous woman preening in front of the bathroom mirror. Even weirder, after Jared’s yells rouse his parents, the person who shuffles out of the bathroom isn’t some willowy red-head but his older sister, Athena. Now everyone thinks Jared’s delusional. He’s out to prove them wrong.

First, he has to solve the mystery of what Athena’s up to. Is there a connection between the mysterious disappearing woman and the golden orb he spotted tucked away in Athena’s pocket? Sneaking into her room, Jared steals the orb and discovers its secret: the power to allow people to shape-shift and travel through time, as well as pick up communications from the past. Such as the voice of a teenage Shakespeare, pleading to be rescued from execution.

Jared and Athena zip to Elizabeth England and spring Shakespeare from his cell. But talk about a comedy of errors. Shakespeare hijacks the orb and returns to modern times with Jared, leaving Athena stranded in the sixteenth century. Eager to experience his brave new world, the Bard-Dude goes on the lam. He “borrows” the high school quarterback’s Mustang and ends up in a tournament at Laser Tag World. Jared gives chase, desperate to herd the problematic poet back to 1582. Until, that is, the orb is stolen.

Now Jared has a new mission: to hunt down the thief. Or else, Shakespeare’s enrolling in high school next semester. And Athena’s history.

SHAKESPEARE ON THE LAM, a middle-grade adventure, is complete at 35,000 words. I am a member of SCBWI and would be happy to send the complete manuscript at your request.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Michael Gettel-Gilmartin
[Contact Details]

Please save your thoughts for tomorrow, as I won't be giving Mike my feedback until then either, and I don't want any of you ruining it. But do say hi in the comments, and tell him how brave he is for putting himself out there. Thanks!