Sundays are agent time..

I sent out a query to another agent. Seems Sundays will be my time for that, so they have my query sitting in their in-box Monday morning. This is what I write to them, each one a bit different and the name of the agency filled in:

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My three volume novel, A Place of Safety, is the story of Brendan Kinsella, a lad who just wants to live his life. But he was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, and history interferes with his plans. The first volume begins in 1966, when Brendan's father is murdered. He is but ten years of age. It sweeps through: 

• the 1968 Civil Rights demonstrations in Derry 

• the attack on peaceful marchers at Burntollet Bridge in early 1969 

• the lead-up to The Battle of Bogside in August of that year

• the arrival of British troops to separate the two warring sides

• the re-introduction of internment in 1971

• Bloody Sunday in 1972

• and witnessing a horrific bombing in October, that year 

Brendan navigates his way through a society in thrall to history and the Catholic church as he tires to forge his own path. He also forms a relationship with a Protestant girl...a relationship that must be kept secret for fear of reprisals...from both sides. 

This section is currently undergoing revisions to clarify characters, events and various details. As of now, it is 132,845 words and 583 pages long, double-spaced and in Courier 12 point font. 

Volume 2 is set between 1973 and 1981 in Houston, Texas. Brendan is in a catatonic state so is situated with his aunt until he regains his sense and tries to rebuild his life. In volume 3, he is called home during the hunger strikes, where he accepts his destiny. Both are in second draft, but with need of revision for depth and consistency. 

This story is historical fiction. I have been working on it off and on for several years. And while I have self-published 14 books in both print and ebook, I would like to situate A Place of Safety with a mainstream publisher to avoid the issues that are part of self-publishing. I believe ___________________ can assist me with this. 

Below is the first chapter of the story, which is not quite ten pages. I would be happy to also send you a copy of The Alice '65, my romantic comedy, or The Vanishing of Owen Taylor, my gay murder mystery, to verify my abilities in writing a complete novel. 

Thank you for considering A Place of Safety. I believe it would be a great match with ___________________ interests. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Synopsis: 

Brendan Kinsella is a lad who just wants to live his life, but being born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, means history will interfere with his plans. Beginning in 1966 when he is but ten years of age, Brendan fights to maintain his own path through the turmoil of the time, from the vicious murder of his father to being caught in the middle of an IRA bombing to a growing relationship with a Protestant girl that must be kept secret for fear of reprisals...from both sides. But with chaos exploding around him, Brendan begins to wonder if his hopes and dreams and prayers and promises will ever find a place of safety.

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Then I paste in the first chapter. Here's hoping.