You can have help from a publishing industry professional...

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If you want a literary agent to take on your manuscript, you need a query letter that opens doors for you. Book a consult with Brian Henry. Brian’s seen hundreds of query letters, and he’ll help you write a query that gets a yes.

Or maybe you want help crafting an opening page or a first chapter that hooks the reader. Or you have a picture book manuscript or a short story you want help with. Book a consult. 

In a consultation, Brian looks over a short piece and edits or reworks as needed to make it shine. Then you get to sit down with him to get your questions answered and to get the immediate help you need. 

Perhaps you want an experienced publishing professional to bounce ideas off of. Or maybe you’d like a writing coach to meet with periodically. Or you might want to discuss the direction or scope of your project. If so, you can arrange a consultation with Brian.

Consultations are brief – usually about one hour – and can be done in person (at a convenient Starbucks for example) or over the telephone. The rate is $75 per hour {plus hst}, pro-rated to the actual length of the consultation. To arrange a time, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

And if you've got a longer work, you need help with, the manuscript of a novel, for example, email Brian now to book a  time slot for this summer. For more information about critiques of full manuscripts, see here and scroll down.

What previous clients and a literary agent have to say:

"Brian's the real deal."
 ~ Kelley Armstrong

Brian, You helped me re-work my query letter. Before that, I'd queried dozens of agents, and guess how many of them asked to see my manuscript? None. After you helped me rewrite, I sent my new query to six agents and all of them asked to see my full manuscript. It was like I discovered the secret password.  Thank you so much,
~ Sohan S Koonar, Windsor, Ontario. 

Note: Sohan is now represented by Sam Hiyate of The Rights Factory.

Hello, Brian. I’m writing to thank you for your help and advice in both tweaking the manuscript and crafting the query letter for my novel, The Name’s George. I’ve had four requests for the full manuscript as well as one request for a partial. I'm thrilled and hopeful that I can write you again soon with news that I’ve secured representation. Thanks again and all the best,
~ Shauna Clinning, Oakville, Ontario

Note: Shauna is now represented by Morty Mint of Mint Literary Agency.

"Brian’s the real deal.  He isn't just an inspiring teacher – he's plugged into the publishing world! He got me an agent {Helen Heller of the Helen Heller Agency} who sold my first novel, to publishers around the world.  My 13^th novel, The Awakening, hit number 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. Currently, Random House Canada, Macmillan in the U.S. and Little Brown in Britain have contracted my next seven books.  So it looks like I’ll be writing for a while."

~ Kelley Armstrong, Aylmer, Ontario

Note: More recently, they've made a TV series, Bitten, based on Kelley's Otherworld series. 

“Brian Henry is a skilled query doctor – I've had a look at some queries he's worked on with authors. He took a query that would have been an immediate "Pass" and transformed it to a compelling query that made me want to read the book right away. I highly recommend Brian to any author who is struggling with getting manuscript requests and needs to take their query to the next level.”

~ Michelle Johnson, Literary Agent and Founder of Inklings Literary Agency.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops, writing retreats, and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Alton, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Halton, Ingersoll, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.