To Compare or Not??

by Margie Senechal

When writers submit their query letters they're encouraged to compare their book or do a mashup--my book is Harry Potter meets Charlotte's Web.  This is conceivably so that the agent or publisher immediately knows what he's handling. In my example, apparently spider wizards.

And when a book is marketed, it's done again. "This is the next Gone Girl." How many times have you heard or seen that one?

I hate to be told it's the next Gone Girl. Because, number one, it never is...