welcome! I am currently open to queries, and if you're reading this, I'm guessing you're just about ready to query me. Great! 

If your query is ready please send the query letter and some sample chapters (chapters 1 -3 or the first 30 pages, whichever occurs first) in the body of the email to victoria.queries@irenegoodman.com and make sure to include the word "query" somewhere in the subject line!  One thing to note: Any queries sent to any other e-mail address,  to the physical address, or with attachments will be deleted unread. Additionally, I do not take queries over the phone, so e-mail it will have to be, 

Now, you should receive an automated response confirming the receipt of the query! If you didn't, please re-send and make sure you included "query" in the subject and that all the material is in the body of the email. If this still doesn't work, just be patient. It's likely you ended up the spam filter. Don't worry! I check that, too. 

If you did get the response! CONGRATULATIONS you've officially queried me! Exhale! 

You can expect a response in about eight weeks. Sorry it takes so long, folks. I'm only one person and I get several hundred queries a month!

You will get a response no matter what, but I do use form rejections. Additionally, I ask that you do not submit multiple titles. Please only query a single manuscript at a given time. If you have multiple manuscripts you'd like to query, please wait until you receive a response on one before submitting another. And please keep a detailed record of your submissions to me as I use batch reply to respond to emails. Batch reply means the chain of our correspondence is subject change as is the subject line and conversation history of our emails. If you find form rejections or batch reply objectionable, perhaps another agent would be a better fit for you. 

Still anxiously refreshing your inbox? You can check my twitter account where I regularly tweet query updates. You can also  come back to this page of the website because I issue a status update (see below) that will show you how up to date I am on my queries. 

When to contact me: If it has been more than eight weeks and you have not heard back about your query or your requested manuscript, absolutely send me a friendly reminder! If I have reached or surpassed the date of your query (see below) and you have not heard back, give me a shout!  If you submitted your query to multiple agents and you get an offer of representation (Congratulations!) please inform me of the offer.  I get very sad when I read a wonderful sample, only to discover that it's no longer available because you've already signed with someone else!  Obviously, I can't enforce this, but I'd be very grateful if you'd do me the courtesy. 


STATUS UPDATE:  I have read and responded to all queries sent on or before 11:59 p.m. September 10th, 2018. If you sent your query letter on or before September 10th, 2018 and have not heard back, please send me an email! 

I have also read and responded to all requested manuscripts and material sent on or before 11:59 p.m August 12th, 2018. If you sent me your manuscript on or before August 12th 2018 and have not heard back, please send me an e-mail.