Query sent: 5/8/2024
Query Rejection: 5/13/2024

Message:
Thank you for sharing X with me. I appreciate being included in the agents you’re considering for representation.

Unfortunately I’m going to step aside at this time. I make these difficult decisions based on my personal taste and areas of expertise. I encourage you to continue submitting to others, as reading preferences are subjective, and what may not be a good fit for one person may work perfectly for another. You’re welcome to submit to any of the other agents at CMA, and I am open to future queries on new projects from those who have submitted to me previously, so please keep me in mind.

I wish you the best of luck in placing this with another agent. Thank you again for your query.

Best wishes,
Laurie Dennison

This part made me think maybe I didn't write my query correctly for her: I make these difficult decisions based on my personal taste and areas of expertise. I encourage you to continue submitting to others, as reading preferences are subjective, and what may not be a good fit for one person may work perfectly for another.

It reads to me that maybe it came across as an adult high fantasy and possibly a direct rejection based on that. (She doesn't want adult high fantasy).

OR maybe she just didn't like my writing, which is completely fine and fair! :-)

Just wanted to post to remind others that it is important to tailor your query if you have a lot of genres shoved into one book (Mine has magic realism, romance, a historical setting, and a bit of mystery, and maybe I should've gone with a different word than romantasy)

EQ: 5/2
form rejection: 5/8
upmarket 89,000

EQ: 4/19/24
Partial Request: 4/25/24
Personalized rejection: 5/6/24

95k YA Murder Mystery

Queried 4/18/24
YA Fantasy, 139k
Forum Reject: 4/24/24

Appreciate the quick response time!

Dear Laurie,
Thank you for your quick reply and your positive words.
Cynthia