Query letter bio examples
The bio is the last short paragraph of a query letter, and it tells an agent why you’re the right person to write this book. It’s written in the first person and usually runs two to four sentences. Choose one to see it in a sample query, or write your own.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Query bios with no publishing credits
I’m an ER nurse in Portland, Maine, and THE SALT HOUSE is my first novel.
I teach high school chemistry in Ohio and wrote this book over three summers. This is my first novel.
I spent eight years as a wildland firefighter in Montana, which is where this story began. THE LONG BURN is my first novel.
I work in hospital administration in Phoenix, and this is my first novel.
Query bios with relevant experience
I’ve worked as a court interpreter in Miami for eleven years, and the trial at the center of THE QUIET WITNESS is drawn from the kinds of cases I see every week.
I grew up on a cattle ranch in eastern Oregon, the setting of HIGH DESERT, and my family still runs it.
As a former air traffic controller, I know what it feels like to hold hundreds of lives in a single hour, which is the pressure my main character lives with.
I spent twenty years as a commercial fisherman in Alaska before going back to school, and every storm in SALT AND IRON is one I sailed through.
Query bios with publishing credits
My short fiction has appeared in Lantern Quarterly and The Driftwood Review, and my story “Low Tide” was a finalist for the Salt Marsh Prize. I live in Portland, Maine.
I’m the author of two self-published fantasy novels with a combined 900 reviews on Amazon. This is the first book I’m submitting to agents.
My essays on caregiving have appeared in three national magazines, and I write a weekly newsletter for 6,000 readers.
My first novel, THE RIVER HOUSE, was published by a small press in 2023. This is my second novel and my first submission to agents.
What goes in a query letter bio?
A query bio is two to four sentences about why you’re the right person to write this book. Mention publishing credits, relevant expertise, or life experience that connects to the story, and leave out hobbies unless they relate to it.
What if you have no publishing credits?
That’s normal for a first novel, and agents know it. Say briefly who you are and what connects you to the book, and then stop.
First person or third person?
Third person is the convention inside books and on covers because it reads like an introduction. First person feels more personal and suits newsletters, websites, and query letters.
Where does the About the Author page go?
It usually sits at the back of the book, after the acknowledgments. Some nonfiction books put a short bio at the front instead so readers see the author’s expertise before the first chapter.
Questions
Should a query bio be in the first person?
Yes. The letter comes from you, so the bio does too. Save the third person for the bio inside your book.
Should I mention writing classes or groups?
Mention them only if they’re selective or well known, such as a competitive fellowship. A general writing class doesn’t need a line.
Should I include an author photo?
A clear, recent photo helps readers remember you. For a printed book, use an image that is at least 300 DPI at the size it will print.
Can I use the same bio everywhere?
Keep one long version, and cut it down for each place: about 150 words inside the book, 50 for the back cover, and one line for social media.
Add your bio to your book
Proselis builds an About the Author page from your name, bio, photo, and social links, and it places the page in your back matter. Writing is free. Publishing a book as an EPUB and a print-ready PDF is a one-time $20.