Query Letter: Hollywood Hustle: A Tinseltown Thriller Penned by an Emmy-Nominated Actor

Even before publishing his debut thriller, Jon Lindstrom was a bit of a renaissance man – the three-time Emmy nominated actor has directed, written screenplays, and narrated audiobooks. In, Hollywood Hustle, he puts his decades of experience in TV and film to use and tells the story of Winston Greene, a broke and washed-up film star whose daughter is kidnapped by criminals seeking a ransom he can no longer afford.

Booklist called the novel “a love letter to the city of Angels.” It has already garnered great reviews and made the USA Today best-seller list – an amazing achievement for any debut writer.  

Lindstrom was kind enough to share his query for Hollywood Hustle (originally titled Hollywood Ending). Lindstrom described the query as a reminder that if you have a connection – use it. Yes, most of us can’t say we were nominated for a prestigious award, or know Michael Connelly from acting in Bosch (side note: if you haven’t watched, it’s massively entertaining). But you probably have a connection to your source material that explains why you’re a good person to write your book. Maybe your book is a police procedural and you were a dispatcher in another life. Maybe you wrote a cosy set in a small-town theater, and you were an acting major in college. Whatever it is, if you got it, flaunt it.

Dear ,

I hope this finds you well as the world slowly returns to normal. I decided to reach out to the Spitzer Agency because I met your client, Michael Connelly, when I was an actor on Season 5 of the Amazon series, BOSCH. Meeting and working with Mr. Connelly was a professional highlight for me as I’ve been a big fan of the “Harry Bosch” books for years. Should anyone ask, you can tell them you received a query from the guy who played that scumbag lawyer, "Lance Cronyn.” :) I am looking to secure representation for my debut novel, HOLLYWOOD ENDING, a contemporary Crime Thriller of 86,400 words. The mini-synopsis:

Winston Greene, a once-popular film actor, learns his estranged daughter has been kidnapped by a murderous band of criminals who want all of his “movie money.” What they don’t realize is … his movie money is long gone. Over the next 36 hours, best laid plans will collapse, desperate choices will be made, the body count will rise, and Winston will be forced into a bloody and devastating confrontation.

It's a violent, fast-paced tale of greed, duplicity and revenge. My intention is for the reader to experience a propulsive ride through the dark side of sunny LA (and a somewhat acerbic take on the outsider’s view of showbiz success). Readers would be fans of Thrillers, Crime, Noir, Kidnap, Pulp and Hollywood stories. I envision HOLLYWOOD ENDING as the first in a series of crime novels set in and around Los Angeles (perhaps all with “Hollywood” incorporated into the title). I am working on the second in the series now.

As for me, I am a 3-time Emmy nominated actor still enjoying a durable onscreen career. I’ve appeared in all manner of high profile content, i.e., the aforementioned BOSCH, TRUE DETECTIVE, and indie films such as the soon-to-be-released A DARK FOE and MARZIPAN. (Who knows? You may even know me as those wacky twin brothers, “Dr’s. Kevin Collins/Ryan Chamberlain” on ABC’s GENERAL HOSPITAL). And I’m an award-winning filmmaker, having written two produced feature screenplays, one of which I directed. I also have a sideline narrating audiobooks, which helped give me the confidence to pursue this lifelong ambition of becoming a novelist. If interested, there’s plenty more information at jonlindstrom.com; bio, social media links, all that.

Rather than Chapters, my book is told in Parts (the first not ending until page 64) separated by unnumbered sections, so to be as in line as possible with your stated current submission requirement of including only the first chapter, I have pasted the first twenty-four pages below my signature, which I estimate to be about equal to similar novels. I trust that is acceptable. I hope you enjoy the sample and I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jon

Jon Lindstrom jonlindstrom.com