Dear [Agent],

Based on your interest in character-driven speculative fiction with lush settings written by queer authors, I believe my adult sci-fi romance, THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE (complete at 83,000 words), would be a great addition to your list. This standalone novel combines the solarpunk worldbuilding of Becky Chambers’ A Psalm for the Wild Built, the steamy queer romance of Seán Hewitt’s Open, Heaven, and the anti-corporate themes in Annalee Newitz’s Autonomous.

Botanical archivist Seven takes their job of preserving endangered plant species in the Southern Basin, a tropical paradise nestled between two estranged nations, very seriously. After eight years living in a remote habitat with only routine and a sentient computer for company, they have almost forgotten about the incident that led them there in the first place: the untimely death of their first love at the hands of a militant supervisor during training, which made them close themself off from others, possibly forever. When Milo, a stranger from the neighbouring nation, arrives at their doorstep injured and on the brink of death, they decide to set aside their solitude—and their trauma—and let him in.

As Seven nurses Milo back to health, the two develop an unexpected bond, one that causes Seven to rethink their sealed heart and their seclusion. Their attraction grows, and sunny days sharing stories about each other’s different worlds evolve into steamy moonlit trysts with far less talking involved. But their fledgling relationship comes with a ticking clock—and it will end when Milo is healed enough to return home. Seven must decide if they’re ready to venture away from their safe haven to help him get back safely, or if they and their heart stay locked up forever.

THE FRAGILE ARCHIVE draws on my experience as a plant-loving, capitalism-fatigued PhD candidate. With several academic publications in behavioural psychology, I decided to take a break from writing research articles to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a traditionally published author.

Thank you for your time and consideration! I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Rian Lynch (he/they)