Professional Query Letter
Dear Literary Agent,
I hope this letter finds you well.
My name is Chen Wen-Han, writing under the pen name Chen Qing-Yang. I am a Taiwanese novelist, poet, literary critic, rhetoric scholar, and screenwriter who has devoted more than forty years to literary creation and research. Throughout my career, I have explored the intersection of literature, philosophy, mythology, spirituality, and cultural history, seeking to create stories that connect Eastern traditions with universal human emotions.
I am writing to seek literary representation for my novels in the North American publishing market. It would be an honor to introduce my work to you and to explore the possibility of bringing contemporary Taiwanese literature to a broader international readership.
I have completed three full-length novels, each designed for an international audience while remaining deeply rooted in Asian cultural perspectives.
Reborn Youth is a contemporary literary romance with elements of fantasy. Through an extraordinary opportunity to relive youth, the novel explores love, regret, redemption, and the courage to redefine one's destiny. It asks a timeless question shared by readers across cultures: If life offered a second beginning, would we make different choices?
The Paradise Inn is a cross-cultural fantasy novel set around Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. Blending Eastern martial philosophy, Western Gothic mythology, supernatural mystery, and cinematic storytelling, it explores identity, sacrifice, memory, and hope through an emotionally driven narrative with strong international appeal.
Love Letter from Lhasa is a literary romance that combines cross-cultural storytelling with spiritual exploration. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Tibet, the novel follows a journey of love, destiny, memory, and spiritual awakening. By weaving Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, Eastern concepts of karma and reincarnation, and universal themes of compassion and forgiveness into a poetic narrative, it seeks to build a meaningful dialogue between Eastern wisdom and contemporary global readers.
Although these novels differ in genre and setting, they are united by a common artistic vision. They examine love, destiny, memory, identity, cultural dialogue, and the enduring search for meaning through emotionally resonant storytelling. My goal has always been to create fiction that possesses both literary depth and broad commercial accessibility.
Beyond fiction, I have devoted decades to poetry, literary criticism, rhetoric, and screenwriting. My interdisciplinary background has influenced my narrative style, combining poetic language, carefully structured storytelling, philosophical reflection, and vivid visual imagination. These qualities also make my novels well suited for film and television adaptation.
As an author from Taiwan, I hope to introduce readers around the world to contemporary Chinese-language literature that is both culturally distinctive and universally accessible. Rather than presenting Asian culture as an exotic backdrop, my work seeks to reveal its emotional, philosophical, and human dimensions through stories that resonate across national and cultural boundaries.
I believe my novels have meaningful potential for international publication, translation, and adaptation. I would be grateful for the opportunity to submit complete manuscripts, book proposals, sample chapters, or any additional materials you may wish to review.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I sincerely appreciate your attention and hope to have the opportunity to work with you.
Warm regards,
Chen Wen-Han (陳文翰)
Pen Name: Chen Qing-Yang
Taiwanese Novelist • Poet • Literary Critic • Rhetoric Scholar • Screenwriter
Selected Creative Background
• More than forty years of literary creation and academic research.
• Author of literary fiction, fantasy novels, contemporary romance, poetry, literary criticism, and screenplays.
• Research interests include modern Chinese poetry, rhetoric, narratology, aesthetics, and cross-cultural literary studies.
• Creative works frequently explore the intersections of literature, philosophy, mythology, spirituality, history, and universal human experience.
• Long-term commitment to introducing Asian cultural traditions and contemporary Taiwanese literature to international readers through emotionally engaging and culturally rich storytelling.
中文自薦函
敬愛的文學代理人您好:
您好!
我是來自台灣的作家陳文翰,筆名陳清揚。我是一位小說家、詩人、文學評論家、修辭學研究者及影視編劇,四十多年來持續投入文學創作與學術研究,長期關注文學、哲學、神話、精神思想與文化歷史之間的交會,致力於創作能夠連結東方文化傳統與人類普世情感的作品。
謹此誠摯向您自薦,希望尋求美國及北美出版市場的文學代理,並期待有機會將我的作品介紹給更多國際讀者,讓當代台灣華文文學走向世界。
目前我已完成三部長篇小說,它們皆以國際讀者為目標,同時保有深厚的亞洲文化底蘊。
《再版的青春》(Reborn Youth)是一部融合奇幻元素的當代文學愛情小說,透過一次重返青春的人生旅程,探討愛情、遺憾、救贖,以及重新選擇命運的勇氣。小說提出一個跨越文化的人生提問:如果生命能重新開始,我們是否會做出不同的選擇?
《天堂旅館》(The Paradise Inn)是一部以瑞士琉森湖為背景的跨文化奇幻小說,融合東方武術哲學、西方哥德神話、超自然懸疑與電影化敘事,透過充滿情感張力的故事,探討身份認同、犧牲、記憶與希望,兼具文學性與國際市場潛力。
《拉薩情書》(Love Letter from Lhasa)則是一部融合跨文化敘事與精神探索的文學愛情小說。故事以西藏壯麗的自然景觀為背景,描寫一段關於愛情、命運、記憶與精神覺醒的旅程。作品結合藏傳佛教哲學、東方因果與輪迴思想,以及慈悲、寬恕等普世價值,希望透過詩性的文字,建立東方智慧與當代世界之間具有深度的人文對話。
雖然三部小說題材與背景各不相同,但皆圍繞著共同的創作核心:愛情、命運、記憶、身份認同、文明交流,以及人類對生命意義的不斷追尋。我始終相信,文學應同時兼具藝術深度與閱讀魅力,能夠在感動讀者的同時,引發更深層的生命思考。
除了小說創作之外,我亦長期從事新詩創作、文學評論、修辭學研究,以及電影與電視劇本創作。跨領域的創作背景,使我的小說兼具詩性的語言、嚴謹的敘事結構、哲學性的思辨,以及鮮明的視覺想像,因此亦具有改編為電影及影集的潛力。
身為一位來自台灣的作家,我希望向世界介紹兼具文化特色與普世情感的當代華文文學。我並非將亞洲文化視為異國風景,而是希望透過故事呈現其深厚的人文、哲學與情感內涵,讓不同文化背景的讀者都能從中找到共鳴。
我相信,這三部小說皆具有國際出版、翻譯及影視改編的潛力。若能獲得您的青睞,我將非常樂意提供完整小說、出版企劃書、試閱章節或任何您需要的相關資料,供您進一步評估。
衷心感謝您撥冗閱讀這封自薦函,誠摯期待未來有機會與您合作,共同將台灣華文文學推向國際出版舞台。
敬祝
順心如意
陳文翰(筆名:陳清揚)
台灣小說家・詩人・文學評論家・修辭學研究者・影視編劇
創作履歷
• 四十餘年持續投入文學創作與文學研究。
• 創作領域涵蓋文學小說、奇幻小說、當代愛情小說、新詩、文學評論及影視劇本。
• 研究方向包括華文現代詩、修辭學、小說敘事學、美學與跨文化文學研究。
• 長期以文學、哲學、神話、精神思想、歷史文化與人類共同情感為創作核心。
• 致力於以兼具國際視野與亞洲文化特色的文學作品,向世界介紹當代台灣華文文學。
下一則: Long Fantasy Romance Novel 〈The Reissued Youth〉15






