make a 1- to 2-pg query letter directed to a publisher for submission of your your finalized short story. Be sure to include the following:

• A brief introduction of yourself.
• A description of your short story.
• Reasons why the publisher should accept your short story. How is your short story different and special? Heres my story below

Erik Hitchcock English Professor Lohr March 13,2024.

The Windhaven Whisperer is a legend.

The picturesque town of Windhaven was painted in shades of twilight by the long shadows that extended over the plaza decorated with cobblestones. Despite her heart beating frantically against her ribs, Elena clung to her battered luggage closely. An assortment of feelings whirled about inside of her: the excitement of going back to a location that she had previously considered her home, the gnawing worry of the unknown, and a profound, longing draw towards a truth that she had been unable to

discover for many years.

The town was alive with a rhythm that was unmistakable. Children were seen chasing each other through the spray of the fountain, and their laughing could be heard reverberating against the old stone structures. As the proprietors of the shops started to close their booths for the evening, their voices rose in happiness as they said their

goodbyes. There was a nagging sense of dread in the air, despite the fact that the situation seemed to be quite normal. The formerly lively conversation seemed to be

peppered with hushed murmurs, and brief emotions of dread flashed across features.

Among the throng, Elena recognized a face that she had seen before. As she stood outside the bakery, Maria, who had been her confidante since childhood, a concerned furrow appeared on her forehead. Elena felt a wave of relief rush over her as she scrambled to get to her companion. Maria's formerly black hair was now streaked with grayish strands, and laughing lines emanated from the corners of her eyes. The years

had made their mark on her. However, the warmth that was there in her grin did not alter.

"Elena!" In her voice, Maria shouted, her tone tinged with a sense of astonishment and a trace of apprehension. During their hug, a discourse took place in silence, serving as a connection between the present and the past. The aged sign of the bakery, the cobblestone walk leading to her old home, and the towering oak tree beside the well, its

branches whispering secrets in the dusk air were all things that Elena took in as she took in her surroundings.

"Thank you, Maria," Elena murmured, her voice loaded with the passion she was experiencing. "It's good to be back."

A smirk appeared on Maria's face. "It's... good to have you back, Elena," she said with a timid tone. "However, things have shifted in this case. I'm concerned that it won't be for the better."

A frown formed on Elena's face. "What do you mean?"

While she was doing so, Maria lowered her voice to a whisper and cast a stealthy peek about. "In recent times, strange occurrences have been taking place. Noises that are unnerving in the dead of night, shadows that are fluttering just outside the line of sight. When it comes to the newbie, there is also...

The shudder that Elena felt raced down her spine. The idea that a stranger would be coming in Windhaven at the same time that she was returning caused a glimmer of anxiety to appear in her mind. The recollection of her father's grave face and his voice, which was carved with fear as he talked of a shadow that was lurking at the outskirts of the hamlet, came to the surface. It was a remnant from her childhood period.

Maria continued, her voice barely audible, "They say he's the Whisperer," she described the individual. "They say he knows things... secrets from the past."

There was a pool of icy fear that Elena felt in her gut. The mysteries of her history, including the impetus for her departure from Windhaven all those years ago, continued to be buried deep inside her at all times. Is there a possible connection between the

arrival of this stranger? Was she now prepared to face the truth, regardless of how hard it may be for her to do otherwise?

A firm grasp was exerted by Maria's hand on Elena's. "Be careful, Elena," she implored with her. "Some secrets are best left undisturbed." Elena was aware that she could not go back at this point. She longed for answers, and the shadows of the past called to her, offering just those answers. She gave a determined nod and then pulled open the huge oak door of the library, which was a refuge of knowledge and, maybe, the key to

unraveling the secrets of her history.

Inside,

The musty smell of ancient books filled the library as Elena entered, reminding her of late hours lost in the pages of her favorite books. An air of mystery and suspense was created by the lengthy shadows that were cast across the rows of shelves by the weak light coming through the dusty windows. The room was still, save for the creak of the hardwood planks that broke the silence with every step. Elena strolled down to a worn desk hidden in a corner, where an old librarian was bent over a stack of antiquated books. A glimmer of recognition went between them as their eyes locked. The librarian seemed to sense the weight of Elena's goalthe silent search for knowledge that had led her to Windhaven after such a long absence. The librarian pointed to a group of volumes on the far wall, whose spines had faded and worn from age, without saying anything. Elena traced the titles with her fingers as she followed the quiet instructions, looking for hints to reveal the mysteries of her history. With every book came the possibility of discovery, an enticing look into Windhaven's past and the mysterious Whisperer.

Elena was swept into a realm of hushed legends and lost wisdom as she dug deeper into her investigation. Stories of ghosts that prowled the hills and forests, of ancient rituals carried out in the full moon's light, and of a darkness that waited just beyond the threshold of awareness. She sensed more and more the strands of her own past entwining themselves with Windhaven's past as she read on. Elena was thinking about her father and the cryptic advice he had given her before his untimely death in the quiet stillness of the library. She recalled the terror in his eyes and the urgency in his voice as he described a shadowy figure that prowled the town's edges.Were these foreboding signs connected to the Whisperer's arrival? And how did she fit into this enigma that was being solved? Distracted by her thoughts, Elena was startled back to consciousness by the sound of approaching footsteps. She looked up to see Maria standing there with a worried expression on her face. Maria gave Elena a well-worn leather-bound journal that was full of handwritten entries and had yellowed with age without saying anything. "This belonged to your father," she said. "It may hold the answers you seek."

Elena opened the journal with shaking hands, her pulse racing with excitement. She experienced a wave of emotion as she read the pages with the fading ink. Fragments of a past she had long attempted to ignore surfaced as long-buried memories did. Elena pieced together the history of her ancestry, the Whisperer's legacy, and the sinister forces that loomed over Windhaven once more through her father's words. Every discovery ignited a fire in her soul and sent goosebumps down her spine. She was now the protagonist and champion of this mysterious and intriguing story, no longer just a bystander. Elena turned to face Maria, her eyes burning with determination as she made her own. With a voice of resolve, she said, "We have to face the Whisperer." We can't let fear stop us now. The days of keeping secrets have passed. So, prepared to face whatever darkness lay ahead of them, Elena and Maria headed out to face the shadows that lurked within the heart of Windhaven, armed with courage and the knowledge of generations past.

The atmosphere became tense as they descended farther into the forest, the old trees whispering secrets that reverberated through the shadows. Elena felt the weight of fate bearing down on her and the weight of generations past guiding her onward with every step. At last, they came to a clearing's edge, where a shadowy figure stood waiting for them. With his eyes shining with a dark light, the Whisperer loomed tall and menacing. Elena, though, did not falter. Her resolve was unwavering, her stare unwavering, and she stood steadfast. The Whisperer spoke, his voice seeming to resound from the bottom of the earth, his words brimming with hatred and anger. Elena did not falter, though. She addressed his stare directly, her spirit unfazed. At that precise moment, Windhaven's destiny rested on the brink of eternity as good and evil, light and dark, clashed. Elena knew she was ready to battle, to win, and to become the legend Windhaven sorely needed as she lifted her hand to confront the Whisperer.

Following their meeting, the darkness that had overtaken Windhaven for so long started to fade, making way for the brightness of dawn. The village was once again at peace, and its residents were no longer held captive by fear and uncertainty after the Whisperer was vanquished and his secrets were exposed. Elena took comfort in realizing she had reached her full potential, accepted her roots, and triumphed over obstacles that had previously seemed insurmountable. Even though she knew that her voyage was far from over, she bravely and optimistically faced the future, prepared to set off on whatever adventures lay ahead for her outside of Windhaven. Thus, the Windhaven Whisperer legend persisted, serving as a tribute to the strength of bravery, camaraderie, and the enduring human spirit. Windhaven will always be a part of Elena, a beacon of light in the darkness and a sign of hope for anybody who dared to dreamd to dream as the sun rose over the town, casting its golden rays upon cobblestone streets and historic stone structures..