Is a novel ever finished? Views from the trenches

Okay, so it happens to me a lot. I think I've finished a novel and then I get a brilliant idea--or what I think is brilliant--and start tinkering with it again.

Sometimes it's after my query letter gets a less than warm reception, but other times it's like the proverbial bolt out of the blue that strikes me. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I'm happy with my bolt I immerse myself in my bolt. I think my bolt is the best thing ever.

There aren't any quantitative measures for this sort of thing, so I just have to take it for granted that I'm right. This new change will make the book better.

Do you get bolts out of the blue and if so, please comment below and let me know what your bolts are like and what effect they have on you.

DANGEROUS: YA Query Blog Hop Entry

Here is my Query Blog Hop Entry. Please critique away. I adore all comments.

Dear Ms Perfect Agent for Me,

When sixteen-year-old Cammie's forced off the road and nearly killed by the richest man in Sleepy Valley SC, she needs evidence to prove her sister’s boyfriend is the culprit before he murders both of them.

Lucky she has someone to count on: her Nana, now in her seventies who worships the god Bahr, has more guns in her house than the local pawn shop, bakes fantastic Norwegian cookies and keeps up with the latest on profiling killers. But no one else believes Cammie, including the sheriff, until his hunk of a nephew tries to help her, but he could be one of the bad guys.

After scheming to get the murderer to invite her and her family to his home for dinner, she makes friends with one of the maids and takes a job as a maid at his family’s palatial estate. Dressed in disguise so her sister's boyfriend doesn't recognize her, she snoops in his laboratory and room, looking for evidence, but time is closing in on her and so is the murderer.

 I won first place from the Virginia Romance Writers Association for one of my novels and second place for YA fiction from the Florida State Writing Competition. My mystery/suspense fiction has been published in PALM PRINTS, the University of South Florida Writers Journal, and online at RIVERWALK.

Dangerous is a 61,000 word completed YA mystery/thriller that contains unique formats, including newspaper articles, lists, cards and emails.

This is a multiple submission. Although Dangerous is a standalone story, it has series potential.

As per your guidelines, I've pasted in the first chapter and a synopsis.

Thank you for considering Dangerous.

Sincerely,

Finished a new young adult novel called DANGEROUS and sending to an agent

Hi All,

Today, I'm getting my new young adult thriller ready to send to an agent who requested the full manuscript after reading the first five pages.

This is exciting. Every time an agent requests a full, my little heart pounds like crazy. Could this be it? Will I get representation?

You never know.

DANGEROUS is about a younger sister who knows her older sis is dating a murderer. She has to figure out how to stop her, even though older sis is head over heals over this rich, handsome guy. Even though the police chief thinks she's crazy. Even though she's always reporting crimes that turn out to be simple misunderstandings.

Will Cassie get the evidence she needs to send this guy to jail before he kills her sister...and maybe her, too?

Will the agent want to represent my novel?

I'll let you know.