Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Pitch Wars Showcase

Please note: These are the entries for the Pitch Wars season beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022. Please note that our Agent Showcase ends at 9:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 14, 2022. Agents will not be able to leave comments requesting material after that time.
PW2020 MG #01: ANIKA PATEL AND THE BEASTLY BAKERY (#OwnVoices Urban Fantasy)
Mentee:
Hetal Avanee
Mentored by:
Gail D. Villanueva
Book Title:
ANIKA PATEL AND THE BEASTLY BAKERY
Category:
2020 Entries
Genre:
#OwnVoices Urban Fantasy
Word Count:
59,000

Pitch:

Diaspora Desi girl, Anika, is excited to finally practice magic while visiting Gujarat…Until she learns she’s the descendant of a malevolent demigod. Because of her evil cousin’s delectable and cursed desserts draining townspeople’s life energy, wicked Grandma will soon escape from magic prison. Now, Anika must battle deities, monsters, and powerful beings from Indian mythology to save her parent’s souls and prevent the world from falling into chaos.

THE SERPENT’S SECRET x RACE TO THE SUN

 

Excerpt:

Six-thirty in the morning in Ahmedabad, India is as painful as six-thirty in the morning back in suburbia Ohio. But louder. Cows mooing, bells on carts ringing, and engines of rickshaws revving are my alarms here. I should be used to them by now—we’ve come to Gujarat for eleven whole years, but it’s an adjustment every time.

And don’t get me started on jet lag. It takes three days to get used to being in a time zone almost eleven hours in the future. Still, our annual two-week trip to India during my school’s winter break is non-negotiable.

Mom and Papa have important “magical” things to do.

“Anika, careful,” Mom whispers.

“Sorry!” I finish yawning and straighten my shoulders. My cheeks warm up but the tray I hold stays level. “I’ve got it, Mom. See? Not even a wobble.”

She gives me a wink and a smile.

I watch another kid of “the right age” meet his Pratika, his magical talisman, before I’ve had breakfast. I’m happy for him but impatient for me.

Wizard kids get wands, we sorcerers get talismans. Honestly, I think we get the better deal. Who wants to carry around a stick when you can have jewelry (blech) or armor (meh) or brass knuckles (yes, please!) to help you use your magic?

28 responses to “PW2020 MG #01: ANIKA PATEL AND THE BEASTLY BAKERY (#OwnVoices Urban Fantasy)”

  1. Melanie Castillo says:

    Hi Hetal, Congratulations on completing PitchWars! I’d love to continue reading. If you’d like to share the full MS, please send the query in the body of an email with the full manuscript and synopsis attached as a Word document. The subject of the email should be “Pitch Wars Request: YOUR TITLE for Root Literary” sent to submissions@rootliterary.com. Although not all of Root Literary is participating in Pitch Wars, please feel free to query whomever feels like the best fit! We’re happy to coordinate internally. Best, Melanie

  2. Joanna Moult says:

    Hi Hetal, wow, this really took me back to when I lived in India. Great atmosphere! Please send me the full manuscript (or however much you are willing to share) and a synopsis as word doc attachments to submissions@skylark-literary.com, with [PitchWars Joanna] in the subject line. If my colleague, Amber requests your manuscript as well – feel free to send it to us both or just to your favourite!

  3. Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs says:

    Hi! I’d love to read more. Please send your query, 50 pages, and a synopsis (if you’ve got one) to jessica@dhliterary.com. Looking forward to reading!

  4. Lauren Spieller says:

    Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars, Hetal! I’ve been looking forward to requesting this! Please send your query + full manuscript to Lauren@triadaus.com, and put “PW Request” in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you! ~Lauren

  5. Paige Wheeler says:

    Thank you for your participation in Pitch Wars. I found your project intriguing and would very much like to see the first three chapters of the manuscript. Please email me at paige@cmalit.com the following attachments in Microsoft Word format (not PDF):
     
    1. the first three chapters,
    2. a synopsis of your project,
    3. a short bio including any previous publications.
     
    To expedite the review process, please use “requested material-pitch wars” as the subject heading of your email.
     
    As a professional courtesy, please let me know if any other agents are considering your work. Also, if you do get an offer, please contact me so that I may be able to review and respond accordingly.

    I look forward to reading your work!
     
    Kind regards,
     
    Paige Wheeler 
    paige@cmalit.com

  6. Hi Hetal,

    This story sounds wonderful! Anika’s voice really shines through, even in such a small excerpt (and I too would prefer the brass knuckles). I would love to see more.

    If you head to my agent page (jdlit.com/savannah-brooks), you’ll find my submission guidelines and link to QueryManager. Please be sure to include that this was a Pitch Wars request somewhere in the query.

    I look forward to reading more!

    Savannah

  7. Whitney Ross says:

    Hi Hetal, I’m intrigued by your pitch! I’d love to see your query, synopsis, and full manuscript, with Pitch Wars in the subject line. You can reach me at whitney.queries@irenegoodman.com. Excited to take a look!

  8. Larissa Melo Pienkowski says:

    I would love to take a look at this! Please feel free to send me this query and the first 50 pages as a Word attachment to larissa@jillgrinbergliterary.com, with your name, title, genre, and “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. (Also, if you have requests from two or more of us at JGLM, please do pick and send to only one of us.)

  9. Erica Bauman says:

    Hi Hetal,

    Yay, I’m so happy to see this! I’d love to have a chance to read the full manuscript. If you could please send, along with your query letter, to ebauman@aevitascreative.com (and put Pitch Wars somewhere in the subject line). Looking forward to reading!

    All best,
    Erica

  10. Penny Moore says:

    Hi Hetal,

    This sounds amazing and exactly like the type of MG project I’d love to read! When you’re ready, please upload your full manuscript here: https://querymanager.com/query/LiteraryPenny/PitchWars2021

    Looking forward to hearing from you!

    All the best,
    Penny Moore
    Aevitas Creative Management

  11. Samantha Fabien says:

    Hi Hetal,

    Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars! You must be thrilled!

    Your excerpt and pitch really captured my attention. I love the idea of exploring Indian mythology in MG in a fun, yet whimsical way. I also can’t help but be excited to read about magic actually taking place in India! I’d love to request the full manuscript so I can continue reading it.

    If you’d like to share it, please send the query in the body of an email, with the full manuscript and synopsis attached as a Word doc.

    The subject of the email should be “Pitch Wars Request: ANIKA PATEL AND THE BEASTLY BAKERY for Root Literary” sent to submissions@rootliterary.com.

    Although not all of Root Literary is participating in Pitch Wars, please feel free to query whoever feels like the best fit! We’re happy to coordinate internally.

    All the best,
    Samantha

  12. Jessica Errera says:

    Hello Hetal–I loved your sample and have spent all quarantine watching Great British Bake Off so this is right up my alley. I would love to read the full manuscript (and a synopsis, if you have). Please email them to me at jerrera(at)janerotrosen(dot)com and put “Pitch Wars” in your subject line. Can’t wait to read!

  13. Alyssa Eisner Henkin says:

    I would love to see the full manuscript as a word doc or PDF at ahenkin@birchpathliterary.com

    Thanks,
    Alyssa

  14. Karyn Fischer says:

    Hi Hetal,

    This sounds so, so wonderful, and I enjoyed the short snippet above. I’d love to see the full manuscript! If you’d like, please feel free to query me at QueryManager.com/KarynFischer/PitchWars.

    Thanks so much and I look forward to reading!

    Best,
    Karyn Fischer
    BookStop Literary Agency

  15. Ameerah Holliday says:

    I’ve been dying to see more BIPOC characters being magical! I’d really like to keep reading. Please feel free to send a query, bio and the first 50 pages to Ameerah@serendipitylit.com

  16. Em Lysaght says:

    Hi Hetal, I would love to see more material for this project! If you would like to submit to me, please send me your query letter, synopsis, and first 3 chapters/50 pages (whichever is longer) at the following link: QueryManager.com/emlysaght/Pitchwars2020

  17. Laura Bradford says:

    So much fun and I LOVE the title! A brass-knuckles-loving 11 year old sounds like a great character to carry this story and I’d love to read more! Please email me the full manuscript + synopsis at laura@bradfordlit.com. Please put Pitch Wars in the subject line and paste the pitch into your email. Thank you!

    Laura Bradford

    *If more than one agent from the Bradford Literary Agency has requested this, go ahead and send it to those agents and just let us know

  18. Suzie Townsend says:

    H! I’d love to see this! What a great last line. Please send the manuscript with the query pasted into the first page to Suzie(at)newleafliterary(dot)com. Put REQUESTED-PITCH WARS in the subject line.

  19. Alexandra Weiss says:

    Hi Hetal! This sounds so good and I would love to request the full manuscript for consideration. You can submit here: https://querymanager.com/query/AlexandraWeiss/PitchWars2021.

    Looking forward to reading more!

    Alex Weiss
    Azantian Literary Agency

  20. Katelyn Detweiler says:

    Hetal, this is such a great concept and sample! I’d love to read more. Could you please send the query and full manuscript to me at katelyn@jillgrinbergliterary.com with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line? (Please note, if multiple agents from Jill Grinberg Literary Management request your ms, we ask that you only share with one.) Thank you! 

  21. Kari Sutherland says:

    Hi Hetal, This sounds amazing! I love your voice, the magic, humor, and setting details you weave in just in this little snippet. I would love to read more. Please query me: https://QueryManager.com/Kari_Sutherland_Query_Form. If more than one Bradford Agent requests, you can send to multiple, just let us know so we can coordinate. Warm wishes, Kari

    Added comment: Hi Hetal, I forgot to specify what to send. Please do send me the full! I’m excited to read it. Warm wishes, Kari

  22. Tara Gonzalez says:

    Hi Hetal! I would love to keep reading ANIKA PATEL AND THE BEASTLY BAKERY. If you could send me a query with the full manuscript attached to tara@emliterary.com, with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line, that would be fantastic.

    Tara Gonzalez – Associate Agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency

  23. Hi, Hetal! I’m loving this so far! I’d love to see the full. Could you please submit it via QueryManager.com/JenniferWills/PitchWars2020? I’d also love to see a synopsis if you have one.

    Thanks so much!
    Jennifer Wills
    The Seymour Agency

  24. Zabé Ellor says:

    This is so cute, and I love the voice! So excited to read more.

    Please could you send the query and first fifty pages to me, as an attachment, at zrellor.books@gmail.com? Please paste your query on the first page of your attached sample pages, and also in the body of the email, and include PITCH WARS in the subject line. If more than one JDLA agent requests, feel free to first submit to the one you think is the best fit.

  25. Aida Lilly says:

    Hi there!
    I’d love to see more. If you’d like to submit to me:
    Please send over your first 100 pages and a complete synopsis (with spoilers) to aida@ktliterary.com and include Pitch Wars in the subject line.
    If you receive a request from multiple agents at KT Literary, please only submit to one of us at a time.

  26. Roseanne Wells says:

    Hi Hetal! I’m so glad that Tarie told me about this entry. I’d love to take a look! Please send the full manuscript and a synopsis as doc or docx attachments with #Pitchwars in the subject. I’m so excited to read!

    Best,

    Roseanne

  27. Ashley Blake says:

    Hi Hetal! Wow, this pitch is so intriguing and the excerpt is amazing. I’d love to read more! If you’d like to query me, please include your query letter and upload your full manuscript to the link below. If you decide to query more than one agent at Rees, that’s totally fine, just let us know you did so in the query. Thanks and congrats on Pitch Wars and all your hard work!

    QueryManager.com/AshleyBlake/PitchWars

  28. Christa Heschke says:

    I was drawn in by your opening pages and premise. Cursed desserts! Indian mythology! Please send the full manuscript, synopsis and query to chquery@mcintoshandotis.com with Pitch Wars request and the title of the manuscript in the subject line. –Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis