Pitch:
STRANGE THE DREAMER meets GIRL, SERPENT, THORN
After centuries trapped as a statue, plus-size Gia wants revenge.
But if she's going to kill the immortal man who doomed her and usurped her sister, she needs to get her hands—and likely her blade—on the handsome autistic boy whose prayers woke her.
Excerpt:
Only a strix’s talons could claw out a heart more sharply than a sister’s scorn.
Unable to keep still through the endless council negotiations any longer, Gia drew her knife, its hilt carved of chimera bone—a gift from her mentor Ennio—and balanced it idly across her fingers. Her sister Lena, elaborate braids under her copper crown, white dress draping elegantly from her olive-skinned shoulders, shot her a look as deadly as its iron blade.
Gia stared back and flipped the knife to show Lena no one but she cared how Gia passed the interminable time at assemblies. Not one of these visiting dignitaries had come to hear Gia speak.
Lena pressed her lips in a line and lifted a hand to silence the stodgy emissary droning on. She broke her perfect posture to lean towards Gia. “Put that weapon away or leave the chamber.”
Gia grinned. “Gladly, Your Eminence.”
She rose and squeezed her wide hips past the carved wooden chairs and marble columns. Lena’s censure nettled her as she slipped from the council building. But the thought of Ennio’s broad smile as she arrived unexpectedly early at his temple helped soothe her conscience.
Outside, she kept the knife ready, watching for the small serpents that usually stretched out along lonely stairs and wound themselves about balustrades to soak up the stone’s warmth.
They weren’t there. Even through rain and chill, nothing but fear would move the pests.
A knot pulled tight in Gia’s gut.
What could possibly scare monsters?
Hi Leanne!
Your story definitely caught my eye. I would love to take a look. Please send the first three chapters, synopsis and a short bio to shannon@cmalit.com. Please put “Requested Materials-Pitch Wars” in the subject line so it will be sure to stand out in my inbox.
If more than one person requests materials from my agency (Creative Media Agency, Inc., or CMA) just pick one of us. If it doesn’t work for that person, we will share it around.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing your story very much! Best of success with Pitch Wars!!
Shannon
Hi Leanne,
I’d LOVE to read more of WE SHALL BE MONSTERS! I’m immediately drawn into this story! Could you please email the query and full manuscript to: rebecca@defliterary.com? Please label the subject as: ‘Pitch Wars Requested.’ I can’t wait to read more!
Thanks so much!
Cheers,
Rebecca Strauss
DeFiore and Company
Hi Leanne! This sounds like such a powerful story and I’m hooked by this excerpt. I’d love to read more. If you’d like to query me, include your query letter and upload your full manuscript using the link below. If you query more than one agent at Rees, that’s ok. Just let us know you did so in the query. Thanks and congrats on all your hard work! I’m looking forward to reading.
QueryManager.com/AshleyBlake/PitchWars
Please send your query, synopsis, and first two chapters of your book using the following link: QueryManager.com/renae/PitchWars
Please feel free to apply to more than one agent at Tobias simultaneously. We will handle multiple submissions on our end.
I love this worldbuilding and voice, and especially this unique premise! I would love to see 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.
Hi Leanne! I’d love to take a look at your query letter, synopsis and full manuscript. Please send them over to me at jfsubmissions@jenniferlyonsliteraryagency.com and mention that I made the request via Pitch Wars in the subject line. The query and synopsis can either be attached or in the body of the email, but please send the manuscript as a Word Doc attachment. Looking forward to reading! -Jessica Felleman
Hi Leanne! I would love to keep reading WE SHALL BE MONSTERS. 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