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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 YA #37: BURY THE STARS (Fantasy – #OwnVoices LGBTQ+)
Mentee:
Kylie Jackson
Mentored by:
Bethany Mangle
Book Title:
BURY THE STARS
Category:
2020 Entries
Genre:
Fantasy - #OwnVoices LGBTQ+
Word Count:
86,000
Manuscript Content Warning(s):
Alcohol, Child Abuse/Neglect, Death/Deceased Family Member, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage (mention of), Misgendering, Murder, Plague (mention of), Sacrifice (attempted), Transphobia, Violence, War (mention of)

Pitch:

After seventeen years trapped in Alastair O’Leary’s occult shop, Abbott discovers he was raised for slaughter. O’Leary plans to resurrect Abbott’s mother by sacrificing Abbott. To make matters worse, he’s—apparently—Abbott’s father.

Abbott flees, aided by his newsboy crush Finnian. In search of a spell to save Abbott and his mother, the boys track down unconventional gods, from venomous gnomes to body-stealing demons. But as O’Leary closes in, Abbott must decide: turn himself in and grant his mother another chance, or give her up for his newfound life—and love. Queer PERCY JACKSON meets FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. 

 

Excerpt:

One month.

One lunar cycle and Eleanor would rise again.

Alastair sat in a dim pub, lightning arcing between his steepled hands. The patrons’ eyes bored into his back, but he paid them no heed. If those grubby commoners wanted to grovel at his feet, then so be it. He was the closest thing to a god they would ever see.

The lightning crackled as Alastair rolled his shoulders, staring at the man opposite him. “Hand it over.”

Roswell, a trader of occult items—perhaps swindler was a better word—removed a wax-sealed scroll from his satchel, gaze darting around the room. “Payment first, Mr. O’Leary.”

“Nonsense.” Sparks shot from his hands onto the worn floorboards, where Alastair stamped them out. “Now,” he snarled.

Face going slack, Roswell slid the parchment across the sticky tabletop.

“Much better.” Alastair clenched his fist, snuffing out the lightning. “Now, what was it you said I should know?”

“The incantation itself is simple,” murmured Roswell, “but there is one condition. The ritual… Well, it…” 

“Spit it out.”

“It requires a sacrifice.” The sheen of sweat upon Roswell’s forehead glistened in the lantern light. “A… a human sacrifice.”

“I know.” A wicked smile rent Alastair’s face in two. “His name is Abbott.”

5 responses to “PW2020 YA #37: BURY THE STARS (Fantasy – #OwnVoices LGBTQ+)”

  1. Jordy Albert says:

    I would love to take a look. Please follow my submission guidelines here https://QueryManager.com/1426. Thank you!

  2. Michaela Whatnall says:

    Oh, this sounds like so much fun, and I love your comps. Please send your query and the first 50 pages as a Word doc attachment to mwhatnall@dystel.com. I’m looking forward to reading!

    Please note that if more than one agent from Dystel, Goderich & Bourret has requested your work, we ask that you choose which of us you’d like to submit to first, and let that agent know who else from our agency made a request. Thanks very much!

  3. Hi Kylie,

    Your Twitter PitchWars teasers had me really intrigued, and this lives up to the hype so far! I’d love to see the full… could you please send it via QueryManager.com/JenniferWills/PitchWars2020? I’d also love to see your query letter and synopsis if you have one.

    Thanks so much!
    Jennifer Wills
    The Seymour Agency

  4. Christine Lee says:

    Hi Kylie! You’re welcome to send your full manuscript and author bio to christine@leshneagency.com. Please include “Pitch Wars” and your book title in the subject line. Thanks, Christine

  5. Christa Heschke says:

    I really enjoyed your opening and the premise! 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