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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.
PW2021 YA #03: THE ETERNAL LIBRARY (Contemporary Fantasy)
Mentee:
Shaina Cordas
Mentored by:
Mary E. Roach
Book Title:
THE ETERNAL LIBRARY
Category:
Young Adult
Genre:
Contemporary Fantasy
Word Count:
74,000

Pitch:

THE STARLESS SEA x STRANGE THE DREAMER

Starry-eyed, autistic October runs from foster parents in search of home, and The Eternal Library listens. Within its boundless walls he finds a furious girl and a soft-hearted boy, who quickly become home—a home threatened by a war between the Librarians and an exile hellbent on destroying them. October would do anything to save his beloveds. Even if it means following the dark voice of the Library to a door meant to remain shut. Even if it means unleashing the chaos that lies behind it.

 

Excerpt:

The Eternal Library can only find the lost, through drafty windows to their still-beating hearts, left open just enough for the soundless sigh to slip through. They cannot know or name it at first. The sharp tug of longing-loss only noticed while passing a pub window, watching the pink-cheeked laughter within, as they stand outside in the aching cold. That breathless daydream of almost-kisses, and almost-dreams, and almost-lives.

That is how The Library finds them, those beacons of bright longing. The peppermint-scented boys with skin as thin as paper. Abandoned daughters with tyrants to topple. The brilliantly lonely ones, dancing to unheard music, partnered to no one at all. The dreamers seeking magic within the sweet science of baked goods and burnt sugar, far into the smallest hours.

Along every version of Earth that has ever been or will be, layered atop one another like cards in a deck, it finds them, calls them to a home within dusty walls, birdsong, and a battle older than the stars themselves. The Eternal Library calls them from whatever version of our small, infinitely strange world it touches, and it does not let go.

It holds them as close as lovers, for better or for worse, until the very end.

20 responses to “PW2021 YA #03: THE ETERNAL LIBRARY (Contemporary Fantasy)”

  1. Sarah N. Fisk says:

    Oh this writing is absolutely breathtaking. It would be an honor to read more. Please submit the query, synopsis and first three chapters here: https://querymanager.com/query/sarahnfisk/PitchWars

    If multiple agents at Tobias request your materials, please submit to the one you think would be the best fit.

  2. Larissa Melo Pienkowski says:

    I’m really enjoying what I’m reading so far—this is absolutely up my alley! I’d love to see more, so if you’d like, please feel free to send me the first 50 pages at larissa@jillgrinbergliterary.com, with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line.

  3. Natascha Morris says:

    Hi Shaina,

    The sample here is truly a beautiful piece of writing. The lyrical nature of it is just…amazing. I would love to see more of this. Please upload the full at: QueryManager.com/natascha/PitchWars and if another agent at The Tobias Literary Agency requests, please pick whoever you feel fits you best.

    Best,
    Natascha

  4. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    So much yes. I would love to see the full manuscript. If you find us a match, please send query, synopsis, and pages to QueryManager.com/KaitlynJohnson/Contests

    Best,
    Kaitlyn Johnson
    Belcastro Literary Agency

  5. Claire Friedman says:

    Hi Shaina! I’ve heard such great things about this one from Mary — I’d love to consider! If you think we’d be a good fit, please send the full ms to claire@inkwellmanagement.com

  6. Kristin Nelson says:

    Creepy libraries and found families…I’d love to read more! Please copy/paste your pitch or query letter to the first page of your manuscript before using this link to submit: QueryManager.com/1350/PW2022

    If you have any trouble with the link, please email query@nelsonagency.com and we will assist you.

  7. Penelope Burns says:

    I’d love to see more of this! If you’d like, can you send your query and full manuscript to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com, with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!

    All best,
    Penelope

  8. Mollie Glick says:

    Hi Shaina,
    I’d love to read this! Please upload your materials to booksubmissions.caa.com with “Pitch Wars Request” in the subject line.
    Best wishes,
    Mollie

  9. Carrie Hannigan says:

    Dear Shaina,

    I would love to read THE ETERNAL LIBRARY. (Your voice and those comps immediately hooked me!) Please send the full manuscript as a Word attachment to: carrie@hgliterary.com.

    I look forward to reading it.

    Best wishes,
    Carrie Hannigan
    HG Literary
    http://www.hgliterary.com

  10. Andrea Somberg says:

    I enjoyed these opening pages and would love to take a look at the manuscript if you’d care to send it along! Word document to Andrea[at]harveyklinger.com would be great, with PitchWars Requested Manuscript in the subject line. Thanks! -Andrea Somberg/ Harvey Klinger Inc./ http://www.andreasomberg.com/ http://www.harveyklinger.com

  11. Bridget Smith says:

    This sounds great, and I’d love to take a look! Please send me your query and first 50 pages at QueryManager.com/BridgetSmith/PitchWars2022. Can’t wait to read!

  12. Dorian Maffei says:

    I absolutely love your writing style and would be thrilled to read more! If you feel we’d be a good match, please send along the full manuscript and fill out my online submission form using the following link: QueryManager.com/dorianmaffei/Request

  13. Carlisle Webber says:

    I’d like to see this manuscript! Please submit it along with a query letter here: QueryManager.com/Carlisle/PitchWars2022.

    If more than one agent from Fuse Literary requests your work, please choose one of us to submit to.

    Good luck, and I look forward to reading your work.

  14. Laura Bradford says:

    The writing is so lovely and transporting, I’d love to see more! Please send me the full manuscript and synopsis (as attachments) at laura@bradfordlit.com and put Pitch Wars in your subject line.

    Thank you!
    Laura Bradford

    ***If you receive a request from more than one agent at Bradford Literary Agency, you are welcome to send to all agents who made the request, but just let us know when you send the material***

  15. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi there! I absolutely love the language here.

    I’d love to read the full manuscript. Please send it attached as a word document along with your query pasted into the email to: rena@dhliterary.com

    Best,

    Rena Rossner
    The Deborah Harris Agency

  16. Sandy Lu says:

    Hi Shaina,

    I’m intrigued! Please send the full manuscript, preceded by your bio and complete synopsis (all in one Word document), to https://querymanager.com/SandyLu/Requested_Materials

    I look forward to reading more!

    Best,
    Sandy Lu
    Book Wyrm Literary Agency

  17. Paige Wheeler says:

    Thanks for sharing your work at Pitch Wars. This is great and I’d love to read more! Please send the first 100 pages and synopsis to me at paige@cmalit.com. Please use “Requested Material from Pitch Wars” in your subject heading. Thanks so much.

  18. Roseanne Wells says:

    Hi Shaina,

    YES! I love the promise of comfort with the edge of eery and haunting. I’d love to read more! Please submit the full manuscript and a synopsis to querymanager.com/roseannewells/pitchrequest, and I’m excited to read!

  19. Christa Heschke says:

    Hi Shaina!

    What a fantastic premise! I’d love to read on. Please send your query, synopsis, and full manuscript via Query Manager at this link: QueryManager.com/christa_heschke/PitchWars2122

    Thank you!
    -Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis

  20. Lee OBrien says:

    Hi Shaina,

    I would love to read this! Could you send the query and full MS to lee.queries@irenegoodman.com, with Pitch Wars in the subject line?

    If more than one IGLA agent requests your work, please only send to one of us at a time—if they pass, you’re welcome to reach out to another!

    Best,
    Lee