Pitch:
Sixteen-year-old Japanese homestay student Naoki lands in L.A. with more emotional baggage than suitcases. Naoki is on a mission to reconnect with his estranged best friend, but finding one person in a city of millions is almost as difficult as finding the words to apologize. Navigating a complicated love triangle and acknowledging his bisexuality doesn’t make it easier. Amidst the turbulence of his new life, Naoki needs to build the courage to face his difficult past and make amends before he loses his last chance.
Excerpt:
Turbulence: a noun. Definition: Violent unsteady movement, confusion, turmoil and my life right now. It perfectly describes my current physical and emotional state as the airplane makes a swooping wobbly break through the clouds above Los Angeles—one mile closer to what might be the biggest mistake of my life.
The plane (and my heart) takes a steep plunge, and my English-Japanese Dictionary slides off the tray table, followed by my notebook. I reach for them with one hand and hold the armrest for dear life with the other. If I’d just waited two seconds after the in-flight announcement, it would’ve been obvious what “turbulence” means. I readjust my glasses and peer down at the monochrome city skyline below—a total contrast from the lush green mountains I left thousands of miles behind in Hokkaido.
Did I really travel across the world for the chance to find one person in a city of four million people? Am I seriously doing a year-long high school homestay program just to give me that chance?
I am completely out of my mind.
Even after two planes and sixteen grueling hours, only the first part of my journey is over. Landing is the start of another, and the closer I get, the more it’s clear that I can’t turn back.
Dear Hailie,
As someone who did an exchange year herself out of high school, I was immediately drawn to this pitch! I’d love to take a look, if you could send your query in the body of the e-mail and your full manuscript as a Microsoft Word attachment to abishop@dystel.com. Please put Pitch Wars in the subject line.
If you receive a request from more than one DGB agent, please feel free to approach the person you feel might be the best fit and notify them of other requests in agency. We’ll work it out on our end. 🙂
Thanks so much and hope to hear from you!
Amy
Hi, Hailie. LOVE this premise! Your voice is fantastic too! Can you send me the full and a synopsis (2-4 pages)? Please use Times New Roman, size 12, black, double-spaced text, 1” margins all around, and ½” paragraph indents. Paste your pitch in the body of the email and attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate Word documents (docx). Send to: lynnette (at) theseymouragency (dot) com and add “Pitch Wars Request” along with your title in the subject line. Thanks.
If more than one agent from The Seymour Agency likes your entry, please send requested material to the agent you feel will be the best fit. #OneAgentAtATime
Looking forward to reading more.
Best,
Lynnette
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.
Hi Hailie,
This sounds great! I’d love to take a look. Please upload your material to booksubmissions.caa.com with “Pitch Wars Request” in the subject line.
Best wishes,
Mollie
This sounds delightful, 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!
Hi there!
I’d love to read the first 50 pages of this. Please send them attached as a word document along with your query pasted into the email to: rena@dhliterary.com
Best,
Rena Rossner
The Deborah Harris Agency
I’d be delighted to consider this. Please see submission guidelines here: https://www.contextlit.com/submissions under Kaitlyn Sanchez, and please put PITCH WARS REQUEST and your genre and title in the subject line of the email. Thanks for sharing your work!
Dear Hailie,
SUNSHINE & ORANGES sounds really great and I’d love to keep reading. If you’re interested in sending, could you please email the full manuscript to: tamara.kawar@icmpartners.com, and make sure to include “PW2021” in your subject line?
Thank you!
Best,
Tamara
I’d love to read more! You can send me your query, full synopsis, and and first 50 pages to alli(at)stimolaliterarystudio(dot)com. Thanks, and good luck!
Thanks for sharing your work at Pitch Wars. 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.