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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 MG #08: VAMPIRES DON’T DRINK BLOOD (Contemporary fantasy)
Mentee:
Sophie Li
Mentored by:
Sarah Kapit and Adrianna Cuevas
Book Title:
VAMPIRES DON’T DRINK BLOOD
Category:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Contemporary fantasy
Word Count:
51,000

Pitch:

After an epic bat disaster, 12-year-old Caleb Yu wants to hide his vampire identity. When his adoptive mom goes missing, only aspiring vampire hunter Maddie Strangelove can help find her. Together, they must investigate the secret paranormal underground to save Mom, and the city, from a vengeful, bloodthirsty rockstar... before Maddie figures out who Caleb really is.

AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS x HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

 

Excerpt:

Forty-six bats dangle from the ceiling of Dr. Singh’s dental office. Forty-six opportunities for a bat-astrophe. 

I gulp. If anyone notices, I’m doomed.

But the seven people in the waiting room all stare zombie-like at their phone screens, ignoring the bats. I owe my life to whoever invented phones, seriously. 

Zooooom crinkle crinkle crinkle.

Swoooooooosh.

I gasp. A brown blur zips onto the table and licks a fly off Merrilee Jamieson’s face on CosmoGirl. I turn wide-eyed to Mom, who looks just as horrified. She squeezes my arm and I know she’s thinking the same thing.

No one saw that, RIGHT?

I bite my lip and scan the waiting room. A teen puts away her phone, looks around, frowns. Meanwhile the bat perches on that magazine, chewing thoughtfully on his fly. I tap my knees and give him the biggest nervous side-eye. C’mon Chewy, go back go back go back.

Here’s the thing: bats don’t let anybody boss them around, not even vampires.

Chewy doesn’t move. Now I don’t understand bat, but I swear he’s like, Naaaaah, I gotta finish my meal.

Geez, how long does it take to chew up a fly?

The teen gets up from her seat. I suck in a breath.

This is it. She’s going to report the bat infestation.

 

17 responses to “PW2021 MG #08: VAMPIRES DON’T DRINK BLOOD (Contemporary fantasy)”

  1. Andrea Morrison says:

    Dear Sophie,
    I think the voice within this sample is so, so fantastic – and I just love this concept. I would very much love to read VAMPIRES DON’T DRINK BLOOD if you’re open to sharing the full novel with me. I am at andreasubmissions (at) writershouse.com. (We ask that creators only submit to one Writers House agent at a time). I really hope to read your work! In any case, wishing you all the best and congratulations on being at this point in the process!
    Very best,
    Andrea

  2. Lauren Spieller says:

    Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars, Sophie! I’d love to see this again. Please send your query + full manuscript + synopsis to Lauren@triadaus.com, and put “PW Request” in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you! ~Lauren Spieller

  3. Alexandra Weiss says:

    Hi Sophie! Bats and vampires in a dental office? I’m hooked. I’d love to request the full manuscript.

    If you’d like to send it my way, please upload it here: QueryManager.com/AlexandraWeiss/PitchWars2021

    ​Alexandra Weiss (she/her)
    Azantian Literary Agency
    http://www.azantianlitagency.com

  4. Samantha Wekstein says:

    Hi Sophie,

    This sounds really fun! I’d love to see the query and first 50 pages. If you’re interested, please send them to QueryManager.com/SamanthaWekstein/PitchWars. Thank you!

    All the best,

    Samantha Wekstein

  5. Jennifer Herrington says:

    Hi Sophie,

    Wow! This sounds fabulous! I would love to see more if you were comfortable sharing. Please submit your query, synopsis, and the full manuscript to: QueryManager.com/JenniferHerrington/PitchWars2022.

    I hope to see your submission!

    Jenn
    Jennifer Herrington
    Associate Agent
    Harvey Klinger Literary Agency

  6. Penelope Burns says:

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

    All best,
    Penelope

  7. Tara Gonzalez says:

    Hi Sophie! Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars 🙂 I would love you to send this back my way, if you’re interested! VAMPIRES DON’T DRINK BLOOD sounds like it hits so many of my sweet spots and I’m dying (pun absolutely intended) to read it. Please feel free to email me at tara@emliterary.com and mention Pitch Wars.

    Thanks so much! Tara Gonzalez (Agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency)

  8. Masha Gunic says:

    I’d love to take a look at this! Please send me your query and full manuscript to masha@azantianlitagency.com with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. Should anyone else from ALA request to see this, you can just send it to one of us at a time at your choice.

  9. Peter Knapp says:

    This sounds great! I would love to read more. Can you please send the full manuscript attached as a Word document to queries@parkfine.com with “Pete Knapp – Pitch Wars – MG” in the subject of your email? Please include the query letter at the start of your Word document, and if available please also send a short synopsis (but no worries if not readily available). Thanks! I look forward to reading.

    Pete Knapp / Park & Fine Literary and Media

  10. I’d love to read more! You can send your query letter, a synopsis, and the first 3 chapters of your manuscript to me directly at maria@psliterary.com. One document (attached to the email) that contains all three items is preferred. Please include “Pitch Wars” and your manuscript’s title in the subject line of your email. (If another agent at P.S. Literary requests your manuscript, please submit to only one of us.)

  11. Hannah Andrade says:

    Hi Sophie! I absolutely LOVE the sound of this! Can you please send the first 100 pages of this to me on my QueryManager (https://QueryManager.com/hannahandrade)? And don’t forget to put PitchWars in the subject line along with your project, because I definitely don’t want to miss this. I can’t wait to read it!

  12. Laurel Symonds says:

    I’m intrigued! I’d like to see more of this. If you’re interested, please send me your query + first 25 pages with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line to symondsqueries@thebentagency.com. (If more than one agent from The Bent Agency requests materials, feel free to send to all of us–just let us know. Thank you!) Looking forward to reading more!

  13. Analieze Cervantes says:

    Hi Sophie!

    I’m digging your pitch/excerpt and would love to request the query, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters of your manuscript!

    Submit here: QueryManager.com/AnaliezeCervantes/PitchWars

    Can’t wait to see this in my box soon! Have a great day!

    Best–
    Analieze Cervantes

    Literary Agent
    Harvey Klinger Literary Agency

  14. Kaitlyn Sanchez says:

    Haha this sounds fun already. 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!

  15. Becca Langton says:

    Hi Sophie,

    I loved your pitch and opening, I’d love to read more! Please do query me through my email, becca@darleyanderson.com and include #Pitch Wars in the subject line. Darley Anderson is a well established global agency and I am so pleased to be building a US focussed list in a team that includes a Film and TV agent and a well experienced international rights team.
    Looking forward to hearing from you!
    Becca

  16. Christa Heschke says:

    Hi Sophie!

    This is such great fun! My assistant, Daniele, and I would love to read it. 🙂

    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

  17. Roseanne Wells says:

    Hi Sophie,

    It’s the voice and the humor for me! I also love the idea of a vampire and a vampire-hunter-to-be teaming up. I’d love to take a look. Please submit the full manuscript and a synopsis to querymanager.com/roseannewells/pitchrequest, and I’m excited to keep reading!