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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 Adult #32: SUNSHINE AND SPICE (Contemporary RomCom #DiverseVoices – South Asian)
Mentee:
Aurora Palit
Mentored by:
Regina Black and Nikki Payne
Book Title:
SUNSHINE AND SPICE
Category:
Adult
Genre:
Contemporary RomCom #DiverseVoices - South Asian
Word Count:
80,000

Pitch:

Incense and Sensibility x The Marriage Game

When struggling brand consultant Naomi lands a career-saving job she’s culturally unequipped to handle, she makes a deal with Dev, the grumpy, anti-marriage son of her traditional, Bengali client: she’ll help him thwart his mother’s matchmaking efforts if he helps her meet the matriarch’s exacting standards. But the line between reality and rumour blurs as Naomi is pulled deeper into lies that could end her career and break her heart.

 

Excerpt:

If Naomi was in need of tantric sex pills, a Ganesh bobblehead, and Darjeeling tea bags, she was in the right place. The tightly packed aisles of Gia’s Bazaar were a mayhem of imports from India, cheap knockoffs, and the odd head-scratcher, like a small wicker basket overflowing with brown Jesus keychains nestled between bottles of Fair & Lovely face cream.

But Naomi would have to save examining the peculiar selection of inventory for later; she was twenty-two minutes late for her job interview and the uncharacteristic tardiness was giving her palpitations. After a quick lap through the deserted store confirmed she was alone, dread skittered up her spine like ascending black keys on an old piano. 

What if the potential client had deemed her a no-show and left? Naomi levelled her gaze on a particularly stern-looking brown Jesus in a bid to calm her shivering heart. She tried to rally, to “pull herself up by the bootstraps” as her stepfather would say, as she had countless times before.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t ignore the whisper of doubt in the back of her mind. Not when, after recently starting her own brand consulting business, staying afloat hinged on securing a new client. 

This client.

26 responses to “PW2021 Adult #32: SUNSHINE AND SPICE (Contemporary RomCom #DiverseVoices – South Asian)”

  1. Andrea Cascardi says:

    Hi, this is so intriguing! I’d love to read more and see what happens with these two characters and Naomi’s job! I’ll look forward to seeing it in my in-box: andrea@transatlanticagency.com. as an attachment, with Adult Pitch Wars request and the title in the subject line. Thankyou!

  2. Sharon Pelletier says:

    This sounds terrific! I’d love to read. Could you please send the full (as a Word doc) and your query to spelletier@dystel.com? If you get more than one request from DG&B, please choose the agent you think is the best fit for you and note in your email the other requests.

    Thanks!

  3. Kim Lionetti says:

    Your book sounds like so much fun. I’d love to take a look!

    You can upload the full manuscript here: QueryManager.com/klionetti/PitchWars

    I hope to see it in my inbox!

    ** If more than one BookEnds agent requests, please just send to the one you think would be the best fit.

  4. Haley Casey says:

    Hi, Aurora,

    I’ve been eagerly seeking rom-coms, and between this pitch and the very first paragraph of the excerpt, I’m hooked! If you’re willing, I’d love if you sent your full manuscript, synopsis, and author bio to me at haley@cmalit.com!

    As a note, if another agent at Creative Media Agency requests your manuscript and you’re interested in working with us, please only send your materials to whoever you feel is the best fit. (Though I do hope it’s me, I hope even more sincerely that you make the choice that feels best for you and your writing.)

    Thanks!

    —Haley

  5. Ann Leslie Tuttle says:

    Dear Aurora,
    Your opening excerpt immediately drew me into SUNSHINE AND SPICE, and you have a compelling premise. Please do send me the first 50 pages, and I look forward to reading further. My email is atuttle@dystel.com, and please note that this is a Pitch Wars request. Also, if you receive a request from more than one DGB agent, please approach the agent you feel might be the best fit and notify us of other requests in the agency. We’ll work it out on our end. I wish you success in Pitch Wars and with your writing and will hope to hear from you.
    Best,
    Ann Leslie Tuttle

  6. Ismita Hussain says:

    Hi Aurora,

    I need this romcom in my life! A meddling Bengali mom, a son averse to marriage, and a young woman out of her depth at her new job sound like such relatable characters. You can learn more about me and our agency at https://greatdogliterary.com/our-people . If you think we’d be a good fit, please use this link (QueryManager.com/IsmitaHussain/PitchWars) to submit a full manuscript, synopsis, and bio.

    All the best,
    Ismita

  7. Paige Wheeler says:

    This sounds like fun. I’d love to take a look at more of your work. Please email me the synopsis and first 100 pages to me at paige@cmalit.com. Please write “Pitch Wars Requested Material” in the subject heading. Thanks so much!

  8. Lauren Spieller says:

    Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars! I’d love to read more. 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

  9. Jen Nadol says:

    Hi Aurora,
    Great premise & voice – I’d love to read more! If you think we’d be a match, please forward a query & first 50 pages as a Word attachment to jen.nadol@theunteragency.com
    Thanks!
    Jen

  10. Hi Aurora,

    I’m actively building my list of romcoms at the moment, and this project sounds excellent! I’d love to see more of it. If you’re interested in submitting, visit my Pitch Wars event QueryManager page (QueryManager.com/SavannahBrooks/Pitch_Wars_2022). It’ll ask for your first 20 pages.

    I look forward to reading more!

    Warmly,
    Savannah

  11. Hi Aurora. Congrats on PitchWars. I so love the voice here and I can’t wait to get to know Naomi. Please use this link to upload your full manuscript: QueryManager.com/1353/PW2022
    Talk soon,
    Joanna

  12. Heather Cashman says:

    I can already feel so much with so few words and would love to keep reading. If you think we’d be a good fit, please query me at QueryManager.com/HeatherCashman/PitchWars2021. If another agent at Storm Literary has requested, please feel free to send to us both (for Pitch Wars requests only).

  13. Maggie Cooper says:

    Aurora: This first sentence is perfection! I am real sucker for a well executed fauxmance, and I would absolutely love it if you would send me your query and manuscript via email to mcooper@aevitascreative.com.

  14. Marcy Posner says:

    Hi Aurora—

    You have such a talent for descriptive writing. I’m immersed! Please send your full manuscript as an attachment with your query letter in the email body to marcy@foliolit.com. Make sure to put Pitch Wars in the subject line so I can find it easily!

    If you happen to receive requests from my other colleagues, please select the agent you are most interested in working with and send materials only to them.

  15. Jennifer Weis says:

    Hello! I would love to read your material and hope you will send me three chapters and a synopsis and query letter. jenniferweis@rossyoon.com
    Sounds so intriguing!

  16. Analieze Cervantes says:

    Hi Aurora!

    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

  17. Jemiscoe Chambers-Black says:

    Hi Aurora! The tension in this excerpt is amazing, and I’d love to find out what happens next. If you’re up to sharing, please send your query letter, 1-2 page synopsis, and the full manuscript. You can send everything to https://querymanager.com/query/Jemiscoe/PitchWars. If someone else from my agency requests, please send it to only one of us, but let us know of our colleague’s interest, and we will share if it’s not the right fit.

  18. REBECCA STRAUSS says:

    Hi Aurora!

    This sounds delightful! I’d love to read more of SUNSHINE AND SPICE. If you’re interested in sharing it with me, please do send the full ms to: rebecca@defliterary.com. Please label the subject: PITCH WARS REQUESTED.

    Thanks so much! And, good luck in this process!

    Cheers,
    Rebecca Strauss
    DeFiore and Company

  19. Laura Stone says:

    Hi, I’d like to see more. Please go to http://blueridgeagency.com/LauraStone.html and complete the submission process. This will include a query letter, a full synopsis (all major points and the ending), and the first three chapters. Ensure your chapters are formatted with 12 point Times New Roman, double spaced, with indented paragraphs. Please state in the query letter that I requested the submission through Pitch Wars.

  20. Masha Gunic says:

    I’d love to take a look at this one! Please send me your query and full manuscript to masha@azantianlitagency.com. Should more agents from ALA request to see this, you can send it to one agent at a time at your choice.

  21. Jennifer Herrington says:

    Hi Aurora,

    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

  22. Tamara Kawar says:

    Dear Aurora,

    SUNSHINE AND SPICE sounds so good and I’d love to read! 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

  23. Ameerah Holliday says:

    Hi, I’d love to see more! Please feel free to send your query and first 50 pages to Ameerah@serendipitylit.com

  24. Jill Marsal says:

    Dear Aurora,

    This sounds interesting, and I would love to read your full manuscript. Please send it to Jill@Marsallyonliteraryagency.com

    Best,
    Jill Marsal

  25. Alyssa Eisner Henkin says:

    Would like to see the full manuscript at submissions@birchpathliterary.com

    Thank you!

    Alyssa

  26. Kelly Peterson says:

    Hi Aurora!

    I love your voice and your pitch! Naomi being late is giving me heart palpitations too. I’d love to read your full manuscript, if you wouldn’t mind sending it to me. This link will lead you to my Query Manager, where you can upload your query, synopsis, and full manuscript: QueryManager.com/KellyPeterson/PitchWars

    Wishing you the best of luck, and hoping to see your manuscript! =)

    Warm Regards,
    Kelly Peterson
    Rees Literary Agency