Pitch:
Everyone knows trauma awakens forbidden, deadly Ardor magic. But when rebels burn down the palace, Princess Marika finds herself brimming with the powers her family sought to destroy. Forced to seek refuge at the last magic university, where her family's enemies roam free, she must choose: controlling the magic, or unleashing it.
SHADOW AND BONE X Dark academia.
Excerpt:
It was not the first time an Ardor had been bleeding in the dining room.
Marika Cyran shifted in her seat, tearing her gaze away. Hardly how she’d imagined spending her first evening home. Her toes throbbed in new shoes. Her dress strained from the weight she’d gained on summer holiday. Halfway through this damned dinner and already she was uncomfortably stuffed. The last thing she needed was a nauseous gut full of pity for the fool Ardor unlucky enough to get caught by Uncle Juri.
“So good to have you all back,” murmured Juri. “The manor does grow lonely while you’re away.”
Father gave Juri’s shoulder an affectionate shove. Odd to see them so playful. Father’s cool brown hands, the size of dinner plates, warded off Juri’s retaliatory blow. Juri’s close crop of black coils, grayer than Father’s, stretched along the edges as he laughed.
“And of course we’re ever so grateful to you for watching over the place for us.” Father’s warm grin faltered, eyes sliding over Juri’s shoulder to where the Ardor crouched, shackled before the fire. “But Juri, is this really necessary?”
The Ardor groaned. Frail, gray-skinned and sickly, he leaned heavily against the bloody chains held by the guardsman at his back. Trembling fingers reached toward the dying fire in the grate in a feeble attempt to keep the flame alive. If the strength of the fire was any indication, neither would last much longer.
Hello, and congrats on completing Pitch Wars! Absolutely love this voice already–please do send the full manuscript + a synopsis attached as word docs to my attention at submissions (at) rootliterary (dot) com, with Pitch Wars in the subject line. If any of my colleagues also request, feel free to pick one of us or just mention us all and we’ll sort it on our end. Cheers, Kurestin Armada @ Root Literary
Hi Tiera! I’m intrigued by Marika’s situation (and the tone of her guilt in this first page) and would love to take a look at more. Please send a full synopsis and the first 50 pages (as an attached word document) to jessica@jenniferlyonsliteraryagency.com, and please write “PitchWars” in the subject line so I’m sure to see it quick. Thank you and looking forward to reading! – Jessica Felleman[she/her]
Oof, what an opening! I would love to see the query and full manuscript through the Pitch Wars event link on my QueryManager: QueryManager.com/BeccaPodos/PitchWars
Best, Becca
I’m intrigued! I’d love to take a look. Please send me your query and the first 50 pages through QueryManager here: QueryManager.com/BridgetSmith/PitchWars2022. Thanks!
I have been searching for a fantastic dark academia project, and this sounds intriguing! I would love the opportunity to consider this project. Please send a query and the first 50 pages as a Word document to me via Query Manager at this link: QueryManager.com/michaelawhatnall/PitchWars2021 If you have any trouble using the link, you’re welcome to email me instead at mwhatnall@dystel.com.
If you’ve received a request from more than one Dystel, Goderich & Bourret agent, please only submit to the agent here that you feel would be the best fit, and let that agent know about any other requests you received from our agency. Thank you!
Hi Tiera! This is a great pitch and I’d love to see more of your work! Would you please send me your first 25 pages via my Query Manager form: QueryManager.com/MWBelford/PitchWars?
Thank you!
-Matt
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.
Dear Tiera,
Hi again! I’d love to read the full. If you’d be interested in sending, could you please email the manuscript to tamara.kawar@icmpartners.com and make sure to include “PW2021” in the subject line?
Thank you!
Best,
Tamara
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 – Adult” 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. All best, Pete Knapp / Park & Fine Literary and Media
Hi Tiera!
I love your voice so much, and your manuscript seems dark, haunting, and absolutely amazing. 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
I’d like to see more of this! If you’d like, can you send the first 50 pages and your query to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!
All best,
Penelope