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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.
Adult #5: QUEEN OF THIEVES (Women’s Historical Fiction)
Mentee:
Erin Bledsoe
Mentored by:
Sana Patel
Book Title:
Queen of Thieves
Category:
2018 Adult Entries
Genre:
Women's Historical Fiction
Word Count:
82,000

Pitch:

Gender-bent Peaky Blinders meets The Alice Network. 1920s London is no place for a woman with a mind of her own. When gang wars, oppressive men, and unforgiving life pushes Alice Diamond to the edge, she’ll either have to fall in line or fight back. What started out as an unconventional way to save her family evolves into a treacherous ride that will turn this petty thief into the cutthroat leader of London’s first female gang.

 

Excerpt:

I was born on a cold stone table in the drafty basement of a workhouse that was later deemed so deplorable it had to be shut down. The nurse who delivered me had looked at mother and said, “Another stray girl for the city, let’s pray she’s pretty. Maybe then she’ll stand a chance.”

My father wasn’t around back then, locked up for stealing horse saddles, so my mother brought me into this world all alone, and twenty some odd years later, she still likes to remind me of it. A woman can survive this world without a man, Alice, and we don’t have to be pretty to do it.

She forced those words to stick with me, a chilling reminder that I come from thieves and liars, liars that know you can be anything you want to be with the right set of skills.

My father wants me to help with bookmaking for his hustle at the racecourses, a silent girl in the background that does as she’s told and never asks why. Meanwhile, my mother wants me to follow in her footsteps, conning desperate souls into believing she can see the future. The Great Lady Diamond, teller of truths.

But I want to be something else.

Something more.

Something that’s mine.

26 responses to “Adult #5: QUEEN OF THIEVES (Women’s Historical Fiction)”

  1. I would like to receive a Word document of the first three chapters, a synopsis, and an author bio (including all social media links) as an attachment to an email: rosenberglitsubmit@icloud.com

  2. Sharon Pelletier says:

    Hi Erin, I’d like to see the first 50 pages! Please send with a query to spelletier@dystel.com with “Pitch Wars Request” and your name in the subject line.
    Looking forward to reading more!
    -Sharon

  3. Amanda Jain says:

    Amazing! I definitely want to see more. Please email your full manuscript as a Word doc to ajain@bookendsliterary.com with PitchWars in the subject line. I look forward to reading!!

  4. Michelle Richter says:

    This sounds amazing! I’d love to see the full manuscript. Please include Pitch Wars in your subject line and send the manuscript and query letter to me at querymichelle@fuseliterary.com. Ms can be an attachment.

  5. Carrie Pestritto says:

    OMG “gender-bent Peaky Blinders”??? YESSSSS, PLEASE!!! This is totally up my alley and I’d love to request the full!

    Would you please send me an email with your query in the body and the ms as a Word doc attachment? You can reach me at cpestritto(at)ldlainc(dot)com. Subject should be PITCHWARS REQUEST – QUEEN OF THIEVES.

    Thanks so much and can’t wait to read!!

  6. Jim McCarthy says:

    I’d love to have a look at this! If you could send along to jmccarthy@dystel.com, I’ll happily review! And if you want more information about me or DGB, feel free to check us out at http://www.dystel.com.

    Thanks!
    Jim

  7. Joanna MacKenzie says:

    Hi Erin,
    I’m dying to read more. I love the voice here. Please follow this link to upload your manuscript: http://queryme.online/1353/PitchWars2019
    Warmly,
    Joanna

  8. Katelyn Hales says:

    Dear Erin,

    I’m intrigued by your pitch for QUEEN OF THIEVES, and would love to take a look. Please send the first fifty pages of your manuscript (attached as a word doc is preferred), to me at katelyn@robinstrausagency.com, and use the subject line “Pitch Wars request: QUEEN OF THIEVES”.

    Looking forward to reading your work!

    All best,

    Katelyn

    Katelyn Hales
    Robin Straus Agency, Inc.
    229 East 79th St, Suite 5A
    New York NY 10075
    212-472-3282
    katelyn@robinstrausagency.com
    http://www.robinstrausagency.com

  9. Erica Bauman says:

    Hi Erin,

    This sounds great, and I’d love to see more! Could you please send a query and the full manuscript to ebauman@aevitascreative.com and put “Pitch Wars” in the subject line?

    Thanks!

  10. Jessica Watterson says:

    I would love to see the full of this, sounds right up my alley and so fun! Please submit here: QueryMe.online/JessicaWatterson/Pitchwars and please follow all instructions on how to upload. Thanks!

  11. Ginger Clark says:

    Hi, I would love to see this. Please send the full manuscript as an attachment (a PDF, RTF, or Word Document is fine) to my email address which is gc@cbltd.com . Please include “Pitchwars 2019 Request Adult” in the subject line. Thank you very much!

  12. Josh Getzler says:

    Would love to see more! Please send first 50-ish (wherever it breaks), along with pitch letter to jgetzler@hsgagency.com. Brings you right in!

  13. Jess Dallow says:

    Hi Erin! I’d love to see the full manuscript. Please send it to me in a word document with the query in the body of the email to jess@browerliterary.com with the title of your manuscript and PITCH WARS in the subject. Can’t wait to read it!

  14. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    Hi Erin,

    What a fantastic historical pitch. I’d love to see the full manuscript! Please submit your query, synopsis, and novel to http://QueryMe.Online/KaitlynJohnson/Contests. Looking forward to the read!

    Best,
    Kaitlyn Johnson
    Corvisiero Literary Agency

  15. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi there! This sounds fantastic! I’d love to take a look at the first 50 pages. Please send them attached as a word document to rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com.

    Thanks!

    – Rena Rossner
    The Deborah Harris Agency

  16. Please send me your query letter, synopsis (not longer than 2 pages double spaced), and the first 50 pages of the final manuscript. Please send it directly to me at marisa@corvisieroagency.com so I can prioritize it. 🙂 Thanks!!

  17. Sarah LaPolla says:

    This sounds so fun! I’d love to take a look. Please send the pitch in the body of an email to sarah@bradfordlit.com & attach the 1st 50 pages as a Word .doc. Use the subject line: Pitch Wars: [Title]

    Thank you!!!

    Sarah

  18. Devin Ross says:

    Hi Erin- I’d love to read the full manuscript. Please send it to dross@newleafliterary.com with “pitch wars request” in the subject line. Excited to read!

  19. Johanna Castillo says:

    Dear Erin,
    I am writing to request the partial manuscript. Can you please send along the first 50 pages, if available?
    Thank you,
    Johanna Castillo
    Writers House Literary Agency

  20. Isabelle Bleecker says:

    Hi Erin. This sounds intriguing. I’d like to read the full manuscript. Please send a query letter and the first 50 pages of your manuscript to me at Isabelle@Nordlysetagency.com

  21. Peter Knapp says:

    This sounds great – I would love an opportunity to consider! Can you please send the query letter (in the body of an email) and manuscript (attached as a Word doc) to queries@parkfine.com with “Pitch Wars submission – Pete Knapp” in the subject? Thank you!

    – Pete Knapp / Park & Fine Literary and Media

  22. Laura Bradford says:

    LOVE your opening paragraph and the time period and setting are among my very favorites. Wheeee! I’d love to see more of your work. Please email me the full ms + synopsis at laura@bradfordlit.com and put Pitch Wars in the subject line. Can’t wait to read this one. Your comps are great!

  23. Aimee Ashcraft says:

    Hi! Very intrigued by your pitch and would love to read more. Could you send the the full manuscript to aimee@browerliteray.com in Word format, along with “PITCH WARS Request” in the subject heading? Thank you!

  24. Rosie Jonker says:

    Hi! Could I see the first 80 pages of this? Please send to rosie@rittlit.com with “PITCHWARS” in the subject line – thanks!

  25. Stefanie Lieberman says:

    I’m eager to read more!
    Please send the pitch and the full manuscript in an email addressed to submissions(at)Janklow.com with the following subject line: For Stefanie Lieberman – requested Pitch Wars material.

  26. Sandy Lu says:

    Hi Erin, I already love the new opening page and am eager to see what other changes you’ve made. Please send the full manuscript with complete synopsis and author bio (all in one Word document) to sandy@lperkinsagency.com. Looking forward to reading!