Pitch:
Wes would rather admire his sneaker collection than march in a protest with his activist parents. But the activism becomes personal when gentrification threatens his own neighborhood. Wes must find a way to save his community or he and his neighbors will be forced out of their homes for good.
Excerpt:
I spent the morning of my eleventh birthday in burning summer heat carrying a sign that read, “We Were Here First!”
They’re so many other things I could have been doing on my birthday but there I was marching in what Mom kept calling a “peaceful protest.” I was the only kid, as usual. I had no chance of blending in with the sea of old ladies. Mom didn’t like me calling the ladies old, but they were old.
I walked a few steps behind Mom, ducking behind my sign as cars sped by. No way was I going to be spotted by my classmates. School was out for the summer but I couldn’t be too careful.
It was a thousand degrees outside and my favorite Carolina blue t-shirt was sticky, wet, and clung to my chest. It didn’t even match my Nike AirMax anymore. My kicks were now dusty and barely blue. That was my fault though; I should have never worn my good stuff to trample through dirt.
“Wes, hold the sign up straight and uncover your face,” Mom said.
“Come on, Mom it’s hot and I’m thirsty.”
“Don’t back talk me!”
I knew better than to talk back but it was too hot for manners. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. What time is it? We’d been marching for hours. My mouth ached for a drop of water.
I slowed down a little and swallowed a glob of spit to wet my throat.
It didn’t help.
Love love this so far! I’d love to read more. Can you send me a Word document version of the full manuscript at clelia@martinlit.com. Please put “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. Well done!
Hi Chrystal,
I would love to read more of this! Could you please send your query, along with the full manuscript as a Word doc attachment, to patricia@marsallyonliteraryagency.com? Please make the subject line “PitchWars MG Request: Take Back the Block.”
Thanks so much!
Patricia
Dear Ms. Giles,
I’m intrigued by this premise, and the opening hooked me. I’d love to read the full. Please can you send it to andrea+query@transatlanticagency.com as a Word or pdf attachment? Please put “Pitch Wars Requested MG and the title in the subject line. Thank you and I look forward to delving deeper into Wes’s world.
Sincerely,
Andrea Cascardi
Hi Chrystal! This sounds incredible and the voice is so strong. I’d love to read more. Please send a query letter and attach the full manuscript as a Word doc with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line to alexweiss.jdlit@gmail.com.
Please note that if more than one JDLA agent requests this, please feel free to submit to the best fit. Thank you!!
Hi Chrystal,
I’d be happy to read your manuscript! Can you please send me the first 50 pages as a Word doc attachment? My email is ebewley@sll.com.
Thanks,
Elizabeth Bewley
Sterling Lord Literistic
Hi! I’d love to read more! Please email me at eparker [at] ldlainc [dot] com:
* Subject line: PitchWars Submission: YOUR BOOK TITLE
* Your query letter in the body of the email
* The full manuscript attached as a Word document
Thanks!
Elana Roth Parker
Laura Dail Literary Agency
http://www.ldlainc.com
Hi! I’d love to take a look. Please email the ms. as a double-spaced .doc to medwards@stonesong.com. Thanks!
Dear Chrystal,
I very much enjoyed the excerpt and would love to read more. Could you send the entire manuscript as a Word doc attachment to channigan@hsgagency.com? Please write “Pitch Wars Requested Ms” as the subject.
Thank you! I’m looking forward to reading it. And good luck today!
Best wishes,
Carrie Hannigan
Hi Chrystal,
This sounds great and I’d love to read more! Could you please send a query and the full manuscript to ebauman@aevitascreative.com and put “Pitch Wars” in the subject line?
Thanks!
Chrystal,
I love this premise! 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. Attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate Word documents (docx). Sent 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 love this premise and I love your writing! I’ve been on the lookout for great #ownvoices contemporary MG and would be thrilled to read the full of this!
Would you please send me an email with your query in the body and the partial as a Word doc attachment? You can reach me at cpestritto(at)ldlainc(dot)com. Subject should be PITCHWARS REQUEST – TAKE BACK THE BLOCK.
Thanks so much and can’t wait to read!!
Chrystal, I really love this premise and voice. And I’m also going to try Dr. Pepper in my brownies. 😉
If you think we’d be a good fit, please send the full to heather.stormliteraryagency@gmail.com with Pitch Wars Query, your name, and the title in the subject line.
Thank you and good luck!
Heather Cashman
Storm Literary Agency
I’d love to read this full manuscript. Please send it attached as a word document to: rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com
Thanks!
– Rena Rossner
The Deborah Harris Agency
Hi Chrystal,
I’d love to see the full manuscript for this! Please send it along to my email at ahenkin@tridentmediagroup.com and copy my assistant’s email at henkin.assistant@tridentmediagroup.com.
Looking forward to reading!
Best,
Alyssa
This sounds right up my alley! I’d love to take a look at this manuscript. Please follow this link for submission instructions: http://queryme.online/1352/PitchWars2019
I would absolutely love to read this! Please send the full to me at natalie@bradfordlit.com. Looking forward to it!
Dear Chrystal,
I am writing to request the full manuscript for TAKE BACK THE BLOCK. I am particularly interested in #ownvoices, and so excited to read more.
Thanks,
Johanna V. Castillo
Writers House Literary Agency
I’d love to read on! Please send the query, synopsis and first 100 pages to chquery [at] mcintoshandotis [dot] com with Pitch Wars request in the subject line. –Christa Heschke, McIntosh and Otis
Hi there, I really enjoyed reading your pitch and extract. It would be lovely to read your full manuscript!
Please send the full manuscript and a synopsis as a word doc(s) to submissions@skylark-literary.com, mentioning in your email that I requested the material from #Pitchwars
In the meantime, I wish you the best with your writing!
Regards, Joanna
Hi Chrystal,
This sounds interesting. Could I see more? Please send a query letter and the first 50 pages of your manuscript to me at Isabelle@Nordlysetagency.com
Isabelle
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
Hi Chrystal,
I am instantly captivated by Wes’ voice. I’d love to read more. If you are willing to send the full manuscript, I’d be thrilled to read a Word doc at ASlater@tridentmediagroup.com.
Many thanks,
Alex Slater
Hi Chrystal,
I’d love to see this! Can you send your query and full manuscript to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!
All best,
Penelope
Hi Chrystal!
I’d love to read your manuscript. Could you send me the full via QueryManager? The link is in my bio on our agency’s website, or you can check my recent twitter feed for instructions. Please put “PITCH WARS” in the “referred by” field, or in the query letter section.
Looking forward!
Kelly (@KSonnack)
I’d love to read more. Please send the first 50 pages as a Word attachment to assistant@theunteragency.com. Thanks!
Hi Chrystal,
I would love to read this! Please send the full manuscript as a word document to hjacobson@icmpartners.com.
My best,
Hillary
I’d love to read more of this! Can you please send the full as an attachment to: kari@bradfordlit.com with “Requested: PitchWars” in the subject line? Thank you!
Dear Chrystal,
Your query sounds interesting—I’d be happy to look at the first 50-75 pages of TAKE BACK THE BLOCK, along with a 1-2 page synopsis. A .rtf file for the former is preferred, and the body of your e-mail is perfect for the latter.
Thanks, and I look forward to reading your work.
Best,
Eddie