Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

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.
PW2019 MG #07: MURPH MEETS A DEMON (Contemporary Fantasy – Urban Fantasy)
Mentee:
Barb Hopkins
Mentored by:
Jessica Bayliss
Book Title:
MURPH MEETS A DEMON
Category:
2019 Entries
Genre:
Contemporary Fantasy (Urban Fantasy)
Word Count:
55,000

Pitch:

Twelve-year-old Audra “Murph” Murphy always thought she’d grow up to work in the family antique store, but then she learns about the other family business. For centuries, the Murphy Women have hunted demons, banishing them to a prison sealed by twelve magical stones. When a shoplifter steals one of the twelve, Murph must get it back before the missing stone ends up the hands of a demon determined to set the prisoners free. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER meets THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON.

 

Excerpt:

My name is Audra Faye Murphy and I think I just killed my math teacher.

I swear I am not the killer type, I don’t even like squashing a spider when one gets in my room. I did it because I had no choice. Seriously, there were no other options because my teacher wasn’t your average middle school educator, even though to most people she looked like one.

She was a demon.

This is not like when you say a teacher is a demon because they do terrible things like dump a ton of homework on you every night (and double on the weekends) because they think the class needs the challenge. She definitely did those things, but that was just normal, annoying teacher behavior and I could deal with that. I did what I did because she really was a demon. Complete with deadly claws and pointy teeth that could grind my twelve-year body into goo.

She attacked and tried to kill me first, so my actions were strictly self-defense. And that was where my story actually began, in a self-defense class on one of the last days of summer vacation when my world was demon free.

Or so I thought.

 

12 responses to “PW2019 MG #07: MURPH MEETS A DEMON (Contemporary Fantasy – Urban Fantasy)”

  1. This sounds like so much fun! Of the creepy sort, which is my favorite – and I’d love to read more. If you could please send your query, full manuscript and a complete, detailed synopsis to hilaryquery@ktliterary.com with “Pitchwars: Your Title” in the subject field. Can’t wait to dive in!

  2. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi there! I’d love to take a look at the full manuscript. Please send it attached as a word document to rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com

    Thanks!

    – Rena Rossner

  3. Penny Moore says:

    Hi Barb,

    This is a great opening! I’d love to read more. Please follow the directions on my query form and submit your MS here: QueryMe.online/LiteraryPenny/PitchWars2020. Thanks!

    All the Best,
    Penny Moore

  4. Melissa Edwards says:

    Hi Barb,

    I am interested in taking a look. Please send the ms as a doc to medwards at stonesong dot com.

    Thanks!

    All best,
    Melissa

  5. Quressa Robinson says:

    I remember reading part of this in my class at KSMO last year! I told you I’d request it 😉

    Please query me at this link (QueryMe.online/QueryQuressa/PW20192020) and follow the directions. If more than one NLA agent requests work from you it is okay to query more than one of us, just give us a heads-up. Good luck!

  6. Peter Knapp says:

    Hi Barb,

    This sounds wonderful – I’d love to keep reading! Can you please send the full manuscript to queries@parkfine.com attached as a Word document, along with a 1-3 (or so) page synopsis if available (in the same document as the MS or attached as a separate doc is fine)? Please include a query letter in the body of the email and put “PitchWars Submission – Pete Knapp” in the subject of the email. Thanks so much for the opportunity, and I look forward to reading!

    With warm regards,

    Pete Knapp
    Park & Fine Literary and Media

  7. Marlo Berliner says:

    Oh, this premise! I’d love to read more! Please send the full with Pitchwars Adult in the subject line to marlo.jdlit@gmail.com. Looking forward to reading!

  8. Bobby O’Neil says:

    Such a strong voice! I would love to take a look at a full manuscript.

  9. Clelia Gore says:

    Hi, Barb! This concept sounds great. Please send the first 50 pages (Microsoft Word doc format) along with a query letter to my email at clelia@martinlit.com. Please put “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. I look forward to taking a closer look!

  10. Melissa Nasson says:

    I’d love to see more of this! Please send the first 50 pages as a Word doc or PDF attachment to melissa@rpcontent.com with Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thank you!

    -Melissa Nasson, Rubin Pfeffer Content

  11. Kerstin Wolf says:

    Demons and humor make the perfect book for me, and this sounds like it has both! I really want to know how Murph discovers her teacher is a demon! I’d love to see the full manuscript of this. Please submit your full manuscript using this link: QueryMe.online/kerstinwolf/Pitch_Wars

  12. Penelope Burns says:

    Hi Barb,

    I would love to see this! Can you send your query and first fifty pages to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com, with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!

    All best,
    Penelope