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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.
PW2019 YA #21: 13 JERICHO LANE (Ghost Story/Contemporary – “Newish Jewish” Folklore)
Mentee:
Beth Kander
Mentored by:
Sam Taylor
Book Title:
13 JERICHO LANE
Category:
2019 Entries
Genre:
Ghost story/contemporary (“newish Jewish” folklore)
Word Count:
93,000

Pitch:

15yo Ari Silver isn’t your go-to-girl in a crisis. Her panic disorder is flaring thanks to her parents’ mysterious separation and a recent uptick of antisemitism... not to mention her mother moving her into a possibly-haunted house in rural Illinois. But when Ari learns the house once belonged to an asylum director who locked away girls like her for “hysteria” – and may be after her as well… the haunting turns personal. Taking on an angry ghost might help Ari prove she’s more capable than anyone thinks—or may erase her entirely, especially as her own family’s darkest secret threatens to unravel everything she knows. ANYA’S GHOST x MRS. MAISEL.

 

Excerpt:

Prologue

The flowers were the first affront. Daffodils, garish yellow, cheap and duck-like. Crowded into a painted vase too decadent for such a peasant bouquet. Unnaturally bright. Aggressively cheerful. A slap delivered with a smile.

The courier did not knock. He set the ugly arrangement on the porch and left, his horseless carriage withdrawing with a motored snort.

The ghost glowered at the flowers, willing them to wither and rot. They were a harbinger, clearly meant for someone else, signaling some new threat. After all, no one had ever brought flowers to this ghost. No one ever would.

 

Chapter One

My mother and I stared at the stupid flowers like they might bite us. I was the one who finally tugged the eggshell-white envelope free of its forked holder. I already knew who sent it, and confirmed my hunch as I read the message scrawled in a stranger’s handwriting.

Good luck with the move.

Thinking of you both.

Dad/Nathan

Reading the words my father paid someone else to write, my chest tightened. I had to close my eyes, exhale through my nose, and remind myself to choose anger over anxiety.

11 responses to “PW2019 YA #21: 13 JERICHO LANE (Ghost Story/Contemporary – “Newish Jewish” Folklore)”

  1. Hi, Beth,

    You had me at ghost story, but this premise is fantastic!!! 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. Paste your pitch in the body of the email and 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

  2. Marlo Berliner says:

    Love a good ghost story! I’d love to read more! Please send the full with Pitchwars YA in the subject line to marlo.jdlit@gmail.com. Looking forward to reading!

  3. Kelly Peterson says:

    YAAAASSSSSS, Beth!!

    I love your voice and this premise! Can you send your query, synopsis, and full manuscript to Kelly@reesagency.com? You can simply attach your manuscript as a Word document, and make sure to put “Pitch Wars Requested Submission” in the subject line!

    I’m so looking forward to reading, and I wish you the best of luck! =)

    -Kelly Peterson

  4. Jennifer Unter says:

    This sounds great – I’d love to read more! Please forward the first 50 pages to jen.nadol(at)theunteragency(dot)com with PW Request in the subject line. Thanks!

  5. Johanna Castillo says:

    Hi Beth,

    I’m intrigued! I’d love to see more. Would you send me the first 50 pages to jcastillosubmissions@writershouse.com?

    Thanks,
    Johanna

  6. Cortney Radocaj says:

    Hi Beth,

    I adore your premise and your first pages and would love to see more!!

    Please submit the first 50 pages of JERICHO LANE, along with your query and synopsis, here:

    QueryMe.Online/CortneyRadocaj/Requested

    Please also make sure to put “Pitch Wars” in the referral line or mention that I requested here in your query.

    I look forward to reading! 😊

    Warm Regards,

    Cortney Radocaj
    Associate Agent
    Belcastro Agency
    http://www.belcastroagency.com

  7. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi Beth!

    I’d love to read this full manuscript! Please send it attached as a word document to: rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com

    Excited to read!

    – Rena Rossner

  8. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    I know we chatted way back when this was selected for PW, but wanted to chime in again and say I’m SO excited to read this full! When ready, you can submit at QueryMe.online/KaitlynJohnson/Contests. Looking forward to diving in!

    Best,
    Kaitlyn Johnson
    Literary Agent
    Belcastro Literary Agency

  9. Alexandra Weiss says:

    Hi Beth! I’m a huge fan of ghost stories and this sounds really interesting. I’d love to request the full manuscript, which you can send to me at http://queryme.online/AlexandraWeiss/PitchWars2019.

    Thanks so much!
    Alexandra Weiss
    The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

  10. Alyssa Henkin says:

    Hi Beth,
    I would love to read 50 pages of this! Would you please email me and my assistant, Alice, the first 50 pages as a Word document or a PDF, and please make the subject line “Pitch Wars 2020”? We look forward to reading! ahenkin@tridentmediagroup.com and henkin.assistant@tridentmediagroup.com. https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/agents/alyssa-eisner-henkin/
    Best,
    Alyssa Henkin

  11. Em Lysaght says:

    This sounds fantastic, I would love to read more. Please submit your first three chapters, synopsis, and query letter (and remind me of your Pitchwars pitch in the query) at this link: http://queryme.online/emlysaght