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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 #37: SHAMPOO MOHAWK (Contemporary with Mystery Elements #OwnVoices)
Mentee:
Sawyer Lovett
Mentored by:
Brenda Drake
Book Title:
SHAMPOO MOHAWK
Category:
2019 Entries
Genre:
Contemporary with mystery elements #ownvoices
Word Count:
65,000

Pitch:

BIRTHDAY meets HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME.

Brian’s so gay he sweats glitter—it’s impossible to hide. No one knows he hosts the popular podcast—Shampoo Mohawk. Greg’s a super-masc-jock, so it’d totally ruin his image if people discovered he’s just as gay as Brian. And Leslie lives life in the wrong body.

When a hit-and-run shakes their small town to its core, Greg’s left unconscious in a parking lot, and Brian brings the investigation to his podcast, while Leslie is inspired to show her pride. If they can find the courage to step into their truths, they'll learn community is closer than they think.

 

Excerpt:

Your mind was a maze with no map.

You were always lost before a game or gym class. It helped you be oblivious to the boys’ bodies around you. If you zoned out, you wouldn’t be distracted by all the bare skin glistening with sweat, or the firm asses of your teammates and their junk flopping everywhere.

In particular, this evening, you were thinking about language; how the same dudes who called one another homos or queers for missing a pass changed their whole manner of speaking in front of adults or girls. How girls were always hot or fine or stacked, never beautiful or pretty.

That sort of earnestness was for people who gave a shit, and most of your bros tried hard not to get caught caring. Except Paul, your team’s quarterback, who was such a genuinely nice guy that almost no one gave him any real shit—even the good-natured shit talk you traded with the bros you liked best. He sincerely loved God, country, family, his girl, his truck, and his dog. You had almost no doubt that he’d marry his high school sweetheart and die in his hometown satisfied with a small but honest life.

13 responses to “PW2019 YA #37: SHAMPOO MOHAWK (Contemporary with Mystery Elements #OwnVoices)”

  1. I’m intrigued by this opening, 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. Hi, Sawyer,

    I’m fascinated by your use of 2nd person and need to see more! 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

  3. Peter Knapp says:

    Hi Sawyer,

    This sounds great – 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

  4. Jennifer Unter says:

    I love this opening and want to keep reading! Please forward the first 50 pages to jen.nadol(at)theunteragency(dot)com with PW Request in the subject line. Thanks!

  5. John Cusick says:

    Hi, Sawyer! I’d love to see more of this. Could you please send a query and the first three chapters to john [@] foliolit.com? Looking forward to reading!

  6. Carrie Hannigan says:

    Dear Sawyer,

    My name is Carrie and I’m a partner and agent over at Hannigan Getzler Literary (HG Literary). 
    I’d love to read more of your manuscript! Can you please send me the first 50 pages of your manuscript as a word doc to: 

    carrie@hgliterary.com 

    Best wishes,
    Carrie 

  7. Penelope Burns says:

    Hi Sawyer,

    I would 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

  8. Andrea Morrison says:

    Dear Sawyer,
    I hope this finds you well. It was such a pleasure to read your Pitch Wars blog post, and pitch for SHAMPOO MOHAWK, as well as your sample… not only does your concept sound wonderful, but I am also a huge fan of second person POV – that first page captured me for SO many reasons. If you’re interested in sharing, I would so love to read your full manuscript. I’m at amorrison@writershouse.com.
    I really hope to hear from you!
    My best,
    Andrea

  9. Laurel Symonds says:

    Hi! I’d love to see this. Please send a query and 25 pages to symondsqueries@thebentagency.com with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. I’m looking forward to reading more!

  10. Christa Heschke says:

    I LOVE so much about this! And, it’s in 2nd person? Yes, please! Please send the full manuscript and query to chquery [at] mcintoshandotis [dot] com. Please put “Pitch Wars request” and the title in the subject line. Can’t wait to read!
    –Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis

  11. Allison Remcheck says:

    Dear Sawyer,

    I would love to have a look at SHAMPOO MOHAWK. Please feel free to be in touch with me–with a synopsis and your first three chapters–via my box at this link:

    https://stimolaliterarystudio.com/#/Submissions

    It would be great if you could write REQUESTED MATERIAL at the top of your e-mail.

    Thank you so much; I’m looking forward to it!

    Best wishes,

    Allison Remcheck

  12. Heather Cashman says:

    Hi, Sawyer. I love the voice and the honest of this first page. If you think we’d be a good fit, please query me at http://QueryMe.Online/HeatherCashman with Pitch Wars in the referral line, and I’ll respond soon with a full request so you can upload the file. Thanks!

  13. Erin Harris says:

    Hi Sawyer,

    Thank you for participating in Pitch Wars! I LOVE the writing and the premise here. Please send the full manuscript to eharris@foliolit.com, along with your query letter (description of project + author bio) with “Pitch Wars” in the subject of your email.

    I look forward to reading and talking further!

    All best,
    Erin

    ERIN HARRIS VP / LITERARY AGENT
    _________________________________________________
    Folio Literary Management |Harold Ober Associates |Folio Jr.
    630 9th Avenue, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10036
    212-400-1494 x350 | eharris@foliolit.com | FolioLit.com