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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 #10: SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY (Fantasy – LGBTQ #OwnVoices)
Mentee:
Amanda Jasper
Mentored by:
Julia Ember
Book Title:
SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY
Category:
2019 Entries
Genre:
Fantasy (LGBTQ #ownvoices)
Word Count:
92,000

Pitch:

The Chimera’s island is a refuge for desperate girls, who bind themselves to a curse in exchange for sanctuary. Siggi has trained as the Chimera’s warrior daughter so that she may fulfill her oath: free her monster-guardian from the island or transform into a living skeleton, like the girls who came before her. But Siggi dreams of revenge against the raiders who destroyed her village and forced her to seek refuge. To save herself and her bone sisters, Siggi must unravel a web of secrets about the Chimera and the raiders, before the curse claims her too.

SAWKILL GIRLS meets THE WITCHER.

 

Excerpt:

My sisters have no lips, no lungs, no hearts. No way to scream or catch my attention, except for the clacking of their bones, the clatter as they move as a flock across the hall.

Today they echo loud, calling me to witness, to share. My heart sinks, and I drop my training sword and shield. Slipping out of my small bedroom, I’m greeted by two skeleton girls.

“Where is she?” I ask, but they don’t answer. They never do. The skeletons only fall in line behind me as I follow the noise toward the main hall. They grow in number the closer I get to the central palace, dozens of girls made of bone trailing at my heels.

I’ve never counted the skeletons roaming the corridors of the Chimera’s palace. They’re numerous as the shining scales on Dragon’s long neck, or the motes of light dancing in Goat’s eyes. Today hundreds of them ring the room, an audience standing in a circle at the base of the monster’s throne.

I push my way through the crowd, the bone girls easing away from me like seaweed, to confirm the truth that grows in my heart.

36 responses to “PW2019 YA #10: SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY (Fantasy – LGBTQ #OwnVoices)”

  1. Andrea Morrison says:

    Dear Amanda,
    I’d love to read SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY. Could you send the full MS to me at amorrison@writershouse.com if you’re interested in sharing?
    I hope to hear from you!
    My best,
    Andrea

  2. Emmy Nordstrom Higdon says:

    Hello! My name is Emmy Nordstrom-Higdon, and I am an agent in training with The Rights Factory! I just started building my list, and I’m so lucky to have Sam Hiyate as my mentor. If we end up working together, you’ll get the best of both worlds – the wisdom of an agent with 16 years in the biz, and my enthusiasm and attention as a new agent with just a handful of select clients so far. Part of why your manuscript caught my eye is because I loved Gideon the Ninth, and this feels reminiscent. I also love a small setting, and a good monster! I am thrilled to request a full manuscript from you, which you can send to assistant@therightsfactory.com. Please include a query letter and write PITCH WARS in the subject line. In the meantime, you can check out my bio and what I’m most interested in at https://www.therightsfactory.com/about-us, and my blog at http://www.booksbeyondbinaries.blog, if you want to know a little more about me. Really hoping to hear from you soon, and congratulations on participating in Pitch Wars!!

  3. Sarah Landis says:

    I’m hooked! Could you email me the full manuscript to slandis@sll.com. Thanks!

  4. Natascha Morris says:

    OOOO I want to read more. I love both of your comps, Amanda. Count me in for the full here! If you please, you can upload to QueryMe.online/natascha/PitchWars. Can’t wait to get started!

    Best,
    Natascha Morris
    BookEnds Literary

  5. Hannah VanVels says:

    This sounds great, and I’d love to see a partial. Please send the first 50 pages to: QueryMe.online/MarisaCorvisiero/PitchWars

    Thanks,
    Hannah

  6. Hi, Amanda,

    Living skeletons? *LOVE* I. MUST. READ. 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

  7. Samantha Wekstein says:

    I’d love to see the first fifty pages of this! If you are interested, please send them as an attachment to samantha@thompsonliterary.com with your query in the email body and #pitchwars in the subject. Thank you!

  8. Beth Phelan says:

    WHAT!!

    please send the first 50 pages (word doc) to querybeth@galltzacker.com with your query letter in the body of the email and “pitch wars” in the subject line. looking forward to reading!

    <3 beth

  9. Kelly Peterson says:

    Hi Amanda!

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

    Looking forward to reading this, and wishing you all the best of luck!! =)

    -Kelly Peterson

  10. Amy Elizabeth Bishop says:

    Dear Amanda,

    I love this pitch and would be thrilled to read more! Could you send along your query and full manuscript as a Microsoft Word attachment, with #PitchWars in the subject line, to abishop (at) dystel (dot) com?

    I look forward to reading!

    All best,

    Amy

  11. Hillary Jacobson says:

    Hi Amanda,

    I would love to read more! Please send the full manuscript as a word document to hjacobson@icmpartners.com

    Thank you!

    My best,
    Hillary

  12. Adriann Ranta Zurhellen says:

    Hi Amanda,

    Am loving what I’ve read so far! Please submit the full manuscript and a 1-2 page synopsis to arsubmissions@foundrymedia.com, cc’ing in flmasst@foundrymedia.com, with the subject line “Pitch Wars: SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY.” Thanks so much, and looking forward to diving in further!

    Adriann

  13. Carrie Pestritto says:

    OOOOO, I looove the creepiness of this, and the idea of binding yourself to a curse for sanctuary is super cool! I also just started rewatching Vikings on the History Channel (#mood) and love all things Norse, so I’m definitely interested in reading more.

    Would you please send me your query in the body of an email, with the first 100 pages attached as a Word doc? The subject of the email should be “PITCH WARS REQUEST: SISTERS OF BONE AND SKY” and you can reach me at cpestritto(at)ldlainc(dot)com.

    Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you!

  14. Patricia Nelson says:

    Hi Amanda,

    I would love to take a look at this! Could you please send me your query + the full manuscript as a Word doc attachment to patricia@marsallyonliteraryagency.com? Please make sure to put “PitchWars Request” in the subject line.

    I’m looking forward to reading!
    Patricia

  15. John Cusick says:

    I love this! Could you please send your query and the first three chapters to john [@] foliolit.com? Can’t wait to read more.

  16. Carlisle Webber says:

    I’d like to see this! Please send 10 pages and a query letter to carlisle @ fuseliterary .com with the subject PItch Wars – TITLE. Thanks!

  17. Peter Knapp says:

    Hi Amanda,

    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

  18. Danielle Burby says:

    This sounds great and you grabbed me with your opening. Please send the full manuscript ASAP! QueryMe.online/1352/PW20192020

    Danielle Burby

  19. Penny Moore says:

    Hi Amanda,

    Wow! This sounds so so good! The sample is so intriguing, 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

  20. Kari Sutherland says:

    What a compelling sample! I can’t wait to read more. Can you please query me here with “Pitch Wars” in the title? https://querymanager.com/query/Kari_Sutherland_Query_Form

  21. Jessica Errera says:

    Hello Amanda, I would love to read the first 75 pages (and a synopsis, if you have handy) of SISTERS. Please email them to jerrera@janerotrosen.com Thanks!

  22. Ginger Clark says:

    I would love to take a look at this. Can you email me the first fifty pages as either a PDF or DOCX or RTF? Put the words “Pitchwars 2020 request” in your subject line. Thank you so much!

  23. Alexandra Levick says:

    Hi Amanda,

    I would love to take a closer look at this! Could you send the query and first 50 pages to me at alevick(at)writershouse.com? Please label your email with ‘PITCH WARS’ if you wouldn’t mind!

    So excited to dive in!
    Alexandra

    Alexandra Levick
    Literary Agent, Writers House, LLC.
    http://www.writershouse.com

  24. Penelope Burns says:

    Hi Amanda,

    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

  25. Laura Crockett says:

    This sounds great! Please send an email with subject line containing “Pitch Wars,” your official query in the body of the email, and the first 50 pages in an attached Word doc to laura(at)triadaus(dot)com. Looking forward!
    -Laura Crockett, TriadaUS

  26. Melissa Nasson says:

    I’d love to see more of this! Please send the full manuscript 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

  27. Rena Rossner says:

    I’d love to read the first 50 pages! Please send them attached as a word document to: rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com

    Excited to read!

    – Rena Rossner

  28. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    This voice is beautiful. I’d love to read the full. Please send to QueryMe.online/KaitlynJohnson/Contests. Looking forward to diving in!

    Best,
    Kaitlyn Johnson
    Literary Agent
    Belcastro Literary Agency

  29. Zabé Ellor says:

    Oh, wow! I love this concept and the voice you’ve crafted here!

    Please send the query and synopsis (in the body of an email), and full manuscript (as an attachment) to zrellor . books @ gmail . com. I’m looking forward to diving in!

  30. Ashley Blake says:

    Hi Amanda, I’d love to see more of this! If you’d like, send the full manuscript to ashley@reesagency.com and put QUERY PITCH WARS in the subject line. Hope to hear from you soon.

  31. Dorian Maffei says:

    I’d love to read more of this! 🙂 You can submit via my online submission form:

    http://QueryMe.Online/dorianmaffei

  32. Bridget Smith says:

    I’d love to take a look! Please send the query and first twenty pages to querybridget@awfulagent.com with Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thanks – can’t wait to read more!

  33. Kelly Sonnack says:

    This is all the right kinds of creepy. I’d love to read it. Please send the full to me at kelly@andreabrownlit.com (and use subject PITCH WARS). Thanks!

  34. Kerstin Wolf says:

    Monsters, skeletons, and curses? It’s like this was crafted for me to fall in love with every single bit of it! I would absolutely love to see the full manuscript of this! If you think we might make a good team, please submit your full manuscript using this specific link: QueryMe.online/kerstinwolf/Pitch_Wars

  35. This seems really interesting! I love the voice and would like to see more! Please send this pitch in the body of an email, synopsis and first fifty pages attached as a Word doc, with YA PITCHWARS and your title in the subject, to Jennifer@theseymouragency.com.

  36. Diana Fox says:

    I’d love to read more! Please email me the full manuscript at diana at foxliterary dot com. (Including “Pitch Wars Request” in the subject line is also helpful but not required.)