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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.
PW2020 YA #17: THESE HOLLOW FATES (Contemporary Fantasy)
Mentee:
Alex Samuely
Mentored by:
Jennieke Cohen
Book Title:
THESE HOLLOW FATES
Category:
2020 Entries
Genre:
Contemporary Fantasy
Word Count:
80,000

Pitch:

THE WICKED DEEP meets RIVERDALE

Still reeling from her dad's mysterious death, Addie Tassle just wants a drama-free senior year. But in her hometown of Sleepy Hollow, the legend of the Headless Horseman resurfaces every Halloween. After a headless rider chases Addie through the cemetery, she realizes there's more lurking in the dark forest than she ever imagined. Following clues embedded in the town's history, Addie races to sever her ties to the Horseman before he kills the people she loves most.

 

Excerpt:

Everything about Philipsburg Manor screamed haunted. White paint oozed over the brick structure, peeling as though someone had scratched the entire surface with their nails. The misshapen shutters exhaled low-pitched croaks. I stuck my hand in my pocket and fingered the ragged edges of the ticket Tamsin had dropped off earlier. It listed Philipsburg as the meeting spot for tonight’s lantern tour, which would guide us across the street and through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery’s cast-iron gates.

I suppressed a shiver. The manor practically had the words Ye With Weak Stomachs: Need Not Enter painted on the front door. Not exactly comforting.

My quickening breaths escaped in a flurry of silver wisps as I approached the people congregated by the entrance. Kerosene lanterns rested at their feet, burning with fervor and illuminating their silhouettes with glints of orange light. Early September wasn’t usually this cold, but I tasted the first whiff of fall air tonight—crisp, a little biting, and slightly smoky, as though someone had used a fire pit and forgotten to stamp out all the coals.

I scanned the crowd for my friends, who’d promised to come bearing moral support and witty commentary. They knew I had one rule for haunted houses and cemeteries: avoid them at all costs.

But tonight, I’d decided to break it.

6 responses to “PW2020 YA #17: THESE HOLLOW FATES (Contemporary Fantasy)”

  1. Karyn Fischer says:

    Hi Alex,

    This is right up my alley and I enjoyed the snippet above. I’d love to see more! If you’d like, please query me with the full manuscript at QueryManager.com/KarynFischer/PitchWars. Thanks, and I look forward to reading!

  2. Adrienne Rosado says:

    I’d love to take a look at your work. Please feel free to send me the full manuscript and synopsis to arosado(at)stonesong(dot)com with Pitch Wars in the subject line.

  3. Jennifer Unter says:

    Hi Alex,
    We’d love to read! Please forward the opening 50 pages, as a Word attachment, to jen.nadol@theunteragency.com, including your query in the body of the email. Thanks!

  4. Alex Rice says:

    Alex, would love to see more! Please send me your query and first 50 pages to alex.rice@caa.com. Please let me know if you are sending to more than one agent at CAA. All my best, Alex

  5. Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs says:

    I’d love to see this! Please send your query, full MS, and synopsis (if you have one!) to jessica@dhliterary.com. Looking forward to reading!

  6. Mollie Glick says:

    Hi Alex, this sounds great! Please send your full manuscript, query and synopsis via email to mollie.glickasst@caa.com with “Pitch Wars Requested Submission” in the subject line. Please let me know if you are submitting to more than one agent at CAA.