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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.
PW2021 Adult #52: AFTER THE SAVIORS (#OwnVoices Historical Fiction)
Mentee:
Liz Iversen
Mentored by:
Samantha Rajaram
Book Title:
AFTER THE SAVIORS
Category:
Adult
Genre:
#ownvoices Historical Fiction
Word Count:
76,806

Pitch:

PACHINKO meets HOW MUCH OF THESE HILLS IS GOLD

After Japanese forces in the Philippines murder her father and kidnap her younger sister, seventeen-year-old Liwayway joins the Huk guerillas, fighting the Japanese while searching for her sister. But when Liwayway befriends an American GI who offers her a reprieve from war, she must choose between the possibility of finding her sister and the promise of a new life.

 

Excerpt:

My childhood ended the night our neighbor, Rodrigo de Guzman, came knocking on our door when I should have been asleep. Maybe the heat kept me awake that night, or maybe it was the sixth sense nanay always said I had. I lay staring at the strip of sky that separated the cement walls from the ceiling. The moon was curved like a woman arching her back. I watched it climb slowly through space, waiting for it to slip out of sight, for the roosters to crow.

Next to me on the low mattress, Malaya’s elbow pressed against me. Her cotton nightgown tickled my leg as she inhaled and exhaled.

There was a knock, barely audible, like the flapping of wings.

Then a voice. “Pssst!”

In the next room my parents’ bed creaked, then tatay’s shadow slipped past my doorway. I held my breath until the back door clicked shut.

The kitchen floor was cold against my feet. From the middle of the room, I watched my father follow our neighbor into his house. When tatay did not exit after one minute, then five, I carried a chair from the kitchen table and sat by the window. I stayed there a long time, studying the way the moonlight struck the corrugated roof of the chicken coop. A gecko, still and soundless on the wall, kept me company as it lay in wait.

20 responses to “PW2021 Adult #52: AFTER THE SAVIORS (#OwnVoices Historical Fiction)”

  1. Melanie Figueroa says:

    Hi Liz,

    Congrats on completing Pitch Wars! I’d love to take a look at AFTER THE SAVIORS. You can query me directly using this link: QueryManager.com/melaniefigueroa/pitchwars

    Best,
    Melanie

  2. Andrea Morrison says:

    Dear Liz,
    I am very intrigued by your pitch for AFTER THE SAVIORS, and I loved your sample pages. I also looked up and enjoyed reading your Pitch Wars interview. I’d very much like the opportunity to read your manuscript, if you’re open to sharing it with me. You can reach me at andreasubmissions (at) writershouse.com if you’re interested in submitting! Thank you so much either way, and congrats on being at this point in the Pitch Wars process.
    Very best,
    Andrea Morrison

  3. Ann Leslie Tuttle says:

    Dear Liz,
    Your opening excerpt immediately drew me into AFTER THE SAVIORS, and you have a compelling premise. Please do send me the first 50 pages with a short synopsis (if one is available), and I look forward to reading further. My email is atuttle@dystel.com, and please note that this is a Pitch Wars request. Also, if you receive a request from more than one DGB agent, please approach the agent you feel might be the best fit and notify us of other requests in the agency. We’ll work it out on our end. I wish you success in Pitch Wars and with your writing and will hope to hear from you.
    Best,
    Ann Leslie Tuttle

  4. Melissa Danaczko says:

    Hi Liz, What tension in these opening pages! I’d love to read more: mdquery@skagency.com if you think we might be a good fit. –Melissa

  5. Hi Liz,
    This sounds really interesting and I’d love to read more. Can you send me a cover note, synopsis, and 50 pages to Isabelle@Nordlysetagency.com? Please put Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thanks! Isabelle

  6. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    So so interested in this! I would love to see the full manuscript. If you find us a match, please send query, synopsis, and pages to QueryManager.com/KaitlynJohnson/Contests

    Best,
    Kaitlyn Johnson
    Belcastro Literary Agency

  7. Paige Wheeler says:

    I love this and can’t wait to read more! Please email me the synopsis and first 100 pages to me at paige@cmalit.com. Please write “Pitch Wars Requested Material” in the subject heading. Thanks so much!

  8. Stephanie Delman says:

    Hi Liz! I’d love to request the first 50 pages, along with the pitch. Please send to sdelman@trellisliterary.com.

  9. Elizabeth Bewley says:

    Hi there,
    I’d be excited to read your novel! Can you please email me your query + the full manuscript as a Word doc to ebewley@sll.com? Thanks in advance!
    Best,
    Elizabeth

  10. Penelope Burns says:

    I would love to see more of this! If you’d like, can you send your query and full manuscript to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com, with #PitchWars in the subject line? Thanks so much!

    All best,
    Penelope

  11. Lori Galvin says:

    Dear Liz,
    I would love to see the full. Could you please send to lgalvin@aevitascreative.com with Pitchwars in the subject line. Please feel free to submit to other ACM agents who request. Thank you so much.
    Sincerely,
    Lori

  12. Chris Bucci says:

    Hi Liz, This sounds wonderful. I would love to read. Cnn you please send a query plus 50 pages to cbucci@aevitascreative.com. I ook forwars to reading. Chris

  13. Tamar Rydzinski says:

    Hi Liz,

    I love your premise! And these paragraphs are just so strong. I would love to read your manuscript. Please send to querytamar@contextlit.com, making sure to write Pitch Wars Request in the subject line.

    Thank you!

    Tamar

  14. Marcy Posner says:

    Hi Liz—

    Your premise is captivating and your style is beautiful. Please send your full manuscript as an attachment with your query letter in the email body to marcy@foliolit.com. Make sure to put Pitch Wars in the subject line so I can find it easily!

    If you happen to receive requests from my other colleagues, please select the agent you are most interested in working with and send materials only to them.

  15. Jessica Errera says:

    Dear Liz, I’m so intrigued by this excerpt and would love to see more. Please send your synopsis and first three chapters (if you have a query letter, also welcome) to jerrera(at)janerotrosen(dot)com at your convenience. Pitch Wars in the subject line would be appreciated!

  16. Shannon Hassan says:

    Hi Liz, I’d love to read more! Can you please send the manuscript and pitch to shannon@marsallyonliteraryagency.com. Thanks, Shannon

  17. Dani Segelbaum says:

    I would love to read! Please send your query and first 50 pages to dani@carolmannagency.com.

  18. Sandy Lu says:

    Hi Liz,

    Please send the full manuscript, preceded by your bio and complete synopsis (all in one Word document), to https://querymanager.com/SandyLu/Requested_Materials

    I look forward to reading more!

    Best,
    Sandy Lu
    Book Wyrm Literary Agency

  19. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi there!

    I’d love to read this full manuscript. Please send it attached as a word document along with your query pasted into the email to: rena@dhliterary.com

    Best,

    Rena Rossner
    The Deborah Harris Agency

  20. “I’d like to see more— please send query letter, full manuscript, author bio, and synopsis to EWRquery@mcintoshandotis.com. Please attach all materials as Word documents, and include “Pitch Wars” in subject line. Thanks!”