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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 #11: HERE COMES THE BRIDE (Thriller)
Mentee:
Sian Gilbert
Mentored by:
E.A. Aymar
Book Title:
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
Category:
Adult
Genre:
Thriller
Word Count:
97,000
Manuscript Content Warning(s):
Sexual assault, violence (including domestic), drug addiction

Pitch:

One private island, four bridesmaids…and a bride hell-bent on revenge.

When Annabel and her friends receive the hen party invitation, they think it must be a joke. They spent their school years teasing Poppy – harmless joking around, of course – and haven’t seen her since their infamous prom night.

Poppy promises an all-expenses-paid holiday on a luxury island. Excluded from other people, it’s the perfect setting to let bygones be bygones. But as secrets are exposed and friendships tested, the women realize they’re trapped with nowhere to run.

And not everyone is going to make it out alive.

IN A DARK, DARK WOOD meets THE GUEST LIST.

 

Excerpt:

There’s only one bridesmaid waiting for me, and she’s covered in blood.

Normally at the end of a holiday on this island the whole party are ready with their suitcases, sunburned but cheerful. As I power across to them in my deck boat, they’re often not looking at me but taking final glances around the island: its white sandy beaches, clear water, palm trees.

It’s a perfect day to be on the sea this morning. The sun is warm on my back and the tide is on my side.

But the bridesmaid waiting for me has changed everything.

I wouldn’t call myself an easily shaken person. Not after all I’ve been through. When you run a private island, you prepare for every possibility. Just thirty minutes by speedboat from the mainland, I’m always there if something does go wrong. The guests have the island to themselves, but I’ve not left them stranded. There’s an emergency phone, flares, and a fully stocked first aid kit.

Crises have happened before, of course they have. Cliff climbing? Broken leg. Late-term pregnancy? Straight into labour.

I guess I thought I’d seen it all.

I haven’t seen this.

27 responses to “PW2021 Adult #11: HERE COMES THE BRIDE (Thriller)”

  1. Shannon Snow says:

    Sian,

    Your pitch definitely grabbed me. I would love the opportunity to check this out!!

    If you would like to submit to me, email me your complete manuscript and synopsis in Word format to Shannon@cmalit.com. Please put “Pitch Request” in the subject line.

    I definitely hope to hear from you!

    Shannon Snow
    CMA, Inc. Literary Agent

  2. Amanda Rutter says:

    I would love you to submit your Pitch Wars entry to me, using my Query Manager form: QueryManager.com/Amanda_Rutter/PitchWars

    Please send through the query letter and the full manuscript.

    If more than one Azantian agent requests materials, please pick the one you feel would fit you best.

  3. Amy Giuffrida says:

    This sounds super twisty and devious–exactly what I love to read, so please send me more! I would be thrilled to read the full, so please send me the query, synopsis, and full manuscript to me at this QM link: QueryManager.com/AmyGiuffrida/PitchWars

    Since we ask that you only submit to one of our agents at a time, if you receive multiple request from agents at The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, please choose which one best fits you to submit to.

    I’m excited to get reading!

  4. Ann Leslie Tuttle says:

    Dear Sian,
    I have to read further! Your opening excerpt immediately drew me into HERE COMES THE BRIDE, 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

  5. Stephanie Winter says:

    This sounds delightful! I would love to read the full. I love island stories, and this is giving me Harper’s Island vibes!

    Contact information:
    query@psliterary.com
    Please mention Stephanie Winter and Pitch Wars in the subject line.
    Please attach the manuscript in a word doc and a synopsis with your query in the body of your email.

  6. Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong says:

    Hi Sian!
    Ooohhh…this one looks wicked! Please check me out at http://www.thepurcellagency.com and, if you think we’d make a good match, I’d love it if you’d send me the full manuscript as a word doc attachment with a simple blurb pasted above the first chapter so I can remember what I’m reading when I dig in.

    Please send to QueryCathieH@gmail.com.

    SUBJECT: #PitchWars Request / “TITLE OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT” / Your Name / Word Count

    That’s all I need!

    Best wishes with #PitchWars! I have no doubt this one is gonna go fast, so sit back and have fun!!

    Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong, Literary Agent
    The Purcell Agency
    http://www.thepurcellagency.com

  7. Ronald Gerber says:

    Hi Sian, this sounds amazing! I’d love to read more. Would you please send your query and the first 75 pages as an attachment to ronald@boohkaven.com, with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line?

  8. Kaitlyn Johnson says:

    What a pitch! 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

  9. Hi Sian,

    I’m actively building my list of thrillers at the moment, and this project sounds excellent! I’d love to see more of it. If you’re interested in submitting, visit my Pitch Wars event QueryManager page (QueryManager.com/SavannahBrooks/Pitch_Wars_2022). It’ll ask for your first 20 pages.

    I look forward to reading more!

    Warmly,
    Savannah

  10. Hi Sian. Your excerpt grabbed me immediately – and the comps are too of my-all time faves. I love a good twisty revenge story and would love to read the full of Here Comes The Bride. Please use this link to upload your manuscript:QueryManager.com/1353/PW2022
    Talk soon,
    Joanna

  11. Michelle Richter says:

    Hi Sian, I’d love to see the full manuscript and your synopsis, if you have one. Please submit to me here: QueryManager.com/MichelleRichter/PitchWars

  12. James McGowan says:

    Hi Sian,
    This sounds really great and I’d love to read it! If you’re interested in sending, please send to QueryManager.com/jmcgowan/Pitchwars. If you receive more than one request from BookEnds agents, please send to the one you feel would be the best fit. Congratulations on your PW success! -James

  13. 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

  14. Chris Bucci says:

    Hi Sian, this sounds great. Can you please send a query, and 50 pages to my email cbucci@aevitascreative.com and include “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. I look forward to reading. Chris

  15. Jill Marr says:

    Oh, I’ve been waiting for this one since I saw your post on Twitter! It’s such a compelling twist on the locked-room suspense.

    Please send the full manuscript in Word (with the subject YOUR TITLE: #PW2021 Showcase) to jill@dijkstraagency.com.
    I’m looking forward to reading more!
    Jill

  16. Jessica Mileo says:

    This sounds incredible! My colleague, Claire Friedman, and I would love to consider it together. Could you please send the full manuscript to us at jessica@inkwellmanagement.com and claire@inkwellmanagement.com?

  17. Jen Nadol says:

    Hi Sian,
    I’m intrigued and would like to read more! If you think we’d be a match, please forward a query & first 50 pages as a Word attachment to jen.nadol@theunteragency.com
    Thanks!
    Jen

  18. Jennifer Weis says:

    I am such a sucker for this category and you have pulled me in with your pitch! Please do send 3 chapters plus a letter with your background etc. and a synopsis. Thanks so much! Looking forward to reading.

  19. Isabel Kaufman says:

    I have been chasing the perfect private island thriller, and I’d love to read more of this one! Please send your query letter and the first 5 pages of your manuscript in the body of the email to submissions@foxliterary.com, with ATTN: ISABEL and PITCH WARS in the title of the email. So looking forward!

  20. Larissa Melo Pienkowski says:

    I’m really enjoying what I’m reading so far—this is absolutely up my alley! I’d love to see more, so if you’d like, please feel free to send me the first 50 pages at larissa@jillgrinbergliterary.com, with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line.

  21. Sarah Landis says:

    I’d love to read this! Could you send the full to me at slandis@sll.com? Thanks! -Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic

  22. Alex Rice says:

    Would love to see this manuscript in my inbox! Please send over the full manuscript and a synopsis to me at alex.rice@caa.com, using the subject line of “Pitch Wars Query // TITLE.” If another agent at CAA also requests, please include their name in the query as well. Looking forward to reading! All my best, Alex Rice

  23. Carlisle Webber says:

    I’d like to see this manuscript! Please submit it along with a query letter here: QueryManager.com/Carlisle/PitchWars2022

    If more than one agent from Fuse Literary requests your work, please choose one of us to submit to.

    Good luck, and I look forward to reading your work.

  24. Jessica Alvarez says:

    Hi Sian. This sounds deliciously creepy. Please send me the full and synopsis. You can upload them here as Word docs: http://www.QueryManager.com/JessicaAlvarez/PitchWars. If someone else at BookEnds has also requested, please choose whichever agent you think is the best fit and only submit to one of us. Looking forward to reading. Thanks!, Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary

  25. Laura Bradford says:

    This sample is SO GOOD! I am dying to read more. Bloody bridesmaids and vengeance? Yes, please! Please send me the full manuscript and synopsis (as attachments) at laura@bradfordlit.com. Please put Pitch Wars in your subject line.

    Can’t wait!
    Laura Bradford

    ***If you receive a request from more than one agent at Bradford Literary Agency, you are welcome to send to all agents who made the request, but just let us know when you send the material***

  26. Chelsea Hensley says:

    Hi Sian! This sounds great, I’d love to read more! If you’re interested, you can send the full manuscript, your query, and a complete synopsis to my Query Manager at this link: QueryManager.com/Chelseahensley/PitchWars2021

  27. 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!