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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 #24: THE DARK BETWEEN (Psychological Thriller)
Mentee:
Mia Danielson
Mentored by:
Mary Keliikoa
Book Title:
THE DARK BETWEEN
Category:
Adult
Genre:
Psychological Thriller
Word Count:
85,000

Pitch:

Crows filled the yard the night Danni’s parents were murdered. Years later, she can’t shake the feeling they’re still watching from her dreams—or a stranger’s eyes. Desperate for answers, Danni searches for the “Otter,” a cybercriminal whose vendetta against her parents’ lab, and the drug they developed, seems personal.

But the crows watch him too—and their brief virtual exchange propels her parents’ killer back into her life.

Now hunted, Danni must decide if she can trust the enigmatic online stranger who is tempted to go down his own dark path. Because the terror that haunts their dreams is real—and coming for them.

 

Excerpt:

The sudden exodus of crows from her mother’s lime tree first told Danni he was coming. Even before she heard the crunching of tires on the wet driveway, or the sound of a car door closing, the crows fled the tree’s slender branches and swarmed into the night sky.

All week long, the birds had flocked around her house like feathered loiterers in a prison yard. From her place beside the window, Danni sat. Counting crows. Ten had perched among the limes in the tree beside the porch.

“Momma, the crows are back.”

From across the room, Elizabeth Ireland sighed. “Danni, please. Stop saying that.”

Danni pressed her nose against the windowpane and huffed a cloud of steam through flattened nostrils. “Well, they are.” For the hundredth time that day, there was a curling in her stomach, like a length of wire winding into knots.

She drew a face on the steamed glass; a lump-like circle, mismatched eyes, crooked mouth. Pleased with her work, she peered through the eyeholes out into the rain-drenched yard.

All ten crows had grown quiet and still, and each pair of eyes stared back at her.

8 responses to “PW2021 Adult #24: THE DARK BETWEEN (Psychological Thriller)”

  1. Shannon Snow says:

    Mia,

    Your pitch and excerpt definitely caught my attention and I would love the opportunity to check this out!!

    If you would like to submit to me (please do!) email me your first three chapters 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. Ann Leslie Tuttle says:

    Dear Mia,
    Your opening excerpt immediately drew me into THE DARK BETWEEN, and you have a compelling premise. Please do send me the first 50 pages, 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

  3. Paige Wheeler says:

    This sounds amazing. I’d love to take a look at more of your work. 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!

  4. Jen Nadol says:

    Hi Mia,
    This sounds right up my alley; I’d love to take a look. If you think we’d be a match, please send a query and the first 50 pages as a Word attachment to jen.nadol@theunteragency.com
    Thanks!
    Jen

  5. Jennifer March Soloway says:

    The face on the glass, the crows, the stranger coming for her mother…I’m hooked! If you think I could be a good fit for you, please query me and submit the full manuscript: QueryManager.com/JenniferMarchSoloway/PitchWars2022

    I love a good story and look forward to reading yours!

  6. Lori Galvin says:

    Dear Mia,
    Thank you for sharing your work. 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

  7. Analieze Cervantes says:

    Hi!

    I’m digging your pitch/excerpt and would love to request the query, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters of your manuscript!

    Submit here: QueryManager.com/AnaliezeCervantes/PitchWars

    Can’t wait to see this in my box soon! Have a great day!

    Best–
    Analieze Cervantes

    Literary Agent
    Harvey Klinger Literary Agency

  8. 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!