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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 #04: WITCH ON FIRE (Fantasy – Cottagecore)
Mentee:
Abigail Barenblitt
Mentored by:
Jake Nicholls
Book Title:
WITCH ON FIRE
Category:
Adult
Genre:
Fantasy – Cottagecore
Word Count:
121,000
Manuscript Content Warning(s):
Grief

Pitch:

Fire witch Deirdre only knows how to run—from the magic she broke by avenging her coven, and from the corrupt witch who’s hunted her since. When she returns to her homeland—a fae-protected forest—she faces an ultimatum: heal her powers or resume her perilous exile. But time is short. Her pursuer approaches, endangering her newfound coven. Deirdre must fix her magic if she’s to stand and fight.

 

Excerpt:

The sun was setting by the time Deirdre finished drawing the protection runes across the roof tiles. She stretched her stiff back, watching the light stream through the canopy, only to wince when the worn shingles dug into her legs. It had taken hours to fix the roof, but at least she would finish with daylight to spare.

As she worked out the knot between her shoulders, warm light painted the glade surrounding the abandoned stone cottage in hues of orange and red. A charming sight, and yet her mind tripped at the thought of the long twilight hours that would follow, wondering if she would find sleep this night.

Neck aching, Deirdre groaned as she picked up the final tile. She adjusted her bit of charcoal, working out the last piece of the rune. It had been tedious, reviving each tile from its dilapidated state, but it felt good to work with her hands, to stir a little life into the place. Better still, it served as a distraction from her audience.

The ceaseless muttering of the fae rose above the warbling of birds and calling of insects. In the three days since her return to this forest, they had stalked her every move, their never-ending gossip droning in her ears. Fire Child, they called her. And she’d heard worse as she straddled the steepled roof, readying the cottage for the next storm.

6 responses to “PW2021 Adult #04: WITCH ON FIRE (Fantasy – Cottagecore)”

  1. Kurestin Armada says:

    Hello, and congrats on completing Pitch Wars! I absolutely love the voice here already. Please do send the full manuscript + a synopsis attached as word docs to my attention at submissions (at) rootliterary (dot) com, with Pitch Wars in the subject line. If any of my colleagues also request, feel free to pick one of us or just mention us all and we’ll sort it on our end.

    Cheers,
    Kurestin Armada @ Root Literary

  2. Danielle Egan-Miller says:

    I would love to take a look at this! Please send your query with PITCH WARS in the subject line and a synopsis + the full manuscript attached to mail@browneandmiller.com – I and my team will confirm receipt and dive right in!

  3. Bridget Smith says:

    I always love a witch! I’d love to take a look. Please send me your query and the first 50 pages through QueryManager here: QueryManager.com/BridgetSmith/PitchWars2022. Thanks!

  4. Rena Rossner says:

    Hi there!

    I’d love to read the first 50 pages of this. Please send them attached as a word document along with your query pasted into the email to: rena@dhliterary.com

    Best,

    Rena Rossner
    The Deborah Harris Agency

  5. Kelly Peterson says:

    Hi Abigail!

    I adore your voice and would be super excited to read more! I’d love to read your full manuscript, if you wouldn’t mind sending it to me. This link will lead you to my Query Manager, where you can upload your query, synopsis, and full manuscript: QueryManager.com/KellyPeterson/PitchWars

    Wishing you the best of luck, and hoping to see your manuscript! =)

    Warm Regards,
    Kelly Peterson
    Rees Literary Agency

  6. Christa Heschke says:

    Hi, Abigail! 🙂 I’m Christa, an agent at McIntosh & Otis. My assistant and I would love to read this! Please send your query, synopsis, and full manuscript via Query Manager at this link: QueryManager.com/christa_heschke/PitchWars2122

    Thank you!
    -Christa Heschke